Crusher run calculator
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 compacted cubic yards of crusher run (1.65–1.88 loose cubic yards to order), about 2.33 tons at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard. The calculator uses 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard, the middle of Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)'s 1.79–1.98 tons per cubic yard for “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”.
Finished, compacted thickness
0 uses the published 3,770 lb/yd³
Optional; 0 leaves cost out
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 compacted cubic yards of crusher run, about 2.33 tons at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard. Loose crusher run takes more room: order about 1.65–1.88 loose cubic yards (× 1.34–1.52, Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)).
- Cubic yards, compacted in place
- 1.23
- Loose cubic yards to order (× 1.34–1.52, Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP))
- 1.65–1.88
- Cubic feet
- 33.3
- Tons
- 2.33
- Pounds
- 4,654
- Tons at the published range, same condition
- 2.21–2.44
- Loose yards to order, rounded up to the half yard
- 2 yd³
How it is calculated
- Area = 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft.
- Volume = 100 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 = 33.33 cu ft.
- Cubic yards = 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.235 yd³.
- Weight = 1.235 yd³ × 3,770 lb/yd³ = 4,654 lb; ÷ 2,000 lb per ton = 2.33 tons.
- Loose volume = 1.235 yd³ × 1.34–1.52 = 1.65–1.88 yd³; rounded up to 2 yd³.
How to calculate crusher run in cubic yards and tons
The worked numbers use the calculator's defaults: a 10 ft by 10 ft area 4 inches deep, the calculator's default depth for crusher run.
Step 1: area in square feet
Rectangle: length × width
Circle: π × diameter² ÷ 4
Triangle: base × height ÷ 2
Example 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft
Split an irregular area into rectangles, circles and triangles and add their areas.
Step 2: cubic feet from area and depth
Cubic feet = area in sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 12
Example 100 × 4 ÷ 12 = 33.33 cu ft
Step 3: cubic yards from cubic feet
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Example 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.235 compacted cubic yards
Step 4: tons from cubic yards
Tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000
Example Crusher run at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard, the middle of Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)'s 1.79–1.98 tons per cubic yard for “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”: 1.235 × 3,770 ÷ 2,000 = 2.33 tons
Step 5: loose cubic yards to order
Loose cubic yards = compacted cubic yards × published loose cubic yards per compacted cubic yard
Example 1.235 × 1.34–1.52 (Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)) = 1.65–1.88 loose cubic yards
The weight used for crusher run is a compacted weight, so the depth is the finished, compacted thickness.
Crusher run for common areas
| Area, sq ft | 4 inches deep | 6 inches deep | 8 inches deep | 10 inches deep | 12 inches deep | 14 inches deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.62 yd³ · 1.16 t | 0.93 yd³ · 1.75 t | 1.23 yd³ · 2.33 t | 1.54 yd³ · 2.91 t | 1.85 yd³ · 3.49 t | 2.16 yd³ · 4.07 t |
| 100 | 1.23 yd³ · 2.33 t | 1.85 yd³ · 3.49 t | 2.47 yd³ · 4.65 t | 3.09 yd³ · 5.82 t | 3.7 yd³ · 6.98 t | 4.32 yd³ · 8.15 t |
| 200 | 2.47 yd³ · 4.65 t | 3.7 yd³ · 6.98 t | 4.94 yd³ · 9.31 t | 6.17 yd³ · 11.64 t | 7.41 yd³ · 13.96 t | 8.64 yd³ · 16.29 t |
| 500 | 6.17 yd³ · 11.64 t | 9.26 yd³ · 17.45 t | 12.35 yd³ · 23.27 t | 15.43 yd³ · 29.09 t | 18.52 yd³ · 34.91 t | 21.6 yd³ · 40.73 t |
| 1,000 | 12.35 yd³ · 23.27 t | 18.52 yd³ · 34.91 t | 24.69 yd³ · 46.54 t | 30.86 yd³ · 58.18 t | 37.04 yd³ · 69.81 t | 43.21 yd³ · 81.45 t |
How much does a yard of crusher run cover?
