Stone Calculator — #57 Stone & Crushed Stone by Grade
How many tons of #57 stone, crusher run, or ABC do you need? This free stone calculator gives instant cubic yards, tons, and bag count for crushed stone by grade — with grade-specific densities, the compaction multiplier built in, and standards-cited gradations from ASTM D448, AASHTO M43, AASHTO M147, and ASTM C33.
Stone is sold by an ASTM D448 size number — #57, #67, #78, #8, #4 — not a diameter, and each grade weighs and behaves differently. Clean open-graded stone (#57/#67/#78/#8) drains freely and self-settles about 8%; dense-graded base (crusher run, ABC, DGA, 21A, CR-6) carries fines that lock tight and compact 15–25%. Most calculators use one generic density for all of them; this one uses the right density per grade and shows the range.
Built-in regional naming: "crusher run" = "ABC stone" = "DGA" = "21A" = "CR-6" = "GAB" = "crush and run" — every alias is labeled so a homeowner in Maryland and a contractor in Georgia order the same material. Includes the #57-vs-crusher-run decision that decides whether your drain flows or clogs. Free, no signup.
Looking for decorative pea gravel, river rock, or general driveway gravel? Use the Gravel Calculator. For #57 drainage stone in a trench, the French Drain Calculator also sizes pipe and fabric.
Stone Calculator
Tons and cubic yards for crushed stone by grade — #57, #67, #78, #8, #4 ballast, and dense-graded crusher run / ABC / DGA / 21A. Grade-specific ASTM D448 densities, the compaction factor built in, and every regional alias labeled.
1. Area shape & dimensions
Pick a shape, then enter dimensions in feet.
2. Depth & stone grade
Enter the finished (compacted) depth. The calculator adds the loose-to-compacted multiplier for you.
AASHTO #57 stone · ASTM D448 / AASHTO M43 No. 57. 100% pass 1½″, 95–100% pass 1″. Open-graded — drains freely, self-compacts about 8% under a vibratory plate (Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS). Most common drainage and driveway-top stone in the US.
Also called: #57 stone · "fifty-seven" · 57 limestone · 57 granite
3. Compaction & waste
Defaults follow AASHTO and DOT spec — adjust only if your supplier or engineer specifies otherwise.
Default 1.10×
Ordering crushed stone by grade
The area math is the easy part. What decides whether you order the right stone is picking the right grade for the job, knowing you order loose but place compacted, and turning your cubic yards into a ton order the quarry can fill.
Depth follows the application, not preference. Drainage fill is deep, decorative cover is shallow, and a compacted base scales with the load above it — so the use sets the number before any area math starts.
The order comes out larger than the finished bed because stone ships loose and densifies when placed. Dense-graded crusher run settles most, open-graded #57 less, so the calculator multiplies the compacted volume by the grade’s settlement factor to make the delivery enough after tamping.
A cubic yard is not a fixed tonnage. The quarry sells by the ton, but #57, crusher run, and railroad ballast all weigh differently — so tons come from yards times the grade’s density. Order by weight without that conversion and the load is off.
Calculation Formulas
Convert depth to feet (÷ 12), multiply by area for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards. Same formula for every stone grade — only the density and compaction factor change downstream.
Example:
20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in deep → 200 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 2.47 yd³ geometric volume
A cubic yard is NOT a fixed tonnage — it depends on the grade. #57 washed stone runs ~2,410–2,700 lb/yd³ (1.2–1.35 t/yd³); crusher run with fines packs denser per placed yard. Using a single generic density is the most common tonnage error.
Example:
2.47 yd³ of #57 stone × 2,470 lb/yd³ ÷ 2,000 = 3.05 tons (geometric, before compaction/waste)
Clean open-graded stone (#57/#67/#78/#8/#4) has near-zero fines and does not compact to a load-bearing base. Under a vibratory plate it self-orients and settles ~8% (about 1″), per the Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS — so order ~10% over the finished volume.
Example:
2.47 yd³ finished × 1.10 = 2.72 yd³ of #57 to order
Dense-graded base carries 10–20% fines that lock the aggregate together and compact 15–25% loose-to-in-place per TxDOT Tex-113-E / Caltrans §26. Place in 2–3″ lifts to ≥95% relative compaction. Order ~20% over the finished volume.
