Stone calculator
Stone Compaction Calculator
Order the loose volume, build the compacted depth. This applies the right compaction factor so you do not run short on the last lift.
Your project
Compaction factor: loose volume ÷ compacted volume.
Density is what turns volume into tons. Confirm it with your quarry when ordering.
Loose volume to order
7.11
cubic yards (loose)
- Finished compacted volume
- 5.93 cu yd
- Loose depth to place
- 4.8"
- Compaction allowance
- 20%
- Tons to order
- 9.6
- Number of 4" lifts
- 1
Compact in lifts of 4 inches or less. A plate compactor cannot densify the bottom of an 8 inch dump, and the settlement will show up as a dip within a year.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
Why loose and compacted volumes differ
Freshly dumped aggregate is full of voids. Compaction rearranges the particles so the fines fill the gaps between the coarse stone, which reduces volume without removing any material. Dense-graded base typically loses 15-20%; clean single-sized stone barely moves because there are no fines to migrate.
Suppliers sell loose material by weight, and weight does not change with compaction — but the depth you get from a given tonnage does. That is why a 4 inch compacted spec needs roughly 4.8 inches of loose stone placed.
Getting compaction right
Compact at near-optimum moisture. Dry dense-graded base will not bind, and saturated base pumps under the plate. Squeeze a handful: it should hold shape without releasing water.
Use a plate compactor of at least 3,000 lbf for base work, and make three to four passes per lift in alternating directions. A jumping jack is for trenches; a roller is for anything above about 1,000 sq ft.
Compaction factors
| Material | Volume loss | Loose depth for 4" compacted |
|---|---|---|
| Dense-graded base / crusher run | 20% | 4.8" |
| Screenings / stone dust | 15% | 4.6" |
| Bedding sand | 10% | 4.4" |
| Clean #57 stone | 5% | 4.2" |
| Soil / fill | 25% | 5.0" |
Frequently asked questions
+How much does crushed stone compact?
Dense-graded base with fines compacts 15-20% by volume. Clean, single-sized stone compacts about 5% because there are no fines to fill voids.
+How much extra stone should I order for compaction?
Add 20% to the compacted volume for base material, 15% for screenings and 5% for clean stone — then add your normal waste allowance on top.
+How deep can I compact in one lift?
Four inches with a plate compactor, six with a heavy roller. Deeper than that and only the top of the layer densifies.
+Does clean #57 stone need compacting?
It needs consolidating rather than compacting. Two passes settle the stone into interlock; more passes achieve nothing because there are no fines to move.