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Stone and Rock Calculator

Tons of stone
Cubic yards
Cost estimate
Project DimensionsFree - Instant

How Stone Weight Is Calculated

Volume (cu ft) = Length x Width x (Depth in / 12)
Cubic Yards = Volume / 27
Tons = Cubic Yards x density (tons/yd)

Who Is This Calculator For?

Anyone planning a project that requires stone, gravel, or rock and needs to know how many tons to order.

Homeowners building a driveway
Calculate tons of crushed stone needed for a gravel driveway base and top layer before calling a quarry.
Landscapers designing garden paths
Estimate pea gravel or river rock quantities for pathways, borders, and decorative landscape beds.
Contractors pricing drainage projects
Get the stone volume needed for French drains, dry creek beds, or foundation drainage before bidding.
DIYers topping a gravel parking area
Know how many tons to order when refreshing a worn gravel surface that has thinned with use.
Property owners building retaining areas
Estimate crushed limestone or decomposed granite needed for slope stabilization or erosion control.
Builders preparing compactable base
Calculate aggregate base material for patios, pavers, sheds, and outdoor structures before pouring.

When Should You Use It?

  • Before calling a stone supplier to get an accurate tonnage quote
  • When switching stone types to see how density affects the total weight and cost
  • To check whether bulk stone from a quarry is cheaper than bagged stone from a store
  • When your project covers multiple zones with different depths or stone types
  • Any time you need to convert between cubic yards and tons for a materials order

Example Calculations

Example 1: Two-car gravel driveway

A homeowner wants to cover a 20 ft x 40 ft driveway with 4 inches of crushed stone #57.

Volume = 20 x 40 x (4/12) = 266.7 cu ft
Cubic Yards = 266.7 / 27 = 9.9 cu yd
Tons = 9.9 x 1.5 (crushed stone) = 14.8 tons
At $45/ton: 14.8 x $45 = ~$666 in material

Example 2: Decorative landscape path

A landscaper needs pea gravel for a 50 ft x 4 ft garden path at 2 inches deep.

Volume = 50 x 4 x (2/12) = 33.3 cu ft
Cubic Yards = 33.3 / 27 = 1.23 cu yd
Tons = 1.23 x 1.4 (pea gravel) = 1.72 tons

Common Mistakes to Avoid

!
Ordering by cubic yards when the supplier quotes by tons
Stone quarries sell by the ton; landscape supply companies sometimes sell by the cubic yard. Make sure you know which unit your quote is in. One cubic yard of crushed stone is about 1.5 tons, not 1 ton.
!
Using 2 inches of stone for a driveway
Two inches is enough for decorative ground cover but will quickly get displaced under vehicle tires. Driveways need a minimum of 3 inches of compacted base stone, and ideally 4 inches with a 1-2 inch top layer of smaller aggregate.
!
Choosing pea gravel for a parking area
Pea gravel is smooth and round and will not compact, making it unsuitable for vehicle traffic. It migrates and forms ruts. Use angular crushed stone (like #57 or #21A) for any area that supports vehicles.
!
Not including an edge or border in your measurements
If you are building a path with edging, measure to the inside of the edging, not the outside. Stone placed outside the border is wasted.
!
Forgetting the delivery weight limit
A standard dump truck carries about 10-14 tons of stone. If your project needs 5 tons or less, check if the supplier has a smaller delivery option or you may be paying for a full truck with half the load.

Frequently Asked Questions

A standard two-car driveway (20 ft x 20 ft) at 3-4 inches deep needs about 5-7 tons of crushed stone. For a longer driveway, use our calculator - multiply length x width x depth (in feet) x 1.5 (density factor) / 27 to get tons of crushed stone #57.

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Sources & References

1
Geological Society of America - Aggregate Density Standards
Source for stone density values used in the calculator: crushed stone #57 at 1.5 t/yd, pea gravel at 1.4 t/yd, river rock at 1.35 t/yd, limestone at 1.6 t/yd.
2
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA)
Industry source for aggregate use guidelines, depth recommendations for driveways, and the advice that crushed angular stone is required for compactable vehicle surfaces.
3
ASTM D2940 - Specification for Graded Aggregate Material for Bases
Standard source for minimum aggregate base thickness and compaction requirements for driveways and paved surfaces.
HR
Hassaan Rasheed
Developer and Researcher, CalculatorFlux

Researches and verifies the formulas, methodology, and source data behind each calculator on CalculatorFlux. All tools are built and checked against the cited references before publication.

Last updated: May 2026
Stone Density Reference
Stone TypeTons/yd
Crushed Stone #571.5
Pea Gravel1.4
River Rock1.35
Limestone1.6
Decomposed Granite1.5
Lava Rock0.8
Pro Tip
Stone is often sold by the ton at quarries and by the bag (0.5 cu ft) at home improvement stores. Bulk stone by the ton is almost always significantly cheaper than bagged for any project over a few square yards.
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