THE SHORT ANSWER
A gravel shed base is a bed of ¾ in clean crushed stone, 4 to 6 in deep, that reaches 1 ft past the shed on every side, held by a pressure-treated frame on fabric. A 10 × 12 ft shed needs a 12 × 14 ft pad: about 2.1 cubic yards and 2.7–2.9 t of stone at 4 in, or 3.1 yd³ and 4.0–4.4 t at 6 in. At the recorded list prices that stone costs about $115–124 (4 in) to $173–186 (6 in) before delivery.
A gravel shed base is a level bed of crushed stone inside a lumber frame. The shed’s skids or floor sit on the stone, water drains through it instead of pooling under the floor, and the frame keeps the stone where it was spread. The sizes and depths below come from shed makers’ own site-preparation pages; the quantities and prices come from the crushed stone weights and list prices in our ledgers.
What shed makers ask for
Three sellers who deliver sheds onto customer-built pads publish nearly the same specification: ¾ in clean crushed stone, 4 to 6 in deep, reaching 1 ft past the shed on every side. One dealer asks for a deeper bed. The table quotes each page.
| Source | Stone | Depth | Pad size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheds Unlimited (Pennsylvania) | ¾ clean stone; “DO NOT use river stone (smooth stones), small stones … or a clean stone / smaller pieces mix” | “at least 4″ deep no matter how small the shed is”; 4–6 in, “deeper if it is a larger shed” | “18″–2′ longer and wider than the shed itself” |
| Jamaica Cottage Shop (Vermont) | “Clean Stone” at ¾ in, crushed, not smooth river gravel | 6 in for small sheds, up to 12 in for large cottages | “the area of the building, plus a foot on every side” |
| The Barn Yard (New England) | ¾ in crushed stone | 4–6 in | “1′ larger than the footprint on each side” |
| Old Hickory Buildings dealer (Deep River, ON) | Crushed stone, tamped | 8–12 in | Organic material removed from an area 2 ft wider and longer than the building |
“Clean” means the stone has been washed or screened of fines, so water passes through it. ¾ in clean crushed stone matches AASHTO size No. 67 (¾ in to No. 4) or No. 57 (1 in to No. 4) in Florida DOT’s size table, the #57 stone most yards stock. Crushed stone has angular faces that lock together under a compactor; the shed makers rule out rounded river stone and pea gravel for that reason.
How big the pad is
Add 2 ft to each dimension of the shed: 1 ft on every side. A 10 × 12 ft shed needs a 12 × 14 ft pad. The frame runs around the pad’s outside edge, so its length is the pad’s perimeter, and the fabric covers the pad’s area.
| Shed | Pad | Pad area | Frame (perimeter) | Floor area vs the IRC 200 ft² permit exemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 10 × 10 ft | 100 ft² | 40 ft | 64 ft², within |
| 8 × 10 ft | 10 × 12 ft | 120 ft² | 44 ft | 80 ft², within |
| 8 × 12 ft | 10 × 14 ft | 140 ft² | 48 ft | 96 ft², within |
| 10 × 10 ft | 12 × 12 ft | 144 ft² | 48 ft | 100 ft², within |
| 10 × 12 ft | 12 × 14 ft | 168 ft² | 52 ft | 120 ft², within |
| 10 × 16 ft | 12 × 18 ft | 216 ft² | 60 ft | 160 ft², within |
| 12 × 16 ft | 14 × 18 ft | 252 ft² | 64 ft | 192 ft², within |
| 12 × 20 ft | 14 × 22 ft | 308 ft² | 72 ft | 240 ft², over |
| 12 × 24 ft | 14 × 26 ft | 364 ft² | 80 ft | 288 ft², over |
| 14 × 28 ft | 16 × 30 ft | 480 ft² | 92 ft | 392 ft², over |
The 2021 International Residential Code exempts from a permit “one-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet” (R105.2). The exemption counts the shed’s floor, not the pad, and R105.2 adds that it does not authorize work that breaks other rules, so check setbacks and height limits with your building department before you dig.
How much stone a shed pad takes
Stone volume is the pad area times the depth. The weight uses the two ¾ in crushed stone figures in our density ledger, 2,600 and 2,800 lb per cubic yard (Birch Tree Bark & Stone and LandCare Stone, recorded September 23, 2026). Bags are 0.5 ft³, the common size for bagged crushed stone, to show how fast bags stop making sense.
