Stone calculator for West Virginia
Stone weight estimates across graded materials, starting with 3/8 inch chips and continuing through railroad ballast.
Enter your project dimensions
Crushed stone is typically purchased by the ton. Across many grades, a cubic yard weighs about 2,800 lb, which works out to 1.4 tons per yard. This calculator accounts for the twelve graded stone options, ranging from 3/8 inch chips to 2.5 inch railroad ballast, using the weight assigned to your selected material. A contractor may begin with a specification, while a homeowner may start with the work at hand. The guide that follows helps connect both approaches to the appropriate stone.
Calculation steps
- For the area in feet, multiply length by width. Use pad or drive dimensions for those projects, and trench length by trench width for drains.
- Set 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.
- To find cubic yards, divide cubic feet ÷ 27. Estimate typical crushed-stone tons by multiplying yards × 1.4.
Product stone weights
| 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 stone sizes
Stone grade numbers identify size ranges, with lower numbers indicating larger pieces. #4 measures 1-2 inches. #57, a 3/4 to 1 inch general-use stone, suits drainage, drives and concrete work. #67 is finer, at 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and is often used around pipe. #8 is roughly 3/8 to 1/2 inch, while #89 extends from 3/8 inch down to fines; each can be used in paver joints and finish courses. Screenings combine fine dust with chips to create a firm, screedable layer when compacted. Railroad ballast consists of 1 to 2.5 inches of large angular stone for load-bearing, fast-draining areas beneath tracks and equipment pads.
Clean stone or fines? Choose by purpose
Stone here falls into two main groups. Washed, clean material such as #57 leaves open space for water, making it suitable for drainage. Crusher run and road base contain fines that tighten under compaction, so they suit base layers. Using each in the wrong place causes problems: crusher run in a French drain can hold water, while a #57 driveway base may keep moving. When a plan or permit specifies a gradation, use that specification. Send the line item through our contact form when the name is unclear. "3/4 clean" and "#57" can be different names for the same stone.
Common stone order examples
| 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
For a trench 30 feet in length, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches deep, the volume is 30 cubic feet. That works out to 1.1 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of #57. A 4-inch pipe centered in the trench accounts for only about 0.1 yards, so order the full 1.6 tons and place the slight remainder at the outfall. Before adding stone, line the trench with non-woven fabric to keep soil from filling the open spaces needed for drainage.
Two ways to avoid incorrect stone orders
- Start with the specification and then verify the local label. Crusher run, crush and run, dense grade, and Class 1 Base can refer to one material. #57 and "57s" refer to the same stone as well.
- Angular stone that is rolled can compact 5 to 10%. Use the calculator's extra percentage control for ordinary settling, while engineered base work should follow its specified compacted depth.
- Pavers need compacted base stone for support, with screenings or concrete sand placed above as a thin leveling layer. Do not use dust alone as paver bedding over soft ground.
- Base the calculation on the trench volume, rather than the pipe. A pipe under 6 inches usually changes the amount needed by no more than a wheelbarrow load.
Crushed stone measurements
What does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?
What coverage comes from a ton of #57 stone?
How are #57, #67 and #89 different?
What stone depth is needed for a driveway?
Stone dust or sand beneath pavers?
Which stone size works in a French drain?
Will crushed stone compact?
How is railroad ballast used beyond rail lines?
Other calculators
Stone by specification
Twelve graded stone products sold by the ton, with free delivery across West Virginia.
