Crushed Stone Calculator (Tons and Cubic Yards)
Calculate crushed stone for a driveway, path or base. Get cubic yards, US tons, tonnes and truck loads from the area and depth, with an editable density and an optional price per ton.
Leave blank for 1.
Spillage and uneven ground. Blank counts as 0.
Typical value. Ask your supplier. Blank hides the weight.
Blank hides the truck loads.
In your own currency.
Enter the dimensions to see the volume.
About the crushed stone calculator
The Crushed Stone Calculator works out how much stone to buy for a path, a drainage trench, a French drain, a pipe bed or a driveway surface. Choose the shape of the area, enter the depth, and you get cubic yards as the main answer, with cubic feet, cubic metres and litres alongside. The tool also gives the weight in US tons and tonnes, the number of truck loads and an optional cost.
Crushed stone is sold by the ton in most places, but you measure the job in feet and inches. This page bridges the two. You describe the space, and the tool turns that into a quantity you can read off to a supplier.
Crushed stone, pea gravel and why the difference matters
Crushed stone is made by breaking rock, so the pieces have flat faces and sharp edges. Those edges interlock when the stone is packed down, which is why angular stone is used under paths and patios and as a driveway surface. Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they roll and shift underfoot and do not lock together. For drainage, the usual choice is clean stone, often sold as washed, which has the fine dust removed so water can pass through the gaps. Sizes such as 3/4 in describe the typical piece. A supplier can tell you which grade suits your job.
Steps
- Select the shape: rectangle for a path or trench, circle for a round bed, triangle or trapezoid for odd corners, or Known area for a measured figure.
- Enter each dimension with its own unit. A trench can be 25 ft long, 2 ft wide and 12 in deep without any conversion.
- Set the Quantity if you have several identical sections.
- Add a waste percentage if you want a margin, or leave it blank for none.
- Confirm the density and the truck capacity, then enter a price if you want a cost.
Formulas
Worked example: a garden path
A path is 30 ft long, 3 ft wide and 4 in deep. The area is 90 ft², and 4 in is one third of a foot, so the volume is 30 ft³. That is 1.11 yd³. At the default density of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard the weight is about 1.56 US tons.
Worked example: a drainage trench
A trench is 25 ft long, 2 ft wide and 12 in deep, which is 50 ft³ or 1.85 yd³. At 1.4 US tons per cubic yard that is roughly 2.59 US tons. In metric terms the volume is 1.42 m³, and with the density set to 1.68 tonnes per cubic metre the weight is about 2.38 tonnes. Add a waste percentage if the trench walls are rough, because the real cross section is seldom a perfect rectangle.
Worked example: a small pad
For a 10 ft by 10 ft pad, 3 in deep, the volume is 25 ft³, or 0.93 yd³ (0.71 m³). The weight at the default density is 1.30 US tons. At a price of 45 per US ton, that comes to an estimated 58.33.
Coverage at a glance
One cubic yard of stone covers about 324 ft² at a depth of 1 in, 162 ft² at 2 in, 108 ft² at 3 in and 81 ft² at 4 in. Typical depths, which depend on the use and the ground, are 2 to 3 in for refreshing a driveway surface and 4 to 6 in for a new driveway base. A walking path often needs less than a driveway. Ask your supplier or contractor for the depth that suits the job.
Weight and density
The default of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard is a typical value for loose crushed stone, and the real figure varies with rock type, grading and moisture. Edit the density field to match your supplier's number. If you work in metric, switch the unit to tonnes per cubic metre and the default resets to 1.68.
If the stone is going under pavers or a shed and will be compacted, the Crusher Run Calculator includes a compaction allowance. To estimate a poured slab, use the Concrete Calculator.
Accuracy and limits
These are estimates. The tool assumes a flat surface at a uniform depth and does not know your local pricing, stone grade or vehicle weight limits. Settling, edges and uneven ground will change what you actually use, so confirm the order with your supplier before you buy.
Privacy
Nothing is uploaded; every calculation runs in your browser and never leaves your device.
Related tools
Use the Length Converter if your measurements are in mixed units, and the Area Converter to switch between square feet and square metres. The Unit Price Calculator helps compare bagged and bulk prices, and the Tank Volume Calculator covers liquids rather than stone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between crushed stone and pea gravel?
Crushed stone is broken rock with angular faces that interlock when packed down. Pea gravel is rounded, so it shifts underfoot and does not lock together.
What does 3/4 inch clean or washed stone mean?
The 3/4 inch figure describes the typical piece size. Clean or washed means the fine dust has been removed so water can drain through the gaps, which suits trenches and drainage beds.
How much crushed stone do I need for a trench?
Multiply length by width by depth. A trench 25 ft long, 2 ft wide and 12 in deep is 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards, which is roughly 2.59 US tons at the default density.
Does crushed stone need a compaction allowance?
This calculator does not add one, so it gives the finished volume. If the stone will be compacted under pavers or a shed, a base calculator with a compaction allowance is a better fit.
Why is the weight different from my supplier's figure?
The default density of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard is a typical value. Rock type, grading and moisture change it, so type your supplier's figure into the density field.
How are truck loads and cost worked out?
Truck loads are the order volume divided by the truck capacity, rounded up. Cost uses the price you enter per US ton, tonne, cubic yard or cubic metre.