Example:
2.47 yd³ finished × 1.20 = 2.96 yd³ of crusher run to order
One cubic yard spread at 1″ covers 324 ft² (27 ft³ × 12). Divide by the depth in inches for the coverage at that depth. At 2″, 1 yd³ covers 162 ft²; a ton of #57 (~0.8 yd³) covers ~100 ft² at 2″.
Example:
324 ÷ 2 in = 162 sq ft per cubic yard at 2″ deep
The dominant retail bag is 0.5 cu ft (~50 lb). Always round up. One cubic yard = 27 ft³ = 54 bags. Bagged stone only makes sense under ~½ yd³ — above that, bulk delivery wins on cost and labor.
Example:
20 ft³ project ÷ 0.5 = 40 bags
Standard 10% covers spillage, edge loss, and rounding to the supplier minimum. Bump to 15% for sloped, curved, or soft/saturated subgrades where stone is lost into the ground.
Example:
2.72 yd³ × 1.10 (10% waste) = 2.99 yd³ to order
Standard Constants
| Constant | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet per cubic yard | 27 ft³ | 1 yd³ = 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. Universal conversion. |
| #57 stone density | 2,410–2,700 lb/yd³ | 1.21–1.35 t/yd³. Confirmed on the Gravelshop #57 granite TDS (2,410 lb/yd³) and Dirt Connections. Limestone lighter, granite/trap rock heavier. |
| #57 open-graded settlement | ~8% (1.10×) | Clean #57 self-compacts about 1″ under a vibratory plate — ~8% settlement per the Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS. It does NOT form a load-bearing compacted base. |
| Dense-graded base compaction | 15–25% (1.20×) | Crusher run / ABC / DGA / 21A compact 15–25% loose-to-in-place per TxDOT Item 247 / Caltrans §26. Target ≥95% relative compaction in 2–3″ lifts. |
| #57 coverage at 2″ | ~100 sq ft/ton | One ton of #57 (~0.8 yd³) spreads ~100 ft² at 2″, ~65 ft² at 3″, ~50 ft² at 4″ (Palmetto S&G, Cummin Landscape #57 TDS). |
| Bags per cubic yard | 54 bags | 0.5 cu ft retail bags: 27 ft³ ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags per cubic yard. Bagged is practical only under ~½ yd³. |
| Dense-base fines content (No. 200) | 10–20% passing | The defining difference between dense-graded base and clean stone. Crusher run carries 10–20% passing the No. 200 sieve; open-graded #57 carries 0–5% passing No. 8. |
| AREMA #4 ballast size | 1½–2½″ | Mainline railroad ballast. AREMA gradation 4 is identical to ASTM C33 size #4 (U.S. Army TI-850-02). Runs heavier at ~1.35–1.45 t/yd³. |
Note: All calculations include appropriate waste factors based on project complexity and material type. Results are estimates and should be verified by professionals before purchasing materials.
ASTM D448 — Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction(ASTM D448-12 (Reapproved 2022))
View StandardDefines the #1 through #10 size designations (and combinations like #57, #67, #78, #8) and the sieve-percentage ranges for coarse aggregate. This is the reference every quarry ticket, state DOT, and concrete-mix designer uses when they say "#57 stone."
Key Requirements:
- •No. 57: 100% pass 1½″, 95–100% pass 1″, 25–60% pass ½″, 0–10% pass No. 4
- •No. 67: 100% pass 1″, 90–100% pass ¾″, 20–55% pass ⅜″, 0–10% pass No. 4
- •No. 78: 100% pass ¾″, 90–100% pass ½″, 40–75% pass ⅜″, 5–25% pass No. 4
- •No. 8: 100% pass ½″, 85–100% pass ⅜″, 10–30% pass No. 8
- •Sampling per AASHTO T 2; sieve analysis per AASHTO T 27 / ASTM C136
AASHTO M43 — Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction(AASHTO M43)
View StandardThe DOT-facing companion to ASTM D448 with the identical gradation table. Required for federal-aid highway aggregate and the spec most state DOTs reproduce (e.g. GDOT §800 Table 800.1, PennDOT Pub 408 §703.4).
