Before you place an order
Delivery volume and finished layer depth are different measurements
Those two volumes can differ. The calculator first finds the space the finished layer occupies, then adjusts for the loose-to-finished volume loss you enter, adds extra for low spots or spillage, and converts the loose order to weight. Its density and loss presets are examples, not material specifications. For a large order, ask the supplier for both values.
These are geometric coverage figures before loose-to-finished loss or extra. Stone size and layer depth are separate measurements.
Which stone does this page mean?
“Landscape stone” can mean many products at a yard. This tool is for loose crushed stone spread to a depth: clean angular #57, dense graded base, or decomposed granite. A label such as “¾ inch” tells you a size range, not the bulk density or the exact amount of fines.
For river rock or decorative stone around plants, use the landscape rock calculator. For individual blocks, use the cobblestone calculator. Flagstone slabs and boulders also need a different takeoff than bulk stone.
Material choice
Choose by the layer’s job
Clean #57 angular stone
Open graded stone has fewer fines and leaves connected voids for drainage. It can be used in an engineered open graded paver base with a compatible bedding course; it is not merely a top dressing. Ask for the supplier’s exact grading.
Explore #57 sizing →Dense graded base
Crusher run or road base mixes coarse particles with smaller particles and fines. It is placed and compacted as a base. Regional product names such as #411 are not a substitute for the local gradation specification.
Calculate crusher run →Decomposed granite
DG is a finer surface material often used for paths. Natural and stabilized products behave differently, so check the manufacturer’s depth, compaction, and watering instructions before using a preset.
Explore DG quantities →Worked order
A 20 × 20 ft patio base at 4 in
For an illustration, choose dense graded base in the calculator. With its editable 15% loose-to-finished volume loss, 5% extra, and 1.45 short tons per loose cubic yard, the estimate is:
Values are rounded for display. The calculator carries full precision through each step. A 15% loss of loose volume requires division by 0.85; it is not the same as adding 15% to the finished volume. The extra 5% is separate.
Field checklist
Measure the layer you will actually build
- Break up an irregular shape. Measure rectangles separately, or use half of base × height for a triangular end. Add their square footage before entering dimensions; for an irregular area, choose equivalent length and width whose product is the total area.
- Set finished elevations. Measure stone depth below the bedding layer or finished path surface. Do not include pavers, bedding sand, or a separate decorative top course in the stone depth.
- Check the subgrade. Low spots and over-excavation increase material. The extra field covers this uncertainty; it is not a second compaction factor.
- Confirm the delivery unit. Ask whether the yard quotes loose cubic yards or scale tons and whether its tons are US short tons. Get the product’s loose tons-per-yard factor if you are converting between them.
Build the right section
Depth depends on soil, drainage, climate, and traffic
A four-inch example is useful for learning the math, but it is not a universal patio specification. The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association’s application guide gives 4–6 inches of aggregate base for walks and 6–8 inches for driveways as minimum ranges that can grow with site conditions. Its diagrams show bedding and pavers as separate layers and geotextile as site dependent, not automatic.
Compact base material in lifts suited to the equipment and gradation. Preserve a drainage slope away from buildings and address weak or wet soil before adding more stone. A clean open graded base uses a different bedding approach than a dense graded base; Unilock compares both assemblies. For decorative coverage depth rather than a structural base, see the rock depth guide.
Common questions
Landscape stone calculator FAQs
How many cubic yards of landscape stone cover 100 square feet?
At 2 inches deep, 100 square feet requires 0.62 cubic yard in place; at 3 inches, it requires 0.93 cubic yard. Divide area in square feet times depth in inches by 324. Add a separate allowance for low spots and, for a compacted base, a supplier-specific loose-to-finished loss.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of landscape stone?
There is no universal tons-per-yard value. Loose bulk density changes with rock type, size grading, moisture, and the supplier. This calculator begins with editable examples of 1.25 to 1.45 US short tons per loose cubic yard; replace the example with your yard’s conversion before ordering.
Should I add 20% for compaction?
Only if your material and placement method justify a 20% loss of loose volume. Clean open-graded #57 stone and dense-graded base do not settle alike. Enter the loss your supplier or project specification uses. If loose material loses 20% of its volume, divide the finished volume by 0.80; that is a 25% increase in loose volume before any separate extra allowance.
Can I use this for flagstone, cobbles, or boulders?
This tool estimates loose stone spread in a layer. Flagstone slabs and cobbles are purchased by piece, pallet, or surface coverage, and a boulder is estimated from its own dimensions and weight. Calculate those materials separately from the crushed-stone base beneath them.
How this estimate was checked
The area and volume conversion is geometry: 12 inches per foot and 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. The Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies explains why supplier-specific density and compaction ratios matter and offers custom inputs. New Mexico’s construction-material conversion table shows different yard-to-ton factors for gravel, limestone, and base course. These references support editable estimates, not a guaranteed delivery weight.