Stone calculator for Washington
Check tonnage for graded stone from 3/8 inch chips up to railroad ballast.
Enter your project dimensions
Orders for crushed stone are placed by the ton. Most grades weigh about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, which works out to 1.4 tons per yard. This calculator uses the selected material's weight for twelve graded products, beginning with 3/8 inch chips and ending with 2.5 inch railroad ballast. A contractor may use a specification number, while a homeowner may describe the project. The guide below connects either description to the needed stone.
Calculation method
- For a pad or driveway, get square feet by multiplying length and width. For a drain, use trench length and trench width.
- Set the depth for the work being done: use 2 to 3 inches for a top layer, 4 inches for a base, and 12 inches or more for French drains.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Estimate typical crushed stone tons by multiplying yards × 1.4.
Product weight guide
| Product | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| #57 / #67 / 3/4" crushed stone | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| #89 / #8 / 3/8" chips | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Stone screenings / dust | ≈ 2,900 lb | 1.45 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| #4 stone / railroad ballast | ≈ 2,900 lb | 1.45 |
| Rip rap | ≈ 3,100 lb | 1.55 |
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 39 sq ft |
Understanding stone sizes
A grade number identifies a stone-size range, with lower numbers referring to larger rock. #4 measures 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. For drainage, driveways, and concrete work, #57 is a common 3/16 to 1 inch size. #67 is finer, ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and often goes around pipe. #8 ranges about 3/32 to 3/8 inch. #89 combines 3/8 inch material with fines. Use those finer grades for paver joints and finish courses. Screenings mix chips and dust into a compactable, screed-ready bed. Railroad ballast uses angular rock from 1 to 2.5 inches to support loads and move water below tracks and equipment pads.
Clean stone or fines? Choose by use
Aggregate on this page serves two main purposes. Washed #57 stays open so water can move through it, making it useful for drainage. Crusher run and road base contain fines that compact into a supporting layer. Mixing up those uses causes problems: crusher run can hold water in a French drain, and #57 under a driveway can keep shifting. West of the Cascades, hardpan makes a draining base especially important. When a plan or permit identifies a gradation, use the material it calls for. If a product name is unclear, send the listing by text to (206) 582-6792; "3/4 clean" and "#57" may be different names for the same material.
Common order examples
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 30 ft x 12" x 12" | 12" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Pipe bedding (#67) | 40 ft x 18" wide | 6" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Retaining-wall backfill | 30 ft x 18" wide | 24" | 3.3 yd³ | 4.7 tons |
| Construction entrance (#4) | 40 x 12 ft | 6" | 8.9 yd³ | 12.9 tons |
| Dog run | 15 x 8 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Shed pad top course | 10 x 12 ft | 2" | 0.7 yd³ | 1 tons |
Example: 30-foot French drain
For a trench measuring 30 feet long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep, the volume is 30 cubic feet. That equals 1.1 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of #57. A 4-inch pipe in the trench removes only about 0.1 yards of space, so purchase the full 1.6 tons and put the extra at the outfall. Line the trench with non-woven fabric before placing stone. The fabric blocks soil from filling the open spaces that carry water away.
Two ways to avoid wrong orders
- Check the specification first, then the name used for it. Crusher run, crush and run, 1 1/4 Minus, and CSBC can refer to one product. #57 and "57s" also name the same stone.
- Angular material that is rolled can compact by 5 to 10%. Select the calculator's extra-percent toggle for typical settling. Use the required compacted depth for engineered base work.
- Build paver support with compacted base stone, then use screenings or concrete sand as the thin leveling layer. Do not place pavers directly on dust over soft soil.
- Calculate the trench volume without deducting the pipe. Pipes below 6 inches seldom reduce the needed amount by more than a wheelbarrow load.
Crushed stone facts
What does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?
How much ground will a ton of #57 cover?
How are #57, #67, and #89 different?
How deep should driveway stone be?
Stone dust or sand below pavers?
Which stone works in a French drain?
Will crushed stone compact?
How is railroad ballast used away from tracks?
More calculators
Stone for specified projects
Twelve graded stone options, priced per ton, with free delivery across Washington.