Key Requirements:
- •Identical numerical size designations and gradations as ASTM D448
- •Reproduced verbatim in most state DOT standard specifications
- •Governs size/gradation only — NOT durability (see ASTM C33 / AASHTO M80)
- •Used as the supplier-facing spec on most quarry tickets
AASHTO M147 — Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses(AASHTO M147)
View StandardThe spec behind dense-graded aggregate base — crusher run, ABC, DGA, 21A, CR-6, GAB. Sets the well-graded coarse-to-fines distribution (including a controlled No. 200 fines fraction) that lets the material lock together and compact into a load-bearing base.
Key Requirements:
- •Well-graded from ~1½″ down to dust with 10–20% fines (passing No. 200 within spec)
- •Compact to ≥95% relative compaction per Caltrans §26 / 100% max dry density per TxDOT Tex-113-E
- •Place and compact in 2–3″ lifts
- •Distinct from open-graded ASTM D448 clean stone — do NOT substitute one for the other
ASTM C33 — Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates(ASTM C33 / C33M)
View StandardGoverns the durability and cleanliness (not just size) of coarse aggregate used in concrete — #57 and #67 are the common concrete grades. Adds LA abrasion, soundness, and deleterious-material limits on top of the D448 gradation.
Key Requirements:
- •Coarse-aggregate size numbers reference the same ASTM D448 gradations
- •LA abrasion (ASTM C131), soundness (C88), and clay/friable-particle limits apply
- •Size #4 concrete aggregate is used as AREMA-equivalent railroad ballast
- •Size and durability are separate checks — an in-spec size can still fail durability
VDOT 21A / 21B — Dense-Graded Aggregate Base(VDOT Road & Bridge Specifications (Section 208 / Div. II))
View StandardVirginia DOT dense-graded base grades. 21A carries more fines (6–12% passing No. 200) for a tighter-locking base; 21B is cleaner (4–7% passing No. 200). Both are regional names for what other states call crusher run / ABC / GAB.
Key Requirements:
- •21A: 1″ 55–85% passing, No. 200 6–12% — maximum lock-up, common under slabs/pads
- •21B: 1″ 70–100% passing, No. 200 4–7% — slightly cleaner base course
- •Compact per VDOT density requirements in lifts
- •Confirm 21A vs 21B with your supplier — the fines fraction changes drainage/lock-up
MDOT SHA CR-6 — Graded Aggregate Base (Crusher Run)(MDOT SHA Standard Specifications (Category 900))
View StandardMaryland State Highway Administration "Crusher Run Aggregate CR-6" — the state's dense-graded base designation. A typical GAB job-mix runs 1½″ 95–100%, ¾″ 74–90%, No. 4 39–55%, ~6% passing No. 200.
Key Requirements:
- •Well-graded 1½″-minus to dust with a controlled fines fraction
- •Equivalent to crusher run / ABC / DGA / 21A in other states
- •Compact in lifts to the SHA density requirement
- •CR-6 (base) vs CR-8 (finer) — verify which the plan calls for
AREMA — Railroad Ballast (Manual for Railway Engineering)(AREMA Chapter 1, Part 2 (Ballast))
View StandardThe American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association ballast gradations. AREMA #4 (nominal 1¾–¾″) is the mainline ballast grade; it is identical to ASTM C33 size #4 per U.S. Army TI-850-02.
Key Requirements:
- •AREMA #4 mainline ballast ≈ ASTM C33 / D448 size #4 (1½–2½″ range)
- •Angular crushed stone with high LA-abrasion resistance (granite, trap rock, quartzite)
- •Free-draining, near-zero fines
- •Also used for heavy-area drainage and rip-rap base outside rail work
Standards Disclaimer: Standards and codes are subject to periodic updates. Always verify current requirements with local building authorities and professional engineers before beginning construction. Links provided are for reference only.
#57 Stone vs. Crusher Run — the Decision That Matters Most
Open-graded clean stone drains but won't compact; dense-graded base compacts but won't drain
These two are constantly confused because both are "¾-inch-ish crushed stone," but they do opposite jobs. #57 is clean and open-graded (0–5% fines): it drains freely and self-settles ~8%, but it never forms a load-bearing compacted base. Crusher run is dense-graded (10–20% fines): it locks tight and compacts to a stable base, but drains poorly.
