Crushed Rock Calculator
Calculate the cubic yards and tons of crushed rock needed for bases, driveways and drainage.
What you need
2.72cu yd
Crushed Rock needed — Order this much loose material, including your waste allowance.
- Same amount in cubic feet
- 73.3 cu ft
- Approximate weight
- 3.94 US tons
- Area you are covering
- 200.0 sq ft
- Bags needed
- 147
Useful for checking trailer, truck or wheelbarrow limits.
Rounded up — you can only buy whole bags.
Estimates for planning. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering — see the assumptions below for the figures used.
How to use the crushed rock calculator
Crushed rock is angular, so it interlocks and compacts into a stable load-bearing layer. That makes it the default choice for driveway and paver bases. Enter your area and depth for volume and tonnage.
What this calculator assumes
Every estimate depends on figures that vary by supplier and conditions. These are the ones used here, so you can sanity-check the result against your own quote.
- Bulk density is assumed to be about 2,900 lb per cubic yard. Loose material varies with moisture and how finely it is ground, so treat the weight as an estimate.
- One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Suppliers almost always sell loose material by the cubic yard.
- Results include whatever waste allowance you entered. Bag counts are rounded up.
- Assumed density is about 2,900 lb per cubic yard loose, around 1.45 US tons.
- Compacted crushed rock loses 15 to 20% of its loose volume. The default 10% allowance is a minimum — increase it if you are compacting in lifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between crushed rock and crusher run?
Crushed rock is screened to a single size, so it drains well but does not compact tightly on its own. Crusher run includes the stone dust and fines, which fill the voids and let it compact into a firm base. Use crusher run for bases and clean crushed rock for drainage.
How much does crushed rock compact?
Expect to lose 15 to 20% of the loose volume once compacted. Order the compacted volume plus that allowance, and compact in lifts of no more than 4 inches — deeper lifts never densify properly at the bottom.
How thick should a crushed rock base be?
Four inches under a paver patio or path, 6 inches for a car driveway, and 8 to 12 inches over soft or clay-heavy subgrade. If tyre ruts appear during construction, the subgrade needs more depth or a geotextile.
How do I measure my area for crushed rock?
Measure the length and width in feet at the widest points and multiply them. For an irregular bed, break it into rectangles, circles and triangles, calculate each one separately and add the results together. Rounding up slightly is safer than rounding down.
Should I order bulk or bags?
Bulk is almost always cheaper per cubic yard once you need more than about 1 cubic yard — roughly 54 bags. Bags win when you need a small amount, have nowhere to dump a pile, or want to spread the job over several weekends.
Will a cubic yard fit in my pickup truck?
A half-ton pickup can usually carry about 1 cubic yard of light material like mulch, but only around half a cubic yard of wet soil or gravel because of the weight. Check the weight figure above against your vehicle's payload rating before you load up.
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