What do the stone numbers mean?

#57 stone is 3/4 inch gravel, the most common size. #411 is 3/4 inch with fines mixed in. #2 stone is 2 to 3 inches. Stone dust is fine screenings under 1/4 inch.

How many tons per cubic yard of crushed stone?

1.3 to 1.6 tons per cubic yard depending on the stone type. #57 stone averages 1.4 tons per yard. Stone dust is heavier at 1.6 tons per yard.

#57 stone vs crusher run?

#57 is clean, washed stone with no fines. It drains well and stays loose. Crusher run has fines that pack down into a firm surface. Use crusher run for compacted bases, #57 for drainage.

What stone is best for drainage?

#57 stone is the standard for drainage behind retaining walls, French drains, and around foundations. Its uniform 3/4-inch size allows water to flow freely through the voids.

Does crushed stone need to be compacted?

Crusher run and #411 compact well due to their mixed sizes. Clean #57 and #2 stone do not compact and are not suitable for load-bearing bases without a binding agent.

What is the delivery minimum for crushed stone?

Most quarries require a 1 to 2 ton minimum (about 1 cubic yard). Delivery typically costs $50 to $100 per load within 10 to 20 miles of the quarry.

How much does crushed stone cost per ton?

#57 stone costs $25 to $50 per ton. Stone dust runs $15 to $35. Riprap costs $30 to $65 per ton. Prices vary by region and distance from the quarry.

LandscapingCrushed Stone Calculator

Crushed Stone Calculator — #57, 3/4", Stone Dust

Q: How deep should crushed stone be?

2 to 3 inches for walkways and patios. 4 to 6 inches for driveways and parking areas. 6 to 12 inches for French drains and heavy equipment pads.

Calculate tons, cubic yards, and cost for #57, 3/4 inch, #411, and stone dust — for driveway base, drainage, pavers, and paths.

Project Details

Common projects

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)

Stone Type

3/4" with fines

1.5 tons/yd³

Fines lock the stone into a tighter surface.

Ready to calculate

Enter dimensions or choose a common project

Last updated May 29, 2026 by our expert review team

Choose Stone by the Job

#57 clean stone

3/4" clean

French drains, drainage beds, washed stone areas

1.4 t/yd³

#411 dense grade

3/4" with fines

Driveway top layer, compacted base, shed pads

1.5 t/yd³

3/4" angular stone

3/4" angular

Base layers, paths, patio support, top dressing

1.45 t/yd³

Stone dust/fines

screenings

Leveling beds, setting stone, compactable surfaces

1.6 t/yd³

#2 base stone

2" to 3"

Deep driveway base, soft subgrade, erosion-prone fill

1.3 t/yd³

Expert Contributors

Creator

Ruth Wairimu

Landscape Architect

Ruth Wairimu

Landscape Architect

Landscape architect with 9+ years of experience, AAK member, IFLA climate activist, and founder of Bloomwell.

See full profile

Expert Review

Hawkin

Certified Cost & Estimating Professional

Hawkin

Certified Cost & Estimating Professional

AACE-certified estimator working with 20+ insulation companies including the two largest franchises in America.

See full profile

Updated May 2026

How we verify our calculators

Crushed Stone Size and Use Guide

Crushed stone use guide showing clean number 57 drainage stone, three-quarter inch angular stone that locks, and stone dust or fines that compact for leveling.

Clean washed stone leaves voids for water. Angular stone locks together under compaction. Stone dust and fines pack flat, but they are not the right choice for drainage.

Pro Tips

Use clean #57 stone where water needs room to move. Washed stone keeps voids open better than dense-grade mixes.

Use #411, crusher run, or another dense-grade aggregate where the surface must compact tight under tires or pavers.

Compact in lifts. For thick bases, spread a thinner layer, compact it, then add the next layer.

Keep stone dust out of drainage trenches. Fines fill the air gaps that make a drain work.

Need a dense driveway base with fines? Use the crusher run calculator for that compactable mix.

