Reference
Stone calculator FAQs
22 answers to the questions that come up on every stone order — quantity, coverage, grade, weight, delivery and price. Every figure matches the densities used by the calculators on this site.
Quantity and coverage
- How many square feet does a ton of stone cover?
- About 240 sq ft at 1 inch, 120 sq ft at 2 inches, 80 sq ft at 3 inches and 60 sq ft at 4 inches, for typical crushed stone at 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Heavier dense-graded base covers roughly 25% less.
- How many tons of stone do I need?
- Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the tons per cubic yard for your product (1.35 for clean crushed stone, 1.8 for crusher run). Add 5-10% for compaction.
- How much does a cubic yard of stone weigh?
- 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) for clean crushed stone and screenings, up to 3,645 lb (1.82 tons) for compacted crusher run. Lava rock is far lighter at about 1,350 lb.
- How many cubic yards are in a ton of stone?
- About 0.74 cubic yards per ton for standard crushed stone, and 0.55 for dense-graded base. It is the inverse of the tons-per-yard density.
- How deep should stone be?
- 2-3 inches for decorative beds, 2 inches for walkways over a compacted base, 4 inches of surface stone over 6-8 inches of base for a residential driveway, and 6 inches over 10-12 inches for truck traffic.
- How many bags of stone equal a cubic yard?
- 54 bags at 0.5 cubic feet each, or about 40 fifty-pound bags. Above roughly two cubic yards, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper even with the haul fee.
Choosing the right stone
- What is the difference between #57 stone and crusher run?
- #57 is washed 3/4-1 inch stone with no fines — it drains freely but never locks up, so it stays loose underfoot. Crusher run includes stone dust, so it compacts into a hard, stable base but holds water.
- What stone is best for a driveway?
- Crusher run for the base and #57 or #411 for the surface. If you want a driveway that stays put rather than scattering, use crusher run all the way up and top-dress it.
- What is stone dust used for?
- Setting flagstone and pavers, filling joints, and as a levelling bed. It compacts hard but should never be used where water needs to drain through.
- What size stone is best for drainage?
- #57 clean crushed stone for French drains and around perforated pipe. It has about 40% void space and no fines to clog the fabric.
- Do I need landscape fabric under stone?
- Under decorative beds, yes — it stops the stone sinking into soil and slows weeds. Under a compacted driveway base, use a woven geotextile, not the light garden variety, or skip it on firm ground.
Cost and delivery
- How much does a ton of stone cost?
- $25-$60 per ton picked up at the quarry for crushed stone and gravel, $45-$130 for decorative and washed river rock, and $90-$200 for specialty marble and lava rock. Delivery is on top.
- How much does stone delivery cost?
- $70-$180 per load within 20 miles, charged per trip rather than per ton. A full 20-ton load costs almost the same to deliver as a five-ton one, so combine orders where you can.
- How much stone fits in a pickup truck?
- A half-ton pickup safely carries about 1/2 ton — roughly 1/3 of a cubic yard. A full cubic yard of stone weighs 1.35 tons and will overload most consumer trucks.
- Is it cheaper to buy stone by the yard or by the ton?
- Neither is inherently cheaper; they are the same material measured differently. Convert both quotes to the same unit using the product's density before comparing.
Weight and unit conversions
- How much does a cubic foot of stone weigh?
- 100-135 lb for loose crushed stone and 150-175 lb for solid rock — granite 165, limestone 160, marble 170, slate 175, sandstone 150.
- How many pounds is a stone in weight?
- 14 pounds, or 6.35 kg. The stone is a British unit of body weight — different from the stone you buy by the ton, which is why both types of calculator live here.
- How many tonnes is a cubic metre of stone?
- About 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre for loose crushed stone, and 2.2-2.7 tonnes for solid rock.
- How much does a boulder weigh?
- Weight grows with the cube of diameter: a 1 ft boulder is about 40 lb, a 2 ft boulder 320 lb, a 3 ft boulder 1,080 lb and a 4 ft boulder over 2,500 lb.
Using these calculators
- Are these stone calculators free?
- Yes — every calculator on the site is free, needs no sign-up, and runs in your browser. Results can be printed or saved as a PDF, and each one produces a shareable link that keeps your inputs.
- How accurate are the results?
- The maths is exact; the densities are industry standards. Real material varies by ±10-15% depending on moisture, grading and how tightly it is compacted, which is why every tool includes a waste allowance.
- Which calculator should I use?
- Pick the one that matches your product: the aggregate calculators for anything bought by the ton, the specialty tools for veneer, patios, walls and gabions, and the conversion tools for switching between tons, yards, kilograms and cubic metres.