Base layers · tons, cubic yards and compaction
Crusher run calculator
Enter the length, width and loose depth of a base layer to get crusher run in cubic yards and US tons. The preset is a published supplier weight of 2,450 lb per cubic yard.
How much gravel you need
Enter your dimensions to see cubic yards, tons and bags
Enter your dimensions to see cubic yards, weight and bags, with every assumption explained.
The short answer
How much crusher run do I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by depth in inches, then divide by 324 for cubic yards. A 12 × 40 ft driveway base at 4 in needs 160 ft³, or 5.93 cubic yards, which is about 7.26 US tons at the Yard Works Landscape Supply figure of 2,450 lb per cubic yard (1.23 tons per yard). That is the loose quantity; a compacted base needs more, and the compaction section below shows how to derive the allowance.
The calculation
How to calculate crusher run in four steps
- Measure the area.Length × width in feet gives square feet. Split an L-shape into rectangles and add each as a separate area above.
- Convert the depth.Divide depth in inches by 12. Three inches is 0.25 ft; four inches is 0.333 ft.
- Find the volume.Square feet × depth in feet gives cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Volume does not depend on the material.
- Convert to tons.Multiply cubic yards by the supplier’s pounds per cubic yard and divide by 2,000. At 2,450 lb/yd³ that is 1.23 tons per yard.
Rectangle · US measurements
Length × Width × Depth ÷ 324
Feet × feet × inches → cubic yards
Cubic yards × 2,450 ÷ 2,000
Cubic yards × lb/yd³ → US tons at the reference weight
Read the full calculation method ↗Worked examples
Crusher run calculator examples
Each example uses the 90.74 lb/ft³ reference, no extra allowance and no compaction adjustment. Open one to load its measurements into the calculator, then change the depth or density to match your product.
| Project | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 40 ft driveway base at 4 in | 160 ft³ · 5.93 yd³ | 7.26 US tons |
| 20 × 20 ft pad at 6 in | 200 ft³ · 7.41 yd³ | 9.07 US tons |
| 30 × 4 ft walkway base at 3 in | 30 ft³ · 1.11 yd³ | 1.36 US tons |
Suppliers sell by the ton or by the cubic yard. Ask which unit the quote uses and which weight per yard they bill by; the calculator’s Bag sizes & cost section accepts either.
Bulk quantities
How much does a ton or a cubic yard of crusher run cover?
One cubic yard is 27 ft³ whatever the material. One US ton of this reference product is 22.04 ft³ (0.82 yd³), so its coverage depends on the published weight.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | One US ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 132.24 ft² |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 88.16 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 66.12 ft² |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 44.08 ft² |
Material for 100 square feet
| Depth | Cubic yards | US tons |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.62 yd³ | 0.76 tons |
| 3 in | 0.93 yd³ | 1.13 tons |
| 4 in | 1.23 yd³ | 1.51 tons |
| 6 in | 1.85 yd³ | 2.27 tons |
Multiply the 100 ft² row by your area ÷ 100. The ton-of-gravel coverage guide explains the arithmetic, and the cubic yards to tons converter compares several published weights side by side.
Why the density matters
Published weights for crusher run
A size or grade label does not fix a density. These are the published figures behind this page; each names the supplier and product it describes, and none is a specification for another yard’s material.
| Product | Supplier | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | 10 yd³ weighs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher Run (crushed granite with stone dust) | Yard Works Landscape Supply | 2,450 | 1.23 | 12.25 tons |
| #57 Limestone Gravel (1/2 - 1 inch) | Gravelshop | 2,410 | 1.21 | 12.05 tons |
Enter your own supplier’s figure under Material & allowance to replace the preset. The full gravel density reference records every figure with its source and date.
How compaction changes a crusher run order
Crusher run is ordered loose and compacted in place. If your installer expects a 20% reduction in thickness, a finished 4-inch layer starts as 5 inches of loose material: loose volume = compacted volume ÷ (1 − 0.20). For the 12 × 40 ft driveway base at 4 in that turns 5.93 cubic yards into 7.41 cubic yards, or 7.26 tons into 9.07 tons.
The 20% is an illustration, not a property of every product. Enter the percentage your supplier confirms as Extra allowance under Material & allowance, or enter the loose depth directly. The gravel driveway calculator carries the same arithmetic through a full driveway with base and surface layers, and the gravel planning guide explains allowance and compaction separately.
Before you order
Frequently asked questions about crusher run
Every answer states the weight per yard it assumes.
Check our formulas & sources ↗How many tons of crusher run do I need for a driveway?
A 12 × 40 ft driveway base at 4 inches is 480 ft² × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 ft³, or 5.93 cubic yards. At Yard Works’ published 2,450 lb per cubic yard that is 7.26 US tons loose. If the layer compacts by 20%, order about 7.41 cubic yards (9.07 tons) to finish at 4 inches.
How much does crusher run weigh per cubic yard?
Published figures are close to 2,400–2,500 lb loose: Yard Works Landscape Supply describes about 2,450 lb per cubic yard (1.23 tons) and Gravelshop’s calculator uses 2,410 lb (1.21 tons). Compacted in place the same material occupies less volume, which is why suppliers quote by the ton.
How much does a ton of crusher run cover?
At 2,450 lb per cubic yard, one US ton is 22.04 ft³ loose. It covers about 132.24 ft² at 2 inches, 88.16 ft² at 3 inches, 66.12 ft² at 4 inches or 44.08 ft² at 6 inches, before compaction.
Does crusher run need to be compacted?
It is designed to be. Crusher run is crushed stone with the fines left in, so it packs into a dense, stable base when compacted with a plate compactor or roller. This calculator reports the loose volume; the compaction arithmetic below shows how a loose allowance is derived once your supplier or installer tells you the expected reduction.
Is crusher run cheaper than #57 stone?
Often, because it is a less processed product, but prices are local and quoted per ton. Compare the delivered price per ton for the tonnage each layer needs rather than the headline rate; the #57 gravel calculator uses the same engine with #57 published weights, and the driveway cost guide lists dated supplier prices.
How deep should crusher run be for a driveway?
Enter the depth your specification gives. The 4- and 6-inch examples here demonstrate the arithmetic. Driveway base depth depends on subgrade, traffic and drainage; FHWA’s gravel roads guidance and your local supplier are the sources for that decision, not a quantity calculator.
What is the difference between crusher run and crushed stone?
Crusher run keeps the stone dust and fines from crushing, so it binds and compacts. Clean crushed stone such as 3/4 inch or #57 has the fines screened out and drains freely but does not lock up the same way. The crushed stone calculator covers the clean product.
How is the 20 × 20 ft pad example calculated?
A 20 × 20 ft pad at 6 inches is 400 ft² × 0.5 ft = 200 ft³, or 7.41 cubic yards. Multiplying by 2,450 lb and dividing by 2,000 gives 9.07 US tons loose, before compaction or extra allowance.
References
- Crusher Run (crushed granite with stone dust): 2,450 lb per cubic yard, Yard Works Landscape Supply. Recorded September 23, 2026
- #57 Limestone Gravel (1/2 - 1 inch): 2,410 lb per cubic yard, Gravelshop. Recorded September 23, 2026
About these calculations
By Site Measure · Last updated . The 2,450 lb per cubic yard reference is Yard Works Landscape Supply’s approximate loose weight for its crusher run. The examples are illustrative arithmetic, not measured deliveries, product specifications or installation depths. Content was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the calculator’s arithmetic tests; no independent engineering review is claimed.
See our calculation checks or report a calculation discrepancy with your dimensions, density and units.