{"id":"crushed-stone-calculator","name":"Crushed Stone Calculator — Compacted Yards and Tons","shortName":"Crushed Stone Calculator","canonicalUrl":"https://calcurhome.com/calculators/crushed-stone-calculator","catalogUrl":"https://calcurhome.com/api/calculators","category":{"id":"landscaping","name":"Landscaping","url":"https://calcurhome.com/calculators/category/landscaping"},"language":"en-US","audience":"US homeowners, DIYers and home-project planners","primaryKeyword":"crushed stone calculator","secondaryKeywords":["stone calculator","crushed stone tons calculator","crushed rock calculator","aggregate calculator","crusher run calculator","stone base calculator","compacted aggregate calculator"],"description":"Calculate crushed stone tons and loose cubic yards from compacted dimensions, density, compaction allowance and waste for bases and drainage.","directAnswer":"Crushed stone orders should start with the compacted finished volume, not the size of the loose delivery pile. This calculator increases finished cubic yards by a compaction allowance and waste, then applies the entered loose density. Use the supplier’s gradation-specific density because crusher run and clean stone differ.","inputs":[{"key":"length","label":"Course length","unit":"ft","defaultValue":30,"min":0.1,"step":0.1},{"key":"width","label":"Course width","unit":"ft","defaultValue":10,"min":0.1,"step":0.1},{"key":"depth","label":"Compacted depth","unit":"in","defaultValue":4,"min":0.25,"step":0.25},{"key":"compaction","label":"Compaction allowance","unit":"%","defaultValue":15,"min":0,"max":40,"step":1},{"key":"density","label":"Loose stone density","unit":"tons/yd³","defaultValue":1.5,"min":0.1,"step":0.05},{"key":"waste","label":"Waste allowance","unit":"%","defaultValue":5,"min":0,"max":30,"step":1}],"formula":{"title":"Loose crushed stone order formula","expression":"Loose yd³ = compacted length × width × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × compaction factor × waste factor; tons = loose yd³ × density.","explanation":"Angular aggregate loses apparent volume when compacted. The calculation first establishes finished compacted geometry, then estimates the additional loose product required for densification and handling."},"measurementGuide":["Measure each course independently when a section includes different aggregate gradations.","Enter the design’s compacted thickness, not the depth of freshly spread loose stone.","Average several widths for flared sections or divide them into rectangles and triangles.","Obtain loose bulk density and expected shrinkage from the quarry or testing data."],"buyingTips":["Specify gradation and intended use; similarly named crushed products are not interchangeable.","Ask whether the quoted tonnage is based on moist scale weight and whether delivery minimums apply.","Plan delivery, grading, water, and compaction equipment together to avoid an exposed unfinished lift.","Order separate clean drainage stone and dense-graded base rather than blending their quantities."],"workedExample":{"title":"Compacted patio base","scenario":"A 30 ft by 10 ft base is 4 in compacted, with 15% compaction allowance, 5% waste, and 1.5 tons/yd³.","result":"The finished volume is 3.70 yd³; order about 4.47 loose yd³, estimated at 6.71 tons."},"commonQuestions":[{"question":"What density should I use for crushed stone?","answer":"Use the quarry’s loose bulk density for the exact gradation and moisture condition. If none is available, 1.5 tons per cubic yard is a planning assumption, not a purchasing guarantee. Clean, uniformly sized stone can have more void space than dense-graded aggregate."},{"question":"What is the difference between crushed stone and gravel?","answer":"Crushed stone is mechanically broken and typically angular, while natural gravel may have smoother rounded particles. Angular, well-graded material can interlock under compaction. Product names vary regionally, so specify gradation, fines content, and intended application instead of relying on terminology."},{"question":"How much does crushed stone compact?","answer":"There is no universal percentage. Gradation, moisture, placement thickness, equipment, and target density all matter. Fifteen percent is a useful preliminary allowance for loose volume, but a supplier or geotechnical specification should provide the job-specific relationship for structural work."},{"question":"Can I compact crushed stone in one thick layer?","answer":"Usually, aggregate is placed in controlled lifts so compaction energy reaches the full thickness. Maximum loose lift thickness depends on material, equipment, moisture, and specification. Follow the project requirements or local professional guidance; the calculator does not design the compaction procedure."}],"sources":[{"name":"Federal Highway Administration — Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide","url":"https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/pubs/ots15002.pdf","note":"Federal guidance on aggregate selection, placement, moisture, and compaction."},{"name":"National Institute of Standards and Technology — SI Units: Volume","url":"https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/si-units-volume","note":"Federal reference for volume units and unit relationships."}],"defaultCalculation":{"inputs":{"length":30,"width":10,"depth":4,"compaction":15,"density":1.5,"waste":5},"result":{"value":"4.47","unit":"loose cubic yards","label":"Crushed stone order","lines":[{"label":"Finished compacted volume","value":"3.7 yd³"},{"label":"Loose volume after compaction allowance","value":"4.26 yd³"},{"label":"Handling and waste volume","value":"0.21 yd³"},{"label":"Estimated order weight","value":"6.71 tons"},{"label":"Finished area","value":"300 sq ft"}],"summary":"Allow 4.47 loose yd³, estimated at 6.71 tons, for the entered compacted course.","note":"Quantity only. Confirm aggregate specification, lift thickness, moisture conditioning, and achieved field compaction with the project professional or supplier."}},"reviewedOn":"2026-08-03","disclaimer":"Planning estimate only. Verify product coverage, supplier rounding, local codes and structural requirements before purchase or construction."}