Multiply length × width in feet by depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.45 for tons of crusher dust. A 12 × 10 ft paver patio needs a 1-inch bedding layer — about 0.37 cubic yards, or roughly 0.54 tons.
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Crusher Dust Calculator Guide
Crusher dust is the quarry product nobody sets out to make — it is what falls through the finest screen after rock is crushed — and it has become indispensable precisely because it is fine. Under pavers, flagstone, and slabs, a thin layer of these rock fines is the leveling course: soft enough to screed to a perfect plane, hard enough to lock solid once everything above it is compacted. This calculator defaults to the 1-inch bedding depth that defines the job.
The names vary by region — crusher dust in some markets, screenings or quarry dust in others, stone dust across much of the Northeast — but the material and the math are identical: about 1.45 tons per cubic yard.
How Far Does a Ton of Crusher Dust Go?
Because it is used thin, crusher dust stretches further than any other aggregate purchase on the site:
| Depth | 1 ton covers | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 223 sq ft | Paver and flagstone bedding |
| 2 inches | 112 sq ft | Path surfacing, under-slab leveling |
| 3 inches | 74 sq ft | Barn aisles, heavy-use pads |
| 4 inches | 56 sq ft | Rarely justified — use base stone below instead |
A word of caution the table implies: crusher dust is a topping and bedding material, not a base. Thick layers of pure fines hold water and pump under load, so anything past 2 inches usually means the structural stone below was skipped.
Screeding a Bedding Layer That Stays Flat
- Start over compacted base stone, never over soil — the dust layer is only as flat as what carries it.
- Set two screed rails (1-inch pipe or lumber) at finished bedding height, sloped with your drainage plane.
- Pull a straight board across the rails to strike the dust flat, filling low spots and re-striking as you go.
- Lift the rails and fill the grooves — then keep boots off the screeded surface; lay pavers from the finished side.
- Compact after laying, not before: the plate compactor seats the pavers into the dust and locks the whole assembly in one pass.
If your market calls this material stone dust, the stone dust calculator is the same tool under its Northeastern name. And the compacted structural layer that belongs beneath your bedding is sized properly in the paver base calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is crusher dust?
The fine byproduct screened off when rock is crushed — particles from about 1/4 inch down to powder. Depending on the region it sells as stone dust, screenings, quarry dust, or rock fines, but it is the same product at about 1.45 tons per cubic yard.
How much does a ton of crusher dust cover?
About 223 square feet at a 1-inch bedding depth, or 112 square feet at 2 inches. Because bedding layers are thin, most patio-scale jobs need less than a ton.
Is crusher dust or sand better under pavers?
Both are used. Crusher dust compacts harder and resists washout and ant tunneling, which is why many regional installers swear by it; paver manufacturer specs often call for concrete sand because it drains faster. Follow your paver spec if a warranty matters.
Can crusher dust be a finished surface?
Yes — compacted at 2 inches it makes a firm, fine-textured path or pad surface that sheds foot traffic well. Crown it slightly so water runs off, since a dead-flat dust surface can hold puddles after heavy rain.