Stone calculator for Alaska

Plan stone orders in tons. A cubic yard of most grades is approximately 2,800 lb, equal to 1.4 tons. The calculator uses the selected material's weight across twelve graded options, beginning with 3/8 inch chips and extending to 2.5 inch railroad ballast. A contractor can enter a specification, while a homeowner can start with the project, such as a gravel road for a remote lot. The guide below links each approach to the appropriate stone.

Calculate the quantity

1. Start with the area in feet. For pads and drives, multiply length by width; for drains, multiply trench length by trench width.
2. Set the depth according to the layer's purpose: 2 to 3 inches for top courses, 4 inches for bases, and 12 inches or more in French drains.
3. Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply yards by 1.4 to estimate typical crushed-stone tons.

Product stone weights

Understanding size numbers

Grade numbers refer to rock size, with a lower number corresponding to larger pieces. #4 contains rock from 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. For general drainage, driveways, and concrete jobs, #57 measures 3/16 to 1 inch. #67 is finer, at 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and is often placed around pipe. #8 is about 3/32 to 3/8 inch; #89 begins at 3/8 inch and includes finer material. Both can be used in paver joints and finish courses. Compacted screenings, made of dust and small chips, form a firm bed that can be screeded. Railroad ballast uses heavy, angular 1 to 2.5 inch rock for drainage and support below tracks or equipment pads.

Clean stone or fines: choose correctly

Stone products fall into two groups. Clean, washed material such as #57 remains open for water flow, making it appropriate for drainage. Crusher run and road base contain fines that tighten when compacted, so they belong in base layers. Reversing those uses creates problems: crusher run can trap water in a French drain, while a #57 base can keep moving beneath a driveway. When a plan or permit specifies a gradation, use that exact material. If the name is uncertain, send the line item through our contact form; "3/4 clean" and "#57" often describe the same rock.

Common stone quantities

Example calculation: 30-foot French drain

A 30 foot trench that is 12 inches across and 12 inches deep has 30 cubic feet of volume, equal to 1.1 cubic yards or 1.6 tons of #57. Centering a 4-inch pipe in it removes only about 0.1 yards of stone volume. Order the full 1.6 tons, then put the small remainder at the outfall. Before placing stone, line the trench with nonwoven geotextile so surrounding soil cannot fill the drainage spaces.

Two ways to avoid poor stone orders

• Check the specification first, then sort out the local terminology. Crusher run, crush and run, Pit Run, bank run, and unscreened gravel are names for one product; #57 and "57s" name the same stone.
• Plan for 5 to 10% compaction when angular stone will be rolled. Use the calculator's extra-percent toggle for ordinary settling, and follow the stated compacted-depth requirement for engineered base work.
• A paver installation relies on compacted base stone for support, with screenings or concrete sand used only for the thin leveling layer. Do not place pavers on dust alone, especially over soft muskeg ground.
• Calculate from the trench volume instead of subtracting the pipe. A pipe smaller than 6 inches generally takes up less than a wheelbarrow load, so it seldom changes the order.

Crushed stone measurements

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