Stone calculator for Mississippi

Buy crushed stone by the ton. Most grades convert at about 2,800 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.4 tons per yard. This stone tonnage calculator includes twelve graded options, from 3/8 inch chips through 2.5 inch railroad ballast, and uses the weight assigned to the material selected. Contractors may begin with a spec number. Homeowners may begin with the project itself. The guide below connects each approach to the appropriate stone.

Calculation steps

1. For a pad or drive, use length multiplied by width in feet. For a drain, multiply the trench length by its width.
2. Choose depth based on what the layer does. Surface courses are 2-3 inches, base layers are 4 inches, and French drains are 12 inches or deeper.
3. Divide cubic feet by 27 to find cubic yards. Multiply yards by 1.4 for typical crushed stone tons.

Weight by stone type

Understanding size grades

Stone grade names refer to size ranges, with lower numbers representing larger pieces. #4 measures 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. #57 ranges from 3/16 to 1 inch and is used for drainage, driveways, and concrete work. #67 is finer, at 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and is often used around pipe. #8 measures about 3/32 to 3/8 inch. #89 contains fines up to 3/8 inch. Both are used in paver joints and compacted finish layers. Screenings combine dust and small chips to form a firm bed that can be screeded. Railroad ballast consists of heavy, angular rock measuring 1 to 2.5 inches, providing load support and drainage below tracks and equipment pads.

Clean stone or fines: choose carefully

This page covers two main material types. Washed, clean stone such as #57 remains open so water can flow through it, making it useful for drainage. Crusher run, road base, and other mixes containing fines compact into a firm layer for base work. Using the wrong type causes problems. A French drain filled with crusher run can trap water, while a #57 base under a driveway can continue to move. When your plans or permit list a gradation, order the stated specification. If the material name is confusing, send the item description to (601) 706-3281. "3/4 clean" and "#57" can be different names for the same stone.

Common stone quantities

Example: a 30-foot French drain

A 30-foot trench that is 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep contains 30 cubic feet. That equals 1.1 cubic yards, or 1.6 tons of #57. A 4-inch pipe in the center takes up only about 0.1 yards, so use the full 1.6 tons and put the little extra at the outfall. Lay non-woven fabric in the trench before adding stone. It prevents soil from filling the open spaces that let the drain function.

Two ways to avoid ordering mistakes

• Check the specification first, then compare the local name. Crusher run, crush and run, 610 Limestone, and crushed limestone base can be names for one product. #57 and "57s" also identify the same stone.
• Angular stone that is rolled can compact 5-10%. The calculator's extra-percent toggle accounts for normal settling. For engineered base work, use its specified compacted depth.
• Compacted base stone provides the support beneath pavers. Screenings or concrete sand form the thin leveling layer. Do not use dust alone beneath pavers on soft ground.
• Calculate from the trench volume rather than subtracting the pipe. A pipe smaller than 6 inches seldom changes the needed amount by more than a wheelbarrow load.

Crushed stone facts

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