Regional Examples:
Regional Naming — Same Dense Base, Nine Different Names
Crusher run = ABC = DGA = 21A = CR-6 = GAB = Item 4 = Class 5 = crush and run
Dense-graded compactable base (¾″-minus to dust, with fines, AASHTO M147) is sold under at least nine regional names. Functionally the same product — but ordering by the wrong name across a state line, or cross-shopping suppliers, gets you the wrong material.
Regional Examples:
What the "#" Number Means — Gradation, Not Diameter
A #57 is not "57 millimeters" — it is an ASTM D448 sieve band
The size numbers (#4, #57, #67, #78, #8) are ASTM D448 gradation designations describing the range of sieves the material passes — not a single particle size. #57 spans 1″ down to the No. 4 sieve; #8 spans ⅜″ down to No. 8. Lower "top-size" numbers like #8 are finer.
Regional Examples:
Regional Stone Type Changes the Density (and the Tons)
Limestone, granite, and trap rock weigh differently per cubic yard
The same #57 grade weighs differently depending on the parent rock. Limestone (Midwest, Southeast) runs lighter; granite and trap rock (Northeast, Piedmont, mountain West) run heavier. That changes tons per yard by 10–20% even at an identical gradation.
Regional Examples:
Depth by Application — Use, Not Preference, Sets the Number
Drainage, decorative, and structural base each want a different depth
The right depth depends on what the stone is doing. Drainage fill is deep; decorative cover is shallow; structural base scales with the load above it. Entering the wrong depth is wrong before any area math starts.
Regional Examples:
Before You Build
- •Contact your local building department for specific requirements
- •Verify frost line depths, wind zones, and seismic requirements for your area
- •Check if permits are required and schedule required inspections
- •Consult with a local contractor familiar with local codes
Heavy material — watch the weight limit
Concrete, brick, and masonry hit tonnage caps fast. Most dumpsters cap heavy material at 10 tons, and overage fees stack quickly. See the disposal guide before you load.
Read the heavy-debris guide →
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How to Use This Calculator
- Pick your stone grade from the grouped dropdown: open-graded clean stone (#57, #67, #78, #8, #4 ballast) or dense-graded base (crusher run / ABC / DGA / 21A, or recycled concrete RCA). The tooltip lists every regional alias — if you only know a local name like "crush and run" or "CR-6," it maps to the right grade.
- Pick a shape — rectangle (length × width), circle (diameter), or ring / annulus — and enter the dimensions in feet.
- Enter the FINISHED, compacted depth in inches. The calculator handles the loose-to-compacted conversion for you (1.10× clean stone, 1.20× dense base).
- Leave the compaction toggle on for the default multiplier, or enter a manual override if your engineer or supplier specifies otherwise.
- Adjust waste %: 10% is the default on firm subgrade; check the "sloped or soft subgrade" box to bump to 15%.
- Click Calculate: get cubic yards, tons (with low/high range from the published density spread), and 0.5 cu ft bag count — plus the geometric-vs-ordered math, a coverage table at other depths, and a tons-per-cubic-yard-by-grade reference.
Why the grade — not just the size — decides your order
The two most common stone-ordering mistakes both come from treating grades as interchangeable. First, density: a cubic yard of #57 (~2,410–2,700 lb) weighs differently than granite ballast or dense crusher run, so a single generic density can throw your tonnage off 10–20%. Second, the clean-vs-dense distinction: open-graded #57 drains but never compacts to a load-bearing base, while crusher run compacts to a base but drains poorly — swap them behind a retaining wall or in a French drain and the fines clog the drain. This calculator applies the grade-specific density and the correct compaction factor, and spells out the #57-vs-crusher-run decision so you order the stone that does the job. For decorative pea gravel, river rock, and lava rock, use the Gravel Calculator instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of #57 stone are in a cubic yard?
About 1.2–1.4 tons per cubic yard, so 1 ton covers roughly 0.74–0.83 cubic yards. The Gravelshop #57 granite TDS and Dirt Connections both put #57 at about 2,410 lb/yd³ (1.21 t/yd³); limestone runs a touch lighter and trap rock heavier, which is why the calculator shows a low–high range instead of one number. To convert your own volume: tons = cubic yards × (density in lb/yd³) ÷ 2,000. Remember that clean #57 self-settles about 8% under compaction, so order roughly 10% over your finished volume — the calculator adds this for you.
