How this tonnage calculator works
Every bulk material sold over a quarry scale is the same two-step: volume from your dimensions, then weight from the material's density. Call it a tonnage calculator or an aggregate calculator — it's one formula wearing different densities:
tons = yd³ × density (t/yd³) · + waste, up to the ¼ ton
At the defaults — a 20 × 10 ft pad, 3 in of crushed stone, 5% waste — the scale order is 2.75 tons, about $124; the full chain is in the load math section below.
Aggregate densities and what they mean
The whole calculator turns on one number per material — tons per cubic yard — so it helps to know what the presets mean and why they differ:
- Crushed stone / gravel — 1.4 t/yd³: angular quarried rock, the heaviest common aggregate because the pieces pack tight.
- River rock, limestone, sand — 1.35: rounded stone, crushed limestone and washed sand all land close together for estimating.
- Pea gravel — 1.3: small rounded stone with more void space between pieces, so a shade lighter per yard.
- Fill dirt — 1.1: mineral subsoil, lighter than stone and the reason the fill dirt calculator also carries a compaction allowance.
- Topsoil — 1.0: the lightest, organic-rich growing layer; a cubic yard is right about a short ton dry.
These match the material-specific calculators across the site, so a number you get here agrees with the gravel, sand and limestone pages exactly — one density set, no surprises.
What moves the real weight on the ticket
Density is an estimate, not a constant, so the scale ticket and this calculator can differ by 10–15%. What pushes it:
- Moisture. Wet aggregate reads heavier — a rained-on sand load can weigh 10–20% over its dry figure.
- Gradation. Dense-graded material with fines packs tighter and weighs more than clean, single-size stone with big voids.
- Compaction. Base placed and rolled occupies less volume than loose in the truck — order for the compacted depth.
- Stone type. Granite, trap rock and limestone all differ a little; the presets are averages across common rock.
- The scale governs. You pay for the weighed ticket, so keep the waste factor on as the margin.
How many tons per cubic yard of aggregate?
Table 1 is the per-100-ft² weight at 3 in by material; Table 2 is coverage per ton of crushed stone by depth — both straight from the engine.
| Material | t/yd³ | Per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | 1.4 | 1.3 t |
| River rock / limestone / sand | 1.35 | 1.25 t |
| Pea gravel | 1.3 | 1.2 t |
| Fill dirt | 1.1 | 1.02 t |
| Topsoil | 1.0 | 0.93 t |
| Depth | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|
| 2″ | 116 ft² |
| 3″ | 77 ft² |
| 4″ | 58 ft² |
| 6″ | 39 ft² |
How to measure for aggregate tonnage
Area, depth and material — three inputs, and the material picker carries the density. Dimension fields take feet-inches or metric.
- Measure length and width. Odd shapes break into rectangles — total them with the square footage calculator and enter the sum.
- Set the depth by the job — 2–3 in decorative, 4 in patio base, 4–6 in driveway, measured as the compacted thickness.
- Pick the material so the right density loads — crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, limestone, sand, fill or topsoil.
- Set the allowance: 5% for spillage on loose stone, 10% for base you’ll compact under a driveway or pavers.
- Enter the quarry price per ton — delivered if you can — and read the scale order, rounded up to the ¼ ton.
Worked example: tonnage for a 20 × 10 pad
The default, worked line by line — 20 × 10 ft, 3 in of crushed stone at 1.4 t/yd³, 5% waste, $45 a ton:
volume = 200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 ft³ = 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³
weight = 1.85 × 1.4 = 2.59 tons exact
waste = 2.59 × 1.05 = 2.72 → order 2.75 tons (¼-ton rounding)
cost = 2.75 × $45 = $124 · 1 ton covers ≈ 77 ft² at 3″
Swap the material and only the density changes: the same pad in topsoil (1.0 t/yd³) weighs 1.85 tons exact, in fill dirt (1.1) about 2 tons. That’s the whole value of a multi-material tonnage tool — one measurement, every density a phone call to the quarry might name.
What this tonnage estimate doesn’t include
- Delivery. A flat per-load haul fee on top of the per-ton price, and short-load minimums.
- Compaction equipment. A plate compactor or roller for base lifts.
- Fabric and edging. Geotextile under stone on soft ground, and restraint to hold loose aggregate.
- Excavation. Digging out and hauling off the spoil the new material replaces.
- Spreading labor. A delivered pile is not a finished grade.
- Sub-layers. Base under decorative stone, or bedding sand under pavers — separate orders and calculators.
Tonnage FAQ
How do you calculate tonnage of gravel or stone?
Volume first, weight second: length × width × depth (in feet) gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards; multiply by the material’s tons per cubic yard. The default 20 × 10 ft at 3 in of crushed stone is 1.85 yd³ × 1.4 = 2.59 tons — order 2.75 with 5% waste.
How many tons of aggregate are in a cubic yard?
Crushed stone about 1.4, river rock, limestone and sand about 1.35, pea gravel 1.3, fill dirt 1.1, topsoil 1.0. The picker applies these estimating densities; your quarry’s ticket may run a little either way with moisture and gradation.
How many tons of gravel for a driveway?
A 50 × 12 ft driveway at 4 in of crushed stone is about 11 tons with 5% waste — roughly 1.7 tons per 100 ft² at that depth. Double the depth for a new base over soft ground and the tonnage roughly doubles with it. Enter your driveway size and depth and the scale order lands in ¼-ton steps.
How many square feet does a ton of aggregate cover?
Crushed stone covers about 77 ft² at 3 in deep — 116 ft² at 2 in, 58 at 4 in, 39 at 6 in. The coverage line under the drawing recomputes for whatever depth and material you set.
How accurate are aggregate density figures?
Good to roughly ±10–15%: moisture, stone type and how loose the load sits all move the number. Densities here are the standard estimating averages — the quarry scale ticket is the number you actually pay, so leave the waste factor on for the safety margin.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material’s density in tons per cubic yard: 5 yd³ of crushed stone is 5 × 1.4 = 7 tons. Going the other way, divide tons by the density. If you already know the yardage, the cubic-yards-to-tons calculator does the conversion both directions.
How much does a ton of aggregate cost?
Commonly $30–60 per ton for crushed stone and sand in 2026, more for decorative rock, plus delivery. The default job prices at about $124 with the editable $45/ton figure — set your local quote and the cost tracks it.
Sources and standards
- AASHTO M43 / ASTM C33: the aggregate size and gradation designations behind the material presets.
- Standard estimating densities: the 1.0–1.4 t/yd³ figures common across quarry and DOT practice.
- Engine parity: these densities match the material-specific calculators site-wide, so numbers never disagree.
- The scale ticket: moisture and gradation move the real weight ±10–15% — the weighed load governs the invoice.
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