Crusher Run Calculator
Crusher run is angular stone mixed with stone dust, and it shrinks a lot when compacted: the fines fill the gaps between the stones. Enter the area and the finished, compacted depth for the compacted volume, the loose cubic yards that have to arrive on the truck, and the tons to order.
Worked example: 20 × 20 ft pad, 4 in compacted
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Compacted volume | 400 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 | 4.94 yd³ |
| Add 30% for compaction | 4.94 × 1.30 | 6.42 yd³ loose |
| Convert to tons | 6.42 × 2,400 ÷ 2,000 | 7.7 tons |
| Coverage | 400 ÷ 7.7 | about 52 sq ft per ton at 4 in |
Why loose and compacted volumes differ
Crusher run (also sold as #411, quarry process, dense-grade aggregate or road base) is angular stone from about 3/4 in down to dust. Dumped off the truck it is full of air; a plate compactor or roller shakes the dust into the gaps and the layer drops. The Gravel Shop gives the loose weight as about 2,400 lb per cubic yard, and Yard Works Landscape Supply's rule of thumb — a ton covers about 100 sq ft at 2 in — works out to roughly 30% less volume once compacted. The FHWA's Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide warns that ordinary compaction can take 30% or more, so the calculator starts at 30%.
Laying it
- Dig out topsoil and organic material, then compact the subgrade.
- On soft or clay soil, lay woven geotextile first — the landscape fabric calculator counts the rolls.
- Spread and compact in 2–3 in lifts, damp but not wet, until the surface stops moving under the plate.
Building a driveway in layers? The gravel driveway calculator sizes base and top coat together, and the paver base calculator adds the sand bed for pavers. For clean graded stone rather than a base with fines, use the limestone calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
- How much crusher run do I need?
- Multiply the area by the compacted depth for cubic yards, add the compaction allowance for the loose volume, then convert to tons. A 20 × 20 ft pad 4 in deep is 4.94 yd³ compacted; with 30% for compaction that is 6.42 loose yards, about 7.7 tons.
- How much does a yard of crusher run weigh?
- About 2,400 lb (1.2 tons) loose, per The Gravel Shop; Yard Works Landscape Supply lists about 2,450 lb. Compacted in place it is heavier per yard because the same stone fills less space.
- How much area does a ton of crusher run cover?
- Yard Works Landscape Supply puts it at about 100 sq ft at 2 in deep. At 4 in, the calculator gives about 52 sq ft per ton once compaction is allowed for.
- How much does crusher run compact?
- A lot, because the fines fill the voids. The FHWA's Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide notes ordinary compaction can reduce volume by 30% or more; 30% is the calculator's default.
- How deep should crusher run be?
- About 4 in compacted under patios, walkways and sheds, and 6 to 8 in for a driveway base over firm soil, placed and compacted in 2–3 in layers. Soft or clay soils need more, often over geotextile fabric.
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