Stone calculator
Crusher Dust Calculator
Crusher dust compacts to a hard, almost sealed surface. Enter the area and depth for tonnage, volume and cost, in both imperial and metric.
Your project
Paths need 2". Shed slabs and driveway sub-bases want 3-4" compacted.
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Delivered crusher dust typically runs $18-$40 per ton.
Crusher dust needed
4.2
US tons · includes 5% waste
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 3.11 cubic yards
- Volume (cubic feet)
- 84 cu ft
- Total weight
- 8,400 lb
- Density used
- 100 lb per cu ft (1.35 tons/yd³)
- Truckloads (15-ton)
- 1
- Estimated delivered cost
- $122
Quarry densities vary by source and moisture. Confirm tons per cubic yard with your supplier before placing a bulk order — a 10% density difference is a whole extra load on a big job.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
What crusher dust is
Crusher dust is the Australian and UK name for the same product US suppliers call screenings or stone dust: sub-5 mm crushed rock fines with no washing step. Because the grading is continuous down to powder, it densifies under a plate compactor into a surface you can barely dent with a boot heel.
At 100 lb per cubic foot, one cubic yard weighs about 1.35 US tons, and one ton spread 2" deep covers roughly 120 square feet.
How to install it
Lay it in 50 mm (2 inch) lifts and compact each lift wet — dry crusher dust will not bind. Two thin compacted lifts always beat one thick loose one.
The mistake that costs the most
Laying it as a final driveway surface. It sheds water beautifully until a car turns its wheels on the spot, which grinds a hollow that then ponds. Cap it with a coarse aggregate wearing course if vehicles use it daily.
The math behind the calculator
Square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) = cubic feet. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Cubic feet × 100 ÷ 2,000 = US tons. The waste allowance is applied to the volume before the weight conversion, which is how suppliers quote it.
Crusher dust needed per 100 square feet
At 100 lb per cubic foot, before waste.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.42 |
| 2" | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.83 |
| 3" | 25 | 0.93 | 1.25 |
| 4" | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.67 |
| 6" | 50 | 1.85 | 2.5 |
| 12" | 100 | 3.7 | 5 |
Recommended depth by application
| Application | Depth |
|---|---|
| Garden path | 2" / 50 mm |
| Shed or tank base | 3-4" / 75-100 mm |
| Paver bedding | 1" / 25 mm |
| Driveway sub-base | 4-6" / 100-150 mm |
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of crusher dust do I need?
Multiply square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then multiply by 100 and divide by 2,000. A 500 sq ft area at 2" needs about 4.17 tons before waste.
+How many tons of crusher dust are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.35 tons at 100 lb per cubic foot. Wet material weighs 5-10% more, which matters when you are buying by the ton and measuring by the yard.
+How deep should crusher dust be?
Garden path: 2" / 50 mm. Shed or tank base: 3-4" / 75-100 mm. Paver bedding: 1" / 25 mm. Driveway sub-base: 4-6" / 100-150 mm.
+What does crusher dust cost?
$18 – $40 per ton delivered in most US markets, before the haul fee. Short loads carry a minimum charge, so half a load often costs nearly as much as a full one.