Estimate dense graded road base for driveways, shed pads, access roads, and compacted sub-bases.
4 shapes · Depth presets · Supplier-ready
Driveway bases need compactable stone. Drainage layers need clean stone with fewer fines. Decorative paths can use pea gravel or river rock. Match density before you compare ton vs cubic-yard quotes.
| Material | Density | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,565 lb / cu yd | Walkways, decorative beds, playgrounds |
| River rock | 2,835 lb / cu yd | Landscaping, drainage, decorative |
| Crushed stone #57 | 2,431 lb / cu yd | Driveways, drainage, concrete mix |
| Crushed stone #411 | 2,835 lb / cu yd | Base layer, compactable, driveways |
| Dense graded (DGA / QP) | 3,374 lb / cu yd | Road base, heavy compaction areas |
| Class 5 aggregate base | 3,374 lb / cu yd | Regional road-base name; compacted driveways and pads |
| Base rock | 3,374 lb / cu yd | Regional road-base name; compacted sub-base layers |
| Crusher run | 3,374 lb / cu yd | Dense graded stone with fines for compacted base |
| Crushed shell base | 2,600 lb / cu yd | Regional driveway and path base; confirm local density |
| Bank run gravel | 3,240 lb / cu yd | Fill, base material, general purpose |
| Decomposed granite | 2,781 lb / cu yd | Pathways, compacts well, natural look |
| Lava rock | 1,391 lb / cu yd | Decorative, lightweight mulch |
| Marble chips | 2,565 lb / cu yd | Decorative, bright finish |
| Riprap | 2,700 lb / cu yd | Erosion control, shoreline protection |
Measure length × width for the driveway surface, then choose depth by layer. A decorative top layer may be 2–3 inches; a compacted base layer often needs 4–6 inches. Add compaction and waste allowance before you order.
French drains and drainage trenches often use 3–4 inches of clean stone like #57 gravel. Decorative drainage swales may use less. Confirm slope and pipe size with your project plan.
Multiply cubic yards by your material density in lb per yard, then divide by 2,000. Crushed #57 stone is often near 2,431 lb per cubic yard, or about 1.22 US tons per yard.
Driveway bases use compactable material like dense graded aggregate, #411, or bank run. Decorative surfaces and drainage layers often use #57, pea gravel, or river rock.
At 4 inches deep, 100 sq ft needs about 1.23 cubic yards raw volume. At 3 inches deep, the same area needs about 0.93 cubic yards. Add 10–15% extra for compaction and waste on driveways.
Order in whichever unit your supplier quotes. Convert using their density assumption — quarries often price by the ton while landscape yards price by the cubic yard.
Plan 10% for decorative paths and 10–15% for driveways and base layers that compact. Rounding up to the supplier’s minimum load is usually cheaper than a second delivery.
This estimate converts the measurements you enter into volume, applies your selected allowances, and uses the displayed material density to estimate weight. Every input remains editable.
Material density, moisture, compaction, subgrade conditions, supplier rounding, and delivery minimums vary. Confirm the final quantity and specification with your supplier or contractor.
This calculator uses cubic yards = area in square feet × depth in feet ÷ 27. It then applies the compaction and waste allowances you choose and converts the result to weight using the selected material density.
Road base is compactable because it contains fines. Use the project depth specified for your load and subgrade; measure each layer separately when a driveway has a sub-base and finish layer.
Ask whether the quoted material is sold by the cubic yard or ton, confirm its tons-per-yard conversion, and check delivery minimums. Site conditions and compaction requirements can change the final quantity.
Suppliers use different names for compactable aggregate containing stone and fines. Choose the matching preset when it appears on your quote, but confirm gradation and pounds per cubic yard because similarly named products can differ by region.