For decorative round gravel and walkable paths, compare with the pea gravel calculator.

Ask the yard what they call the stone locally. #57, 3/4 clean, washed stone, and drainage stone can overlap by region.

How the Calculator Works

The calculator turns bed size and depth into loose volume, then converts cubic yards to tons using the selected stone density. Waste covers irregular edges, settling, and material left in the truck bed.

Area

length x width

Volume

area x depth x waste

Weight

cubic yards x density

Order in tons, sanity-check in yards

Most suppliers sell bulk stone by weight. Cubic yards are still useful for checking the volume of the bed and comparing truck capacity.

Quick Reference

Clean drainage stone: #57
Compacting stone: #411, crusher run
Paver base depth: 4 to 6 in
Driveway refresh: 2 to 3 in
Heavy base: 6 to 8 in

Real-World Crushed Stone Examples

Driveway Top Layer

40 x 12 ft, 2 in, #411

4.9 tons, 3.3 yd³

A compactable top-up layer over an existing driveway. Use a dense-grade stone if tires need a tighter surface.

Drainage Trench

50 x 2 ft, 12 in, #57

5.7 tons, 4.1 yd³

Clean washed stone around a perforated pipe. Keep fines and stone dust out of the trench.

Paver Base Layer

16 x 12 ft, 4 in, #411

3.9 tons, 2.6 yd³

A compacted base under patio pavers. Spread in lifts and compact before setting bedding sand.

Metric Shed Pad

4 x 3 m, 10 cm, angular stone

2.3 tonnes, 1.3 m³

A small utility pad in metric mode. Angular stone gives the pad more grip than rounded gravel.

Common Questions

How many tons are in a cubic yard of crushed stone?

Most common crushed stone falls around 1.3 to 1.6 tons per cubic yard. Clean #57 stone is often estimated near 1.4 tons per cubic yard, while fines and stone dust pack heavier.

What crushed stone is best for drainage?

Clean washed stone such as #57 is the usual choice. The missing fines leave open voids so water can move through the stone.

What stone should I use for a compacted base?

Use a dense-grade aggregate with fines, such as #411 or crusher run. The fines help the larger pieces lock under compaction.

How deep should crushed stone be?

Use 2 to 3 inches for a driveway refresh, about 4 to 6 inches for paver or shed bases, and 6 to 8 inches or more for heavier driveway base work.

Is stone dust good for drainage?

No. Stone dust and screenings pack tight. That is useful for leveling, but the fines block the open voids a drain needs.

Should I use landscape fabric under crushed stone?

Use geotextile fabric when stone sits over soil, especially drainage stone. It helps separate stone from soil and keeps fines from migrating upward.

Can I order crushed stone by cubic yard?

Some yards quote in cubic yards, but most bulk deliveries are loaded and billed by ton. This calculator shows both so you can talk to either kind of supplier.

Does washed stone compact?

It settles and tightens a bit, but it does not compact like dense-grade stone with fines. Use the right material for the surface you need.

Crushed Stone Mistakes That Cost You Money

Using clean stone where you need compaction

Clean #57 drains well, but it will not make a tight driveway surface by itself. Use dense-grade stone when the surface needs to lock.

Using fines in a drain

Stone dust, screenings, and crusher run can clog the voids around a pipe. Use washed drainage stone for water movement.

Skipping compaction lifts

Thick layers bridge and settle unevenly. Compact base stone in manageable lifts instead of dumping all the depth at once.

Ordering too close to the exact number

Edges, low spots, moisture, and leftover material in the truck bed can eat up the margin. Ten percent waste is a practical starting point.

Mixing supplier names

One yard's 3/4 clean may be another yard's #57. Confirm size, fines, and whether the stone is washed before ordering.

Important Disclaimer

These estimates are for planning purposes only. Actual costs vary by location, material availability, and project complexity. Always get at least 3 local quotes. This calculator does not replace professional advice.