Limestone Calculator
Find how much crushed limestone you need for a driveway, base, path, or fill area. Enter the coverage length and width and the limestone depth, pick a size, and get the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, the number of bags, and the cost by the ton — with by-depth and by-size tables and a downloadable PDF.
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter coverage to see depths | |||
| Size | Density | Tons | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter a volume to compare sizes | |||
How to use the limestone calculator
Enter the coverage length and width and the limestone depth, pick a size, add a waste allowance, and get the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, the number of bags and the cost by the ton — with by-depth and by-size tables and a downloadable PDF.
Enter the coverage
Length and width of the area, in feet, inches or yards. Add how many identical areas.
Set the depth
How deep the stone goes — 2–3″ for a top layer, 4″ or more for a driveway or base.
Pick the limestone size
#57, #8, crusher run, #4, screenings or rip-rap — this sets the density used for tons.
Read the result & save a PDF
See cubic yards, tons, bags and cost, compare depths and sizes, and download it.
How limestone quantity is calculated
It all comes down to volume ÷ 27 for cubic yards, then volume times a density for tons. The size you pick only changes the density; the volume stays the same for any limestone.
Worked example — 20 ft × 12 ft driveway, 3″ of #57, 10% waste
Area: 20 × 12 = 240 ft²
Volume: 240 × (3 ÷ 12) = 60 ft³
Cubic yards: 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 yd³
With 10% waste: 2.22 × 1.10 = 2.44 yd³
Tons: 2.44 × 1.35 = 3.3 tons
A 20 × 12-foot area at 3 inches of #57 needs about 2.4 cubic yards, or roughly 3.3 tons once you add for settling.
Limestone coverage & tonnage charts
The numbers that come up most — how far a cubic yard goes at each depth, tonnage for common project sizes, and how the limestone sizes compare by density.
| Depth | Covers (1 yd³) | Tons (#57) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 ft² | 1.35 | Light top dressing |
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 1.35 | Top layer / paths |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 1.35 | Driveway surface |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 1.35 | Driveway base |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 1.35 | Heavy base / fill |
| 12 in | 27 ft² | 1.35 | Deep fill |
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so coverage is just 324 ÷ depth in inches. The tonnage per yard is the same at any depth — only how far that yard spreads changes.
| Area | Size | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² | 10 × 10 | 1.23 yd³ | 1.7 |
| 240 ft² | 12 × 20 | 2.96 yd³ | 4.0 |
| 400 ft² | 20 × 20 (2-car) | 4.94 yd³ | 6.7 |
| 576 ft² | 24 × 24 | 7.11 yd³ | 9.6 |
| 1,000 ft² | 20 × 50 | 12.3 yd³ | 16.7 |
Tonnage before waste. Add about 10% for settling and uneven ground. At 2 inches these same areas need roughly half the stone; at 6 inches, half again more.
| Size | Density | Tons per 3 yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| #57 (3/4″) | ~1.35 t/yd³ | 4.05 t |
| #8 (3/8″) | ~1.35 t/yd³ | 4.05 t |
| Crusher run | ~1.50 t/yd³ | 4.50 t |
| #4 (1.5–2.5″) | ~1.33 t/yd³ | 3.98 t |
| Screenings | ~1.40 t/yd³ | 4.20 t |
| Rip-rap (3–8″) | ~1.35 t/yd³ | 4.05 t |
Volume is identical for any size — only the weight shifts. Crusher run and screenings pack denser because the fines fill the gaps, so they weigh a little more per yard than clean, open stone.
How much limestone you need comes from three things: the area and the depth give the volume, and the stone’s size (its density) turns that volume into the tons you order and pay for.
- Area and depth are linear — twice the area or twice the depth is twice the stone.
- Size changes only the weight — the volume is fixed; crusher run just weighs a touch more per yard.
- Depth drives the order — a 4″ base needs roughly double a 2″ top layer over the same area.
Everything the calculator works out
One set of inputs gives you the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, the number of bags and the cost — plus a comparison across depths and limestone sizes, and a report to save.
The figures behind every order
Built for anyone laying, buying or hauling crushed stone
A gravel driveway, a paver base, a French drain, a parking pad — the tonnage decides the delivery, the price and how many loads it takes. Knowing it before you order saves a short delivery or a pile of leftover stone.
Topping up a gravel drive, laying a path or a shed pad, and needing to know how many tons to order and whether to go bulk or bagged.
