How deep should the crushed stone be?

About 2–3 inches for a decorative ground cover or top dressing, and 4 inches or more for a path, driveway, or structural base (built up in compacted lifts). Deeper layers and driveways are where ordering by the ton really matters.

Why do I have to enter a density?

Because crushed stone isn't one material — pea gravel, #57 stone, and crusher run all weigh different amounts per cubic yard (roughly 1.3–1.5 ton). The cubic-yard volume is pure geometry, but turning it into tons needs the density of your specific stone, so we keep it editable rather than guessing.

Should I add extra for compaction?

It depends on the stone. Dense-graded stone like crusher run is meant to be compacted into a base — order about 20% more than the in-place volume, since it loses volume when tamped. Open-graded stone (#57, pea gravel) and loose decorative layers compact very little, so the figure here is about right as-is.

Crushed Stone Calculator

Crushed stone is sold by the ton but spread by volume, so you need both. Enter the area and depth for the cubic yards — and, using the stone's density, the tons to order.

Crushed stone

2.59tons

Crushed stone: 1.85 cu yd
Volume: 50 cu ft
Area: 200 sq ft

Crushed stone (gravel) for common areas

Worked out with this calculator at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a mid-range crushed-stone density. Your quarry's figure can differ, so check it before ordering by the ton. No compaction allowance is added.

Area and depth	Cubic yards	Tons (at 1.4 t/cu yd)
100 sq ft at 2 in	0.62	0.86
100 sq ft at 3 in	0.93	1.3
100 sq ft at 4 in	1.23	1.73
200 sq ft at 2 in	1.23	1.73
200 sq ft at 3 in	1.85	2.59
200 sq ft at 4 in	2.47	3.46
500 sq ft at 2 in	3.09	4.32
500 sq ft at 3 in	4.63	6.48
500 sq ft at 4 in	6.17	8.64

How these numbers are worked out

The formula

Volume = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) cubic feet, ÷ 27 for cubic yards. Tons = cubic yards × the stone's density. Density depends on the stone size and type (crushed stone runs roughly 1.3–1.5 ton/cu yd), so it's an editable input — use your supplier's figure for an accurate ton order.

Constants and sources

Volume = L × W × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27 (geometry). Tons = cu yd × density; density (~1.3–1.5 ton/cu yd, by stone type) is an editable, supplier-confirmed material property — not baked in.

How it was checked

Last reviewed June 16, 2026. Before this calculator was published, its formula, constants and worked example were checked in a separate, AI-assisted review that redid the arithmetic and tested the factual claims; the site owner then approved it for publishing. No engineer or tradesperson reviews these pages. Where a figure depends on the product (a density, a coverage rate, a bag size), it is either an input you can change above or a fixed planning value stated on this page, so check it against your product's label or your supplier.

Spot a wrong number or an outdated figure? Send a correction.

Worked example

A 20 × 10 ft area (200 sq ft), 3 in deep, at 1.4 ton/cu yd: 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cu ft = 1.85 cu yd × 1.4 ≈ 2.59 tons.

FAQs

How deep should the crushed stone be?: About 2–3 inches for a decorative ground cover or top dressing, and 4 inches or more for a path, driveway, or structural base (built up in compacted lifts). Deeper layers and driveways are where ordering by the ton really matters.
Why do I have to enter a density?: Because crushed stone isn't one material — pea gravel, #57 stone, and crusher run all weigh different amounts per cubic yard (roughly 1.3–1.5 ton). The cubic-yard volume is pure geometry, but turning it into tons needs the density of your specific stone, so we keep it editable rather than guessing.
Should I add extra for compaction?: It depends on the stone. Dense-graded stone like crusher run is meant to be compacted into a base — order about 20% more than the in-place volume, since it loses volume when tamped. Open-graded stone (#57, pea gravel) and loose decorative layers compact very little, so the figure here is about right as-is.