| Shed (pad) | 4 in deep: yd³ | 4 in: tons | 4 in: 0.5 ft³ bags | 6 in deep: yd³ | 6 in: tons | 6 in: bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft (10 × 10 ft) | 1.23 | 1.6–1.7 t | 67 | 1.85 | 2.4–2.6 t | 100 |
| 8 × 10 ft (10 × 12 ft) | 1.48 | 1.9–2.1 t | 80 | 2.22 | 2.9–3.1 t | 120 |
| 8 × 12 ft (10 × 14 ft) | 1.73 | 2.3–2.4 t | 94 | 2.59 | 3.4–3.6 t | 140 |
| 10 × 10 ft (12 × 12 ft) | 1.78 | 2.3–2.5 t | 96 | 2.67 | 3.5–3.7 t | 144 |
| 10 × 12 ft (12 × 14 ft) | 2.07 | 2.7–2.9 t | 112 | 3.11 | 4.0–4.4 t | 168 |
| 10 × 16 ft (12 × 18 ft) | 2.67 | 3.5–3.7 t | 144 | 4.00 | 5.2–5.6 t | 216 |
| 12 × 16 ft (14 × 18 ft) | 3.11 | 4.0–4.4 t | 168 | 4.67 | 6.1–6.5 t | 252 |
| 12 × 20 ft (14 × 22 ft) | 3.80 | 4.9–5.3 t | 206 | 5.70 | 7.4–8.0 t | 308 |
| 12 × 24 ft (14 × 26 ft) | 4.49 | 5.8–6.3 t | 243 | 6.74 | 8.8–9.4 t | 364 |
| 14 × 28 ft (16 × 30 ft) | 5.93 | 7.7–8.3 t | 320 | 8.89 | 11.6–12.4 t | 480 |
Even the smallest pad, 10 × 10 ft at 4 in, is 67 bags; order in bulk by the ton or the yard. These are loose volumes before compaction. Crushed stone settles when it is tamped, so buy to the compacted depth you want plus the supplier’s rounding; for a pad not in the table, use the crushed stone calculator with the pad length, width and depth.
What the stone costs
We recorded 10 list prices for ¾ in clean crushed stone and #57 on September 23, 2026, from 9 supplier lists. By the ton they run $21.50 to $69, median $42.75; by the yard $33 to $174.99. Delivery is extra on every list.
| Supplier | Location | Product | Price | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.J. Grondin & Sons | Gorham, ME | 3/4 inch Crushed Stone | $24 per yd³ | Loaded at the pit; delivery extra |
| Young's Sand & Gravel | Loudonville, OH | #57 Gravel (washed) | $21.50 per yd³ | Pickup; delivery quoted |
| Young's Sand & Gravel | Loudonville, OH | #57 Limestone | $36 per yd³ | Pickup; delivery quoted |
| Bracht Bros | Forest Lake, MN | Tan Limestone 3/4 inch Clean | $49.50 per yd³ | Pickup; plus county tax |
| Piedmont Landscape Materials | Concord, NC | 57 Stone | $69 per yd³ | Delivery from $50 |
| Mulch Pros Landscape Supply | Cumming, GA | #57 Stone | $58.95 per yd³ | Free pickup; delivery per mile |
| R.J. Grondin & Sons | Gorham, ME | 3/4 inch Crushed Stone | $33 per yd³ | Loaded at the pit; delivery extra |
| Main's Landscape Supply | Southfield, MI | Crushed Limestone 6A, 3/4 inch clean | $71.99 per yd³ | Delivery extra |
| BOSS Boone One Stop Supply | Wake Forest, NC | Clean (Washed) Stone #57 | $59.77 per yd³ | Delivery at checkout |
| Texas Garden Materials | Houston, TX | Limestone Gravel 3/4 inch, washed | $174.99 per yd³ | Pickup; delivery at checkout |
| Shed (pad) | 4 in deep at the median | 4 in, lowest to highest list | 6 in deep at the median | 6 in, lowest to highest list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft (10 × 10 ft) | $69–74 | $35–119 | $103–111 | $52–179 |
| 8 × 10 ft (10 × 12 ft) | $82–89 | $41–143 | $124–133 | $62–215 |
| 8 × 12 ft (10 × 14 ft) | $96–103 | $48–167 | $144–155 | $72–250 |
| 10 × 10 ft (12 × 12 ft) | $99–106 | $50–172 | $148–160 | $75–258 |
| 10 × 12 ft (12 × 14 ft) | $115–124 | $58–200 | $173–186 | $87–301 |
| 10 × 16 ft (12 × 18 ft) | $148–160 | $75–258 | $222–239 | $112–386 |
| 12 × 16 ft (14 × 18 ft) | $173–186 | $87–301 | $259–279 | $130–451 |
| 12 × 20 ft (14 × 22 ft) | $211–228 | $106–367 | $317–341 | $159–551 |
| 12 × 24 ft (14 × 26 ft) | $250–269 | $126–434 | $375–403 | $188–651 |
| 14 × 28 ft (16 × 30 ft) | $329–355 | $166–572 | $494–532 | $248–859 |
The stone is the smaller bill. Sheds Unlimited puts a built pad at about $5 per square foot, “around $600” for an 8 × 10 shed and “around $840” for 10 × 12, which covers excavation, lumber, fabric and labour as well as stone. A load this size also pays the short-load rate: the dump truck load guide shows how the delivered price per ton falls as the order grows.
