Crushed Limestone Calculator
Crushed limestone is angular, light-grey stone with fines that pack down hard — common for driveways, walkways and compactable bases under pavers and slabs. Work out exactly how much you need below.
Sets a typical depth — tweak anything below.
For a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 2 in deep, order about 1.36 cubic yards (1.83 US tons) of crushed limestone.
Estimates only. Densities vary by moisture, compaction and supplier — confirm quantities before ordering.
What is crushed limestone?
Crushed limestone is quarried limestone broken and screened into angular pieces, usually light grey to tan. Graded versions include fine 'crusher fines' that help it bind and pack down hard.
What is crushed limestone used for?
Common for driveways, road base, walkways and as a compactable base under pavers and slabs. The fines let it lock up into a firm surface when compacted and watered; larger clean sizes are used for drainage.
How much does crushed limestone weigh?
A cubic yard of crushed limestone weighs about 1.35 US tons — roughly 1600 kg/m³, or about 100 lb/ft³. Moisture and compaction shift this, so the calculator applies this density and lets you change it in the extra options if your supplier quotes a different figure.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | ~240 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | ~120 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ~80 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | ~60 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | ~40 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Based on about 1600 kg/m³. Actual coverage varies with compaction and moisture.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing the depth. Too shallow and the material shifts and shows the ground beneath. Most surface layers want 2–4 inches; load-bearing bases are built up thicker.
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Depth is quoted in inches but volume math is in feet — 4 inches is 0.33 ft, not 4. The calculator handles this, but hand estimates often don't.
- Skipping the waste allowance. Ground is never perfectly flat and material settles once it's placed. Order 5–10% extra so a small shortfall doesn't trigger a second delivery.
- Using the wrong density. Each material weighs differently, so tonnage can be off by 20%+ if you use a generic figure. Pick the right material and adjust the density if your supplier differs.
- Buying bags for a big job. Bagged material costs far more per cubic yard than bulk. Past roughly one cubic yard, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Does crushed limestone pack down hard?+
Yes — graded crushed limestone with fines compacts into a hard, dense surface, which is why it's popular for driveways and paths. Clean, single-size limestone is used where you want drainage instead.
How much crushed limestone for a driveway?+
Enter your driveway area and a depth of 4–6 inches, built up in layers over a firm subgrade. The calculator returns the tons and cubic yards to order.
Is crushed limestone dusty?+
The graded kind with fines — the type that packs hard — does throw dust when it's dry, and it tracks into the house on shoes and tires. That's the trade-off for a surface that compacts solid. If dust is a dealbreaker, a clean, fines-free stone like #57 limestone won't dust, but it also won't pack firm. Many driveways use the packable limestone for the base and a cleaner stone on top.
How do you compact crushed limestone?+
Spread it in layers no more than 3–4 inches at a time, dampen each layer with a hose, and run a plate compactor or roller over it. The water helps the fines bind; without it the surface stays loose. Two or three thinner, watered-and-compacted lifts give a far harder driveway than one thick dump of stone.