#57 stone vs crusher run — what's the difference?
They do opposite jobs. #57 is clean, open-graded stone (1″ to the No. 4 sieve, 0–5% fines): it drains freely and self-settles about 8%, but it never forms a load-bearing compacted base. Crusher run (also called ABC, DGA, 21A, CR-6, GAB, or crush and run) is dense-graded (¾″-minus to dust with 10–20% fines): it locks tight and compacts into a stable base, but drains poorly. Use #57 for French drains, drainage backfill, and driveway top course; use crusher run for a compacted base under pavers, slabs, sheds, or driveways. Swapping them — crusher run in a French drain, or #57 as a driveway base — is a common and costly mistake, because the fines in crusher run clog drains and #57 alone will rut under load. The compaction diagram shows how each behaves.
What does the '#57' number actually mean?
It's an ASTM D448 / AASHTO M43 gradation designation — the range of sieve sizes the stone passes — not a diameter. #57 spans 1″ down to the No. 4 sieve (100% passes 1½″, 95–100% passes 1″, 0–10% passes No. 4). Other common grades: #4 ballast is 1½–2½″ (largest); #67 is ¾″ to No. 4; #78 is ½″ to No. 8; #8 is ⅜″ to No. 8 (paver bedding). Lower top-size numbers like #8 are finer, not coarser. The number governs size only — durability for concrete or ballast use is a separate spec (ASTM C33 / AREMA).
How much #57 stone do I need for a French drain?
Multiply trench length × width × fill depth, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then apply the density for tons. A 50 ft trench, 12″ wide, filled 12″ deep around the pipe is 50 × 1 × 1 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.85 yd³, or roughly 2.5 tons of #57 with waste. Use clean, open-graded #57 (or #67) wrapped in a non-woven geotextile filter fabric — never crusher run, whose fines migrate into the pipe and clog it. Enter your trench dimensions above with #57 selected, or use the dedicated French Drain Calculator for pipe length, fabric, and the slope check as well.
Is #57 stone the same as '3/4 stone' or '3/4 clean'?
Effectively yes at the supplier level. '3/4 stone,' '3/4 clean,' 'clean stone,' and 'drain rock' are common regional names for washed open-graded stone in the #57/#67 family. The calculator maps these to #57 so you get the right density and compaction. As always, confirm the gradation on the quarry ticket — 'clean' means washed with near-zero fines (drains), as opposed to '3/4 minus,' which includes fines and behaves like crusher run (compacts).
What are ABC, DGA, 21A, and CR-6?
All regional names for the same product: dense-graded aggregate base, a ¾″-to-1½″-minus crushed stone with 10–20% fines that compacts into a load-bearing base (AASHTO M147). 'Crusher run' and 'crush and run' are the most common overall; 'ABC stone' (Aggregate Base Coarse) in the Carolinas and Georgia; 'GAB' and '#411' in Georgia/Alabama; 'DGA,' 'Quarry Process,' and 'Item 4' in the Northeast; '21A/21B' in Virginia; 'CR-6' in Maryland; 'Class 2 base' in California; 'Class 5' in Minnesota. Select 'crusher run' in the calculator for any of these — the tooltip lists every alias so you and your supplier are talking about the same material.
How deep should the stone be?
It depends on the job. Decorative cover: 2–3″ over fabric with an edge restraint. Driveway base: 4″ of compacted crusher run for light residential, 6–8″+ on heavy use or soft subgrade (often with geotextile separation). French drain / drainage trench: 6–12″ of clean #57 around the perforated pipe. Paver base: 4–6″ under walks, 6–8″ under driveways per ICPI Tech Spec 2. Enter the finished, compacted depth and the calculator adds the loose-to-compacted factor. The depth-by-use diagram shows the compacted depth each application needs.
Does #57 stone compact?
Not into a load-bearing base. Because it's open-graded with almost no fines, #57 has nothing to bind the particles together — it stays free-draining by design. Under a vibratory plate it self-orients and settles about 1″ (roughly 8% per the Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS), which is why the calculator adds ~10% to your order. But it will not achieve the ≥95% relative compaction of a structural base. When you need a compacted, load-bearing layer, use dense-graded crusher run instead — that's what the fines are for.