- Tons and bags for the job
- Pick the right depth
- Compare #57 vs crusher run
Pricing jobs by the ton and ordering bulk, where the tonnage per area drives both the quote and the number of truck loads.
- Cost from price per ton
- Total tons for delivery
- Save the PDF to the quote
Building a compacted base under a slab, patio or paver job, where depth and the right dense size decide a stable foundation.
- Base depth and tonnage
- Crusher run for compaction
- Add for settling
7 tips for ordering crushed limestone
The things that throw off a stone order — and the checks that keep you from a short delivery or a leftover pile.
Limestone calculator FAQ
The coverage, depth and size questions people ask most when ordering crushed limestone for a driveway, base or path.
Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 by 12-foot area at 3 inches deep is 240 square feet times 0.25 feet, which is 60 cubic feet, or about 2.2 cubic yards.
To turn cubic yards into tons, multiply by the density — about 1.35 tons per cubic yard for #57 stone. Add roughly 10 percent for settling and uneven ground, so that example works out to about 3.3 tons. The calculator does this for any size, depth and limestone type.
About 1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard for crushed limestone. Clean, open sizes like #57 and #8 run near 1.35 tons, crusher run packs denser at about 1.5 tons, and screenings sit around 1.4.
Moisture and compaction nudge the figure up — wet or well-graded stone weighs a little more per yard. Use the by-size table to see tonnage for your exact volume, and confirm the density with your supplier before ordering.
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so coverage depends entirely on depth: 324 ÷ depth in inches gives the square feet covered. At 2 inches a yard covers about 162 square feet, at 3 inches about 108, and at 4 inches about 81.
That is why depth matters so much for ordering — going from a 2-inch top dressing to a 4-inch base roughly doubles the stone you need for the same area. The by-depth table shows coverage and tonnage at every common depth.
For a driveway, #57 (3/4-inch) is the most common surface and drainage layer because it drains well and spreads easily. Crusher run — a mix of stone and fines — is the usual base because it compacts hard and locks together into a firm, stable foundation.
Many driveways use both: a crusher-run base topped with #57 or #8 for the running surface. Rip-rap and #4 are for heavier fill and erosion control rather than a smooth drive. The calculator lets you compare tonnage across every size for the same area.
A new gravel driveway generally wants 4 to 6 inches of compacted limestone, often built in layers — a crusher-run base of 3 to 4 inches topped with 2 to 3 inches of #57. Soft or clay ground needs more depth, sometimes 8 inches or more with a geotextile fabric underneath.
A simple top-up or resurface over an existing base only needs 2 to 3 inches. Remember that compacted depth is less than loose depth, so order a little extra for settling. Set your depth in the calculator and it adjusts the tonnage automatically.
#57 is clean, uniform 3/4-inch stone with no fines — it drains freely and makes a good surface or drainage layer, but it does not bind, so it stays loose. Crusher run is a blend of crushed stone and stone dust that compacts into a hard, tight surface that locks in place.
Use crusher run where you need a firm, stable base; use #57 where you need drainage or a decorative top. Crusher run also weighs a bit more per cubic yard because the fines fill the gaps. The by-size table compares both for your project.
A typical two-car driveway is about 20 by 20 feet, or 400 square feet. At 4 inches of #57 that is about 4.9 cubic yards, or roughly 6.7 tons before waste; add 10 percent and you are near 7.3 tons.
If you are building a full base plus surface, figure the base and top layers separately and add them. Enter your exact dimensions and depth in the calculator for the precise tonnage, bag count and cost.
For any real quantity, order in bulk by the ton or cubic yard — it is far cheaper than bagged stone, and most quarries and landscape yards sell and deliver that way. Suppliers often price by the ton, so knowing your tonnage lets you compare quotes directly.
Bagged limestone only makes sense for very small jobs — patching a pothole or a tiny path — where a few 0.5 cubic-foot bags are easier than a bulk delivery. The calculator gives you both the bulk tonnage and the bag count so you can decide.
Estimate Only — Confirm With Your Supplier: This calculator finds volume as length × width × depth ÷ 27 for cubic yards, then applies a typical density to estimate tons. Crushed limestone is sold by the ton or cubic yard in bulk, or by the bag for small jobs; tonnage uses typical densities of about 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard that vary with the size, moisture and how well the stone compacts. A 2–3″ depth suits a top layer, with 4″ or more for a driveway base, and compacted depth is less than loose depth. Use the result to plan material, cost and delivery, not as a certified weight. For reference and estimating only; confirm coverage, size, tonnage and delivery with your supplier before ordering.