Crusher Run Calculator
Enter the finished size and compacted depth of the area.
Landscaping
Crusher Run Calculator
Quick answer: tons of crusher run = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27 × (1 + compaction allowance) × 1.4 tons/yd³. A 20 × 12 ft pad 4 in deep is 2.96 yd³ compacted; adding 20% for compaction gives 3.56 loose yd³, or about 4.98 tons.
Works for crush and run, ABC stone, 21A, and other dense-grade aggregate sold under regional names. Enter the finished (compacted) dimensions; the tool adds the extra loose stone needed to reach that depth after compaction and converts it to tons and truck loads.
Compacted crusher run layer
How to calculate crusher run
Crusher run is a blend of crushed stone (usually up to 3/4 in or 1-1/2 in) and the stone dust left over from crushing. The fines fill the gaps between larger pieces, so the material packs into a dense, hard layer. That is why you must order more loose stone than the finished volume: a layer spread 4.8 in deep loose ends up close to 4 in after a plate compactor or roller has been over it.
L × W × D (ft) ÷ 27 × (1 + C) × density
= tons of crusher run, where C is the compaction allowance (0.15–0.20) and density is tons per loose yd³
- Measure the area. Length × width for rectangles; for a circle, 3.1416 × diameter² ÷ 4. Split L-shaped driveways into rectangles and add them.
- Convert the compacted depth to feet. 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft; 6 in = 0.5 ft.
- Multiply area × depth for compacted cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Add the compaction allowance. Multiply by 1.15 to 1.20 to get the loose volume that has to be delivered.
- Convert to tons. Multiply loose cubic yards by about 1.4 tons per yd³, or use the figure on your quarry's price sheet.
- Divide by truck capacity to see how many deliveries to schedule.
Worked example: gravel driveway base
A 60 ft × 10 ft driveway needs a 6 in compacted crusher run base.
- Compacted volume: 60 × 10 × 0.5 = 300 ft³ ÷ 27 = 11.11 yd³
- Loose volume with 20% for compaction: 11.11 × 1.2 = 13.33 yd³
- Weight: 13.33 × 1.4 = 18.67 tons — two loads in a 14-ton truck
- Cost at $35 per ton: 18.67 × 35 ≈ $653 before delivery fees
Crusher run per 100 square feet
Calculated with a 20% compaction allowance and 1.4 tons per loose yd³. Multiply by your area in hundreds of square feet (a 600 ft² driveway is 6 × the row).
| Compacted depth | Typical use | Loose yd³ per 100 ft² | Tons per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | Top-up of an existing driveway | 0.74 | 1.04 |
| 3 in | Shed pad on firm soil | 1.11 | 1.56 |
| 4 in | Patio or walkway base, shed pad | 1.48 | 2.07 |
| 6 in | Driveway base, paver driveway | 2.22 | 3.11 |
| 8 in | Driveway on soft or clay soil | 2.96 | 4.15 |
Crush and run, ABC, 21A: same idea, different names
Quarries sell dense-grade aggregate under local names. In the Southeast it is often called crusher run or crush and run; departments of transportation call it aggregate base course (ABC); in Virginia the base grade is 21A or 21B; elsewhere you will see "dense grade aggregate" (DGA), "3/4 minus," "road base," or "quarry process." The common thread is a graded mix of stone and fines that compacts into a firm, load-bearing layer. Gradation and stone type (granite, limestone, recycled concrete) vary by quarry, which is why density is editable in the calculator. If your supplier quotes by the cubic yard, use the loose yd³ figure; if by the ton, use tons.
Ordering and installation tips
- Enter the finished depth, not the loose depth. The compaction allowance already converts compacted volume to loose volume. Adding extra depth and a compaction factor double-counts.
- Compact in lifts. Most plate compactors work well on 3–4 in lifts. A 6–8 in driveway base is usually placed in two lifts, each dampened and compacted before the next.
- Ask for the scale density. Wet stone and limestone can weigh 1.5 tons per yd³ or more. If your quarry quotes a different figure, enter it — a 0.1 ton/yd³ change moves a 13 yd³ order by about 1.3 tons.
- Prepare the subgrade first. Remove sod and organic topsoil and compact the soil. Laying stone on soft topsoil wastes material as it pushes into the mud.
- Plan for drainage. Crusher run drains slowly because of its fines. Crown a driveway or slope a pad about 1/4 in per foot so water runs off instead of soaking in.
- Check minimum loads. Many quarries have a minimum delivery or a short-load fee. Rounding up to a full truck can cost little more than a partial load.
Crusher run FAQ
How much crusher run do I need?
Multiply length × width × compacted depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, add 15–20% for compaction, then multiply by about 1.4 tons per yard. A 20 × 12 ft area at 4 inches needs 2.96 compacted yards, about 3.56 loose yards, or roughly 5 tons.
How many tons of crusher run are in a cubic yard?
Loose crusher run usually weighs about 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, depending on the rock type, the amount of fines, and moisture. Once compacted it is denser, which is why you need about 15–20% more loose stone than the finished volume. Use the density your quarry quotes when you have it.
How much does crusher run compact?
Dense-grade aggregate typically loses about 15–20% of its loose volume when compacted with a plate compactor or roller. For example, 4.8 inches of loose stone compacts to roughly 4 inches. Very dry or very loose deliveries can settle more, so compact a test area if the depth is critical.
How deep should crusher run be for a driveway?
A common residential spec is 4 to 6 inches of compacted crusher run over firm, compacted subgrade, often placed in two lifts. Soft clay soils or heavy trucks may call for 8 inches or a geotextile under the stone. A 60 × 10 ft driveway at 6 inches needs about 18.7 tons with a 20% compaction allowance.
Is crusher run the same as gravel?
No. Crusher run is crushed, angular stone mixed with stone dust, so it locks together and compacts hard. Clean gravel such as #57 stone or pea gravel has no fines, drains freely, and does not compact into a firm surface. Many driveways use crusher run as the base and a clean stone on top.
How we built this calculator: results use the standard volume, area, and coverage formulas shown on this page, with typical U.S. material densities, bag yields, and waste factors that you can override. Written and checked by the YardsCalculator editorial team. Last reviewed: October 2026.