Stone calculator for Nebraska

Crushed stone is typically purchased by the ton. For most grades, use about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, equal to 1.4 tons per yard. This calculator applies the selected product weight across twelve graded stone choices, ranging from 3/8 inch chips up to 2.5 inch railroad ballast. A contractor may start with a specification, while a homeowner may start with the project description. The reference below connects either starting point to the needed stone.

Calculate your amount

1. For drives and pads, multiply length by width in feet. For drains, use the trench length multiplied by its width.
2. Choose depth according to the layer's purpose: 2 to 3 inches for surface courses, 4 inches for bases, and 12 inches or more in French drains.
3. Divide cubic feet by 27 to find cubic yards. For typical crushed stone, multiply yards by 1.4 to estimate tons.

Product stone weights

Understanding stone sizes

Grade numbers describe stone-size ranges, with lower numbers indicating larger pieces. #4 measures 1 to 2 inches. #57, at 3/4 to 1 inch, is a general-use choice for drainage, driveways, and concrete work. #67 ranges from 1/4 to 3/4 inch and is often used around pipe bedding. #8 is about 3/8 to 1/2 inch, while #89 extends from 3/8 inch to fines; these smaller materials work in paver joints and finish courses. Screenings combine dust with small chips, creating a firm bed that can be screeded. Railroad ballast is heavy, angular stone measuring 1 to 2.5 inches, used where tracks and equipment pads need drainage and load support.

Clean stone or fines? Choose correctly

Materials on this page fit into two types. Clean, washed stone such as #57 remains open for water flow, making it suitable for drainage. Crusher run and road base contain fines that compact into a stable base. Reversing those uses creates problems: crusher run can trap water in a French drain, while a #57 driveway base may keep moving. When a plan or permit specifies a gradation, use that exact material. Send the line item through our contact form when the name is uncertain; "3/4 clean" and "#57" often identify the same stone under different names.

Common stone quantities

Example: a 30-foot French drain

A 30 feet long trench measuring 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep contains 30 cubic feet. That equals 1.1 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of #57. A 4-inch pipe centered in the trench displaces only about 0.1 yards, so order the full 1.6 tons and place the small remainder at the outfall. Install non-woven fabric in the trench before adding stone to prevent soil from plugging the open spaces needed for drainage.

Two ways to avoid incorrect orders

• Check the specification first, then verify its common name. Crusher run and crush and run refer to one product, and #57 and "57s" name the same stone.
• Rolled angular material commonly compacts 5 to 10%. Use the calculator's extra-percent toggle for ordinary settling; engineered base work should follow its specified compacted depth.
• Compacted base stone provides the support below pavers, while screenings or concrete sand form the thin leveling layer. Do not use dust alone beneath pavers on soft soil.
• Calculate the trench volume rather than subtracting the pipe. A pipe under 6 inches usually displaces no more than a wheelbarrow load and seldom affects the order.

Crushed stone measurements

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