Multiply length × width in feet by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.5 to get tons of crushed stone. A 20 × 10 ft area at 4 inches deep needs about 2.5 cubic yards, or roughly 3.7 tons — add 10% for compaction.
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Order – tons (includes your waste allowance) so compaction and spillage don’t leave you short.
Crushed Stone Calculator Guide
Crushed stone is the workhorse of hardscaping: driveway bases, French drains, under-slab fill, paver foundations, and pathway surfaces all start with it. This calculator turns your project dimensions into cubic yards and tons using the standard density of 1.5 tons per cubic yard, adjusted for whichever grade you select — so the number you take to the quarry matches the number their scale will print.
Whether you’re spreading a two-inch top-up on an existing driveway or building a six-inch base from scratch, the workflow is the same: measure the area, choose the stone, and let the density conversion do the rest. Add 10% waste for surface layers, or 15% for base layers you’ll be compacting.
How Many Tons in a Cubic Yard of Crushed Stone?
Crushed stone weighs about 1.5 US tons per cubic yard — so one cubic yard is roughly 3,000 lb. Clean washed grades run slightly lighter because air fills the voids between stones; dense-graded material with fines runs heavier.
| Material | Tons per yd³ | 1 ton ≈ |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone (average) | 1.50 | 0.67 yd³ |
| #57 stone (washed) | 1.45 | 0.69 yd³ |
| #67 stone (washed) | 1.45 | 0.69 yd³ |
| Crusher run / DGA | 1.55 | 0.65 yd³ |
| Stone dust / screenings | 1.45 | 0.69 yd³ |
| Crushed concrete | 1.35 | 0.74 yd³ |
Washed Stone or Stone with Fines? The Choice That Decides Your Order
Size is not the property that matters most — fines are. Dense-graded products like crusher run and #411 contain everything from ¾-inch rock down to dust; under a plate compactor the fines fill every void and the layer locks into a rigid, load-bearing platform. That’s what belongs under driveways, patios, and paver fields.
Washed, open-graded stone like #57 has had the fines screened out. It never compacts into a dense mass — it interlocks while keeping over a third of its volume as open voids. That structure is exactly what you want where water must flow: French drains, foundation backfill, permeable bases. Many of the best driveways use both: four compacted inches of crusher run for strength, two inches of #57 on top for a clean, well-draining surface.
Recommended Depths for Crushed Stone Projects
- Driveway (cars): 4–6 inches total, compacted in 2-inch lifts.
- Driveway (trucks/RVs): 8+ inches over geotextile fabric on soft ground.
- Walkways: 2–3 inches over a firm, stripped subgrade.
- Under concrete slabs: 4 inches of washed #57 as a capillary break.
- French drains: 3+ inches of washed stone surrounding the pipe on all sides.
Spread the stone with a bow rake to an even depth, then compact dense-graded material in two-inch lifts — a hand tamper works for small areas, a plate compactor for anything bigger than a parking space. For a full driveway build-up including cost planning, see the gravel driveway calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons is a cubic yard of crushed stone?
Crushed stone weighs about 1.5 US tons per cubic yard. Clean washed #57 stone runs slightly lighter at roughly 1.45 tons, while dense crusher run with fines can reach 1.55 tons per cubic yard.
How thick should a crushed stone driveway be?
A residential gravel driveway needs 4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone, usually built as a 4-inch base of crusher run topped with 2 inches of #57 stone. Heavy vehicle traffic warrants 8 inches or more in two lifts.
What is the difference between crushed stone and gravel?
Crushed stone is mechanically crushed rock with sharp, angular faces that lock together when compacted, which makes it ideal for bases. Gravel is naturally rounded by water, drains well and looks softer, but does not compact into a firm layer.
Should I use crushed stone with fines or washed stone?
Use dense-graded stone with fines (crusher run, #411) where you need a compacted load-bearing layer, and clean washed stone (#57, #67) where you need drainage, such as French drains and permeable bases. The fines are what allow a layer to lock tight.