Multiply length × width in feet by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.5 tons per cubic yard for typical aggregate. A 30 × 10 ft base at 4 inches deep needs about 3.7 cubic yards — roughly 5.6 tons — before adding a compaction allowance.
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Order – tons (includes your waste allowance) so compaction and spillage don’t leave you short.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as aggregate stone?
Aggregate is any granular rock product graded to a size specification: crushed stone, crusher run, washed grades like #57 and #67, screenings, and recycled crushed concrete. The gradation — the mix of particle sizes — is what defines each product, not the parent rock.
How many tons of aggregate are in a cubic yard?
Most construction aggregate runs 1.35 to 1.55 US tons per cubic yard. Dense-graded crusher run is about 1.55 tons, general crushed stone 1.5, washed #57 or #67 about 1.45, and recycled crushed concrete roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Which aggregate is best for a sub-base?
Dense-graded aggregate with fines — crusher run, 2A modified, or DGA — because the fines fill the voids between larger stones and let the layer compact into a rigid platform. Washed stone stays open and flexible, so save it for drainage layers.
What is the difference between open-graded and dense-graded aggregate?
Dense-graded aggregate contains every size from the top stone down to dust, so it compacts tight and bears load. Open-graded aggregate is screened to a narrow size band and washed clean, so it keeps 30–40% void space and moves water instead.