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Gravel · Crushed Stone

Crushed Stone Calculator

Angular, quarried and self-locking — crushed stone is the structural member of the aggregate family. Enter finished dimensions; the tool handles the loose-to-compacted arithmetic.

MaterialsCalc Editorial TeamMaterialsCalc Editorial TeamConstruction Estimating EditorsJuly 15, 2026

Contents

  1. 1.Loose vs compacted: what you're really ordering
  2. 2.Worked example: French drain
  3. 3.Compaction rules that protect the estimate

Loose vs compacted: what you're really ordering

Formula

Tons = in-place volume × compacted density ÷ 2,000

in-place volume
finished dimensions after compaction
compacted density
≈109 lb/ft³ #57 · 140 crusher run

Weight is conserved through compaction — order the tons, and expect the loose pile to be 10–15% bigger than the finished layer.

This is the concept that separates clean estimates from short ones: a compacted 4-inch base consumes about 4.5 inches of delivered loose stone. The calculator reports both volumes so the takeoff, the delivery ticket, and the finished grade all reconcile. Densities by size live in the crushed stone weight guide and the density database.

Worked example: French drain

Worked example

A 60 ft French drain: trench 12 in wide × 18 in deep, 4 in perforated pipe, #57 stone throughout.

  1. 1

    Trench volume

    60 × 1.0 × 1.5 = 90 ft³

  2. 2

    Subtract the pipe

    90 − (π × 0.167² × 60 = 5.2) ≈ 85 ft³

  3. 3

    Tons of #57 (drainage stone stays loose: 100 lb/ft³)

    85 × 100 ÷ 2,000 = 4.25 tons

  4. 4

    Add 10%

    4.25 × 1.10 = 4.7 tons

Result: Order 5 tons of #57. Wrap the trench in geotextile or the surrounding soil will clog the stone in a few seasons.

Compaction rules that protect the estimate

Full application matrix in the crushed stone best uses guide.
ApplicationStoneTypical section
Concrete slab base#57 or crusher run4 in compacted
Driveway baseCrusher run over #28 in in two lifts
French drain#57 cleanPipe + 4–6 in surround
Paver baseCrusher run + 1 in stone dust bed4–6 in compacted
Mud control / construction access#2 (2–3 in)6 in, choked with crusher run

Frequently asked questions

The crushed stone series

Crushed Stone Sizes#1 through #10 and stone dust, decoded.GuideCrushed Stone WeightLoose vs compacted, by size and type.GuideCrushed Stone CostPer-ton pricing from crusher run to specialty.GuideCrushed Stone vs GravelAngular vs rounded — why it changes everything.ComparisonCrushed Stone Best UsesMatching stone size to job, from French drains to bases.GuideCrushed Stone Coverage ChartCoverage per ton at every depth.Chart

Related tools & references

Gravel CalculatorDriveway Gravel CalculatorGravel Size ChartGravel Density DatabaseConcrete Slab Calculator

Sources & references

  1. [1]ASTM D448: Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate — ASTM International, 2017
  2. [2]AASHTO M 43: Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction — AASHTO, 2018
  3. [3]ASTM C29/C29M: Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate — ASTM International, 2017

Crushed Stone Calculator

Angular crushed stone by size number. Enter finished (in-place) dimensions — the result includes the loose volume that will arrive on the truck.

Depth after compaction for bases; as-placed depth for drainage stone.