One compacted cubic yard of crusher run covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep; a delivered loose cubic yard covers 53–60 sq ft once compacted (Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)); one ton at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard covers 43 sq ft at the same depth.
| Depth, in | 1 compacted cubic yard covers, sq ft | 1 ton covers, sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 162 | 86 |
| 3 | 108 | 57 |
| 4 | 81 | 43 |
| 6 | 54 | 29 |
| 8 | 41 | 21 |
| 12 | 27 | 14 |
- 1 compacted cubic yard
- 1 ton
Recommended crusher run depth by use
Published depths for crusher run run from 4 inches to 14 inches, depending on the use; each row names its document.
| Use | Depth, in | 1 cubic yard covers, sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paver base, compacted crusher run | 4 | 81 | Oklahoma State University, Facilities Management, Landscape Services |
| Paver base, 3/4 in crusher run, patios and walkways | 6–8 | 41–54 | Unilock |
| Paver base, 3/4 in crusher run, pool decks | 6–12 | 27–54 | Unilock |
| Paver base, 3/4 in crusher run, driveways | 10–14 | 23–32 | Unilock |
Crusher run weight per cubic yard
Published weights of a cubic yard of crusher run run from 2,500 to 3,960 lb across 2 values from 2 documents, measured in different conditions. The calculators use 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard, the middle of Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)'s 1.79–1.98 tons per cubic yard for “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”, because it is a measured weight of a compacted dense graded base, and the calculators treat the thickness as a finished, compacted layer. One ton of crusher run is about 0.53 compacted cubic yards (0.71–0.81 loose cubic yards).
| Pounds per compacted cubic yard | 3,770 |
|---|---|
| Published as | “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”, 1.79–1.98 ton/yd³, Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP); condition: compacted. No document found prints a weight under the name crusher run. |
| Published range, same condition, lb | 3,580–3,960 |
| All published values, any condition, lb | 2,500–3,960 |
| Tons per compacted cubic yard | 1.89 |
| Compacted cubic yards per ton | 0.53 |
Crusher run compared with other gravel and stone
| Material | Condition | Pounds per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher run | compacted | 3,770 | 0.53 |
| Pea gravel | not stated | 2,840 | 0.7 |
| Sand | loose | 2,795 | 0.72 |
| River rock | not stated | 2,650 | 0.75 |
| Rock | loose | 2,570 | 0.78 |
| Gravel | loose | 2,565 | 0.78 |
Crusher run questions
How much crusher run do I need?
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs 1.23 compacted cubic yards of crusher run (1.65–1.88 loose cubic yards to order), about 2.33 tons at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard. One compacted cubic yard of crusher run covers 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep, so divide the area in square feet by 81 for the compacted cubic yards at that depth.
How much does a yard of crusher run weigh?
Published weights of a cubic yard of crusher run run from 2,500 to 3,960 lb across 2 values from 2 documents, measured in different conditions. The calculators use 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard, the middle of Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)'s 1.79–1.98 tons per cubic yard for “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”, because it is a measured weight of a compacted dense graded base, and the calculators treat the thickness as a finished, compacted layer.
How many yards in a ton of crusher run?
One ton of crusher run is about 0.53 compacted cubic yards (0.71–0.81 loose cubic yards) at 3,770 lb per compacted cubic yard, the middle of Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)'s 1.79–1.98 tons per cubic yard for “Dense Graded Base 1¼ in”.
Why the crusher run you need can differ from the result
The weight of crusher run changes with the source, the moisture and how tightly it is packed, so published values differ (here from 2,500 to 3,960 lb per cubic yard across all conditions). Before ordering, ask the supplier for the weight per yard of their own material and enter it as your own density under More options.
The weight used for crusher run is a compacted weight, so the depth is the finished, compacted thickness and the tons need no allowance. Loose crusher run takes more room: order about 1.34–1.52 loose cubic yards per compacted cubic yard (Wisconsin DOT research (WHRP)); the result shows that loose volume.