Stone calculator for Vermont
Calculate quantities for graded stone sizes, including 3/8 inch chips and railroad ballast.
Enter your project dimensions
Most crushed stone is purchased by the ton. Across common grades, a cubic yard weighs about 2,800 lb, which works out to 1.4 tons per yard. Use this calculator for all twelve graded products, with selections running from 3/8 inch chips to 2.5 inch railroad ballast; it uses the assigned weight for the material selected. Contractors may have a spec number, while homeowners may know the project instead. The guide below connects either starting point to the material needed.
Calculation method
- In feet, measure length and width for driveways and pads. For drains, measure trench length and trench width.
- Set depth by the layer's purpose: 2-3 inches for surface courses, 4 inches for bases, and 12 inches or more for French drains.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.4 to estimate tons of typical crushed stone.
Stone weight by product
| Product | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| #57 / #67 / 3/4" crushed stone | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| #89 / #8 / 3/8" chips | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Stone screenings / dust | ≈ 2,900 lb | 1.45 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| #4 stone / railroad ballast | ≈ 2,900 lb | 1.45 |
| Rip rap | ≈ 3,100 lb | 1.55 |
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 39 sq ft |
Understanding size numbers
Stone grade numbers describe size ranges, with lower numbers indicating larger pieces. #4 measures 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. #57, at 3/16 to 1 inch, is used for drains, driveways, and concrete work. Finer #67 ranges from 1/4 to 3/4 inch and is commonly used around pipe. #8 is about 3/32 to 3/8 inch, while #89 goes from 3/8 inch to fines; both suit paver joints and finish layers. Screenings combine fine chips and dust into a firm bed that can be screeded. Railroad ballast uses heavy angular rock measuring 1 to 2.5 inches for drainage and load support below tracks and equipment pads.
Clean stone or fines? Choose correctly
Use clean, washed stone such as #57 where water needs open paths. It stays loose, which suits drainage. Crusher run and road base contain fines that bind under compaction, making them for driveway and pad bases. In Vermont's spring wet ground, mixing up these materials causes trouble: fines can restrict a French drain, while a #57 base may continue to move beneath a drive. If your plan or permit lists a gradation, check that requirement and order accordingly. For unclear product names, text the line item to (802) 214-7850. "3/4 clean" and "#57" can refer to the same material under different names.
Common stone order sizes
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 30 ft x 12" x 12" | 12" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Pipe bedding (#67) | 40 ft x 18" wide | 6" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Retaining-wall backfill | 30 ft x 18" wide | 24" | 3.3 yd³ | 4.7 tons |
| Construction entrance (#4) | 40 x 12 ft | 6" | 8.9 yd³ | 12.9 tons |
| Dog run | 15 x 8 ft | 3" | 1.1 yd³ | 1.6 tons |
| Shed pad top course | 10 x 12 ft | 2" | 0.7 yd³ | 1 tons |
Example: a 30-foot French drain
A 30-foot trench that is 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep contains 30 cubic feet. That equals 1.1 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of #57. The 4-inch pipe takes up only about 0.1 yards, so use the full 1.6 tons and put any extra at the outfall. Line the trench with non-woven fabric before placing stone to prevent soil from filling the open spaces needed for drainage.
Two ways to avoid a wrong stone order
- Check the spec first, then compare the local name. Crusher run, crush and run, Bank Run Gravel, pit gravel, and gravel borrow can all identify one product. #57 and "57s" mean the same stone.
- Angular stone that is rolled generally settles 5-10%. Use the calculator's extra-percent control for ordinary settling, while engineered base work follows the required compacted-depth spec.
- Pavers need a compacted stone base for support, followed by a thin leveling layer of screenings or concrete sand. Dust by itself is not suitable bedding over soft ground.
- Base the quantity on trench volume, not pipe volume. Pipes under 6 inches usually displace less than a wheelbarrow load, so they rarely affect the order.
Crushed stone facts and figures
What does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?
What coverage comes from a ton of #57?
How are #57, #67 and #89 different?
What driveway stone depth should I use?
Stone dust or sand below pavers?
What stone size works for a French drain?
Will crushed stone compact?
How is railroad ballast used beyond railroads?
More calculators
Stone by specification
Twelve graded stone products are priced per ton, with free delivery across Vermont.