Frame, fabric and compaction
Sheds Unlimited and Jamaica Cottage Shop both list pressure-treated 4×4, 4×6 or 6×6 lumber for the frame and a weed-barrier or stabilization fabric between the soil and the stone. Jamaica Cottage Shop spreads the stone in layers of about 4 in and compacts each with a tamper or a plate compactor before adding the next. The Old Hickory dealer asks for a site that is free of standing water all year and has its organic material (turf and topsoil) removed before the stone goes down.
The frame’s job is to hold the stone at its edges so the pad keeps its shape and its level. Set it level on the cut ground first, then fill it; a pad that is out of level transfers the slope to the shed, and most sellers limit how much they will shim.
Clean stone or crusher run?
Yards will offer crusher run or road base for a pad, because it compacts into a hard surface. Virginia DOT defines crusher run as aggregate that “shall contain all of the sizes produced when the original aggregate is reduced through a series of crushers”, fines included; the fines are what lock it together, and they are also why it holds water instead of draining. The shed sellers above specify clean stone so water leaves the space under the floor. The two cost about the same by the ton in our ledger: crusher run and road base list at a median of $43 across 8 lists, against $42.75 for clean stone. If you use crusher run, see the crusher run calculator for its compacted-depth allowance.
How these figures were worked out
- Pad = (shed length + 2 ft) × (shed width + 2 ft); frame = pad perimeter; fabric = pad area.
- Stone (ft³) = pad area × depth ÷ 12; yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27; bags = ft³ ÷ 0.5, rounded up.
- Tons = yd³ × 2,600 or 2,800 lb ÷ 2,000. No compaction or waste allowance.
- Cost = tons × the per-ton list price (median $42.75, lowest $21.50, highest $69); delivery excluded.
Questions
How deep should a gravel shed base be?
At least 4 in, and 6 in is the common figure. Sheds Unlimited and The Barn Yard say 4–6 in, deeper for a larger shed; Jamaica Cottage Shop uses 6 in for small sheds and up to 12 in for large cottages; an Old Hickory Buildings dealer asks for 8–12 in of tamped crushed stone.
Do I need a permit for a shed on a gravel pad?
Under the 2021 International Residential Code, R105.2, a one-story detached accessory structure with a floor area of 200 square feet or less is exempt from a permit, but the same section says the exemption does not authorize work that violates other rules. Many jurisdictions adopt different limits, so ask your building department.
Can I use pea gravel for a shed base?
The shed sellers quoted here say no: Sheds Unlimited rules out smooth river stone and small stones, and Jamaica Cottage Shop asks for crushed stone with angular edges that lock together when compacted. Rounded pea gravel keeps rolling under load instead of locking.
Sources
- Sheds Unlimited: Building a Gravel Shed Pad, Step-By-Step Guide
¾ clean stone, 4–6 in minimum, pad 18 in–2 ft larger, lumber, fabric, $30–60 per yd³ and about $5 per ft² built.
- Jamaica Cottage Shop: Building Gravel Foundations for Sheds and Cottages
¾ in clean crushed stone, 6–12 in, 1 ft on every side, 4×4–6×6 frame, fabric, compaction in 4 in layers.
- The Barn Yard: Site Preparation
¾ in crushed stone, 4–6 in deep, 1 ft larger than the footprint on each side.
- Old Hickory Buildings Deep River: Getting ready for your new building
8–12 in of tamped crushed stone; area 2 ft wider and longer; no standing water.
- International Code Council: 2021 International Residential Code, R105.2 Work exempt from permit
200 ft² floor-area exemption for one-story detached accessory structures.
- Florida DOT: Section 901, Table 1, Standard Sizes of Coarse Aggregate
AASHTO No. 57 and No. 67 size ranges.
- Virginia DOT: Road and Bridge Specifications 2020, §205
Definition of crusher run.
- LandCare Stone: 3/4 inch Crushed Stone
2,800 lb per cubic yard; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Birch Tree Bark & Stone: 3/4 inch Crushed Limestone
2,600 lb per cubic yard; recorded September 23, 2026.
- R.J. Grondin & Sons: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Gorham, ME; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Young's Sand & Gravel: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Loudonville, OH; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Bracht Bros: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Forest Lake, MN; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Piedmont Landscape Materials: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Concord, NC; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Mulch Pros Landscape Supply: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Cumming, GA; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Main's Landscape Supply: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Southfield, MI; recorded September 23, 2026.
- BOSS Boone One Stop Supply: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Wake Forest, NC; recorded September 23, 2026.
- Texas Garden Materials: price list
Clean crushed stone or #57 list price, Houston, TX; recorded September 23, 2026.
The sources for this guide are listed above; prices and specifications change, so confirm them with your supplier before you order. How we source and calculate · Report an error