By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Crushed stone is the workhorse base material: angular, compactable and free-draining. Order by the cubic yard for small jobs or the ton for delivery, and expect 20% compaction, so a 4-inch loose layer finishes around 3 inches.
Crushed stone volume, tons and cost for bases and paths.
V = L × W × D W = V × ρ Cost = V × price
Depth is entered in inches. Bulk density is taken as 1,600 kg/m³ (¾-inch crushed stone, loose); real material varies with moisture and compaction, so treat the total as an estimate and add 5–10% for settling.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L, W | Length and width of the area being covered. |
| D | Spread depth of the material. |
| V | Volume in cubic yards (and cubic metres). |
| ρ | Bulk density of the material. |
| W | Total weight, shown in pounds and US tons. |
450 sq ft at 4 inches is 150 cu ft, or 5.56 cu yd — about 8.9 tonnes (9.8 US tons) of crushed stone.
Continue with the Asphalt Calculator, Gravel Driveway Calculator, Road Base Calculator, or the Concrete Driveway Cost Calculator — or browse more driveways & paving and all construction calculators.
Number 3 or 4 (1–2 inch) for the base and number 57 (¾ inch) for the surface. Fines help it lock together.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026