Stone calculator for North Dakota

Most crushed stone is purchased by the ton, with a typical conversion of about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons per yard. This calculator uses the selected weight across twelve graded stone options, ranging from 3/8 inch chips to 2.5 inch railroad ballast. Contractors can begin with a specification, while homeowners can start with the project description. The guide below connects either approach to the appropriate material.

Calculating your amount

1. Start with the area in feet. For drives and pads, multiply length by width; for drains, use trench length multiplied by trench width.
2. Choose depth based on what the layer does: use 2 to 3 inches for top courses, 4 inches for bases, and 12 inches or more for French drains.
3. To get cubic yards, divide cubic feet by 27. Then multiply yards by 1.4 for an estimated tonnage of typical crushed stone.

Product stone weights

Understanding stone sizes

Grade numbers refer to rock-size ranges, with lower numbers identifying larger pieces. #4 measures 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches. At 3/16 to 1 inch, #57 serves many drainage, driveway, and concrete applications. #67 is smaller, measuring 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and is often placed around pipe. #8 measures about 3/32 to 3/8 inch, and #89 ranges from 3/8 inch down through fines. Those finer materials suit paver joints and finishing layers. Screenings combine dust with small chips, creating a firm bed that can be screeded after compaction. Railroad ballast uses heavy, angular 1 to 2.5 inch rock for drainage and load support beneath rail lines and equipment pads.

Clean stone or fines? Choose the right type

Stone on this page falls into two groups. Washed, clean material such as #57 lets water move through and remains loose, making it suitable for drainage. Crusher run and road-base blends contain fines that compact into a firm layer, which is why they belong under bases, especially where deep frost makes base preparation matter. Using the wrong type causes problems: fines can trap water in a French drain, while a #57 base under a driveway can keep moving. When plans or permits list a gradation, purchase the material specified. If the product name is uncertain, text the line item to (701) 436-1620; "3/4 clean" and "#57" can refer to the same stone under different names.

Common stone quantities

Example: a 30-foot French drain

For a trench 30 feet long by 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 displaces only about 0.1 yards, so order the full 1.6 tons and place the small extra amount at the outfall. Put non-woven fabric around the trench before adding stone to prevent soil from plugging the open spaces that carry water.

Two ways to avoid poor stone orders

• Check the specification before relying on the local label. Crusher run, crush and run, Class 13, surface gravel, and Class 13 gravel can all describe one product. #57 and "57s" also refer to the same stone.
• Angular material that is rolled can compact by 5 to 10%. For ordinary settling, select the calculator's extra-percent toggle; 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. On soft ground, do not set pavers on dust alone.
• Calculate the trench volume rather than subtracting the pipe. Pipes below 6 inches generally displace less than a wheelbarrow load.

Crushed stone facts and figures

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