[stonecalc id=”aggregate-stone”]
Aggregate Stone Calculator Guide
Every driveway, slab, and paver field in the country sits on a layer of graded aggregate — and choosing the right grade matters as much as ordering the right tonnage. This calculator handles the second part: it converts your base dimensions into cubic yards, then into tons using the density of the specific grade you select, because a yard of dense crusher run does not weigh the same as a yard of washed #57.
The grade decision comes first, though, because it changes the number. Structural layers call for dense-graded material that compacts; drainage layers call for open-graded material that stays porous. Pick the product that matches the job, and the tonnage follows from its density.
How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Aggregate Weigh?
Construction aggregate runs from about 1.35 to 1.55 US tons per cubic yard. The spread comes from the fines: products that include dust pack more mineral into each yard, while washed grades carry air in their voids instead.
| Aggregate grade | Tons per yd³ | Role in the build |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run (dense-graded) | 1.55 | Structural base layers |
| Limestone (dense-graded) | 1.55 | Bases where fines bind into a crust |
| Crushed stone (general) | 1.50 | All-purpose base and fill |
| #57 washed stone | 1.45 | Drainage layers and slab underlay |
| #67 washed stone | 1.45 | Concrete aggregate and pipe bedding |
| Screenings / stone dust | 1.45 | Bedding and choking a base surface |
| Crushed concrete (recycled) | 1.35 | Economical sub-base |
Building a Structural Base, Layer by Layer
- Strip to firm subgrade: remove topsoil and organics — aggregate placed on sod becomes ruts.
- Fabric on soft ground: a woven geotextile stops the base punching down into wet clay.
- Place dense-graded aggregate in lifts: spread 2–3 inches at a time and compact each lift before the next.
- Choke the surface: a thin pass of screenings fills surface voids and tightens the top.
- Crown or slope 2%: a base that sheds water outlives one that ponds it, whatever the tonnage.
Order 10–15% beyond the calculated figure for structural work — compaction consumes volume, and a base is the wrong place to come up short. If crusher run is your dense-graded product of choice, the crusher run calculator is tuned to it, and for a paver-specific base build-up the paver base calculator covers bedding as well.
[stonecalc_faq id=”aggregate-stone”]