Crushed Stone Calculator
Estimate how much crushed stone your project needs. Enter the area and depth to get cubic yards, tons and an optional cost.
Picks a typical depth & material — tweak anything below.
For a 20 × 10 feet area at 2 in deep, order about 1.36 cubic yards (1.83 US tons) of crushed stone.
All units & details ▾
- Coverage area
- 200 ft²
- Cubic feet
- 36.7 ft³
- Cubic meters
- 1.04 m³
- Metric tons
- 1.66 t
- Total weight
- 3,667 lb
- Density used
- 1,602 kg/m³
Estimates only. Densities vary by moisture, compaction and supplier — confirm quantities before ordering.
What is crushed stone?
Crushed stone is quarried rock mechanically crushed into angular, sharp-edged fragments. The jagged faces interlock and compact into a firm, stable layer — unlike smooth, rounded gravel.
What is crushed stone used for?
It's the workhorse aggregate for driveways, road base, and bases under pavers, slabs and footings, plus drainage. The angularity is what makes it stay put and carry weight.
How much does crushed stone weigh?
A cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.35 US tons — roughly 1602 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 1602 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
What size crushed stone for a driveway?+
A common build is a compacted base of 3/4" crushed stone or road base topped with a finer crushed stone or #57. A total depth of 4–6 inches over a solid subgrade is typical.
Does crushed stone compact?+
Graded crushed stone with fines (like crusher run/road base) compacts into a hard surface. Clean, single-size crushed stone (like #57) locks together but stays open for drainage.