Crushed Stone Calculator
Calculate crushed stone tonnage by grade — #57, #3, crusher run or screenings — for driveways, bases and drainage, with a compaction allowance so you don't come up short.
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Enter a price per ton to estimate cost.
You might also need:Gravel Calculator·Pea Gravel Calculator
Crushed stone tonnage math
tons = cubic yards × grade density (1.35–1.5)
A 40 × 12 ft driveway at 4 inches of crusher run: 160 cubic feet, 5.9 cubic yards, ×1.2 for compaction = 7.1 yards — about 10.7 tons, or one full tri-axle load. Ordering the loose volume without the compaction allowance is the classic way to end up a ton short on the final pass.
Stone grades and what they're for
| Grade | Size | Use |
|---|---|---|
| #3 | 1½–2″ | Deep base layer, soft ground, heavy loads |
| #57 | ¾″ clean | Driveways, drainage, slab and pipe bedding |
| Crusher run | ¾″ to dust | Compacted driving surface, paver base |
| #411 | ¾″ to dust | Similar to crusher run, finer blend |
| Screenings (#10) | Dust–⅛″ | Leveling course under pavers and flagstone |
Building it right
- Layer, don't dump: compact in 2–3 inch lifts. One thick layer never compacts through.
- Fabric on soft soil: geotextile stops stone sinking into clay and can halve the stone you need long-term.
- Clean stone doesn't compact: #57 stays loose by design — great for drainage, wrong for a driving surface.
- Softer decorative options: pea gravel and river rock. Paving over the base? See the asphalt and paver calculators.
Frequently asked questions
What size crushed stone should I use?+
#57 stone (¾ inch, clean) is the all-purpose choice for driveways, drainage and slab bases. #3 (2 inch) is the deep base layer for new driveways. Crusher run (a stone-and-dust mix) compacts hardest and makes the best driving surface. Screenings or #10 dust is the leveling layer under pavers.
How many tons of crushed stone do I need per square foot?+
At 4 inches deep, plan about 0.025 tons (50 lb) per square foot — so a 500 sq ft area needs roughly 12.5 tons. Crushed stone weighs about 1.4–1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on grade and moisture.
Does crushed stone compact down?+
Yes — crusher run and base grades lose 10–20% of their loose volume once compacted, which is why this calculator offers a compaction allowance. Clean stone like #57 barely compacts because there are no fines to fill the voids.
How deep should crushed stone be for a driveway?+
A full residential driveway build is 8–12 inches total: 4–6 inches of #3 base stone, then 3–4 inches of crusher run, topped with 1–2 inches of #57 or surface gravel. On soft soil, add geotextile fabric underneath before any stone.
What is the difference between crushed stone and gravel?+
Crushed stone is mechanically crushed rock — angular faces that lock together under load. Natural gravel is rounded by water and shifts more. For anything structural (driveways, bases, retaining wall backfill), angular crushed stone is the correct choice.