#57 Stone Calculator: Tons and Cubic Yards
Calculate crushed stone #57 (3/4″) volume and tonnage for French drains, driveway sub-bases, and drainage projects. Defaults to 1.40 ton/yd³ (practical ordering density) — confirm with your supplier.
Crushed stone #57 is the workhorse drainage aggregate: angular 3/4″ particles that nest together loosely without compacting, letting water flow freely through the voids. It is the standard choice for French drains, under-slab drainage, driveway sub-base, and concrete aggregate.
Important density note: The calculator defaults to 1.40 ton/yd³ — the practical ordering density most suppliers bill at (typical range 1.4–1.5 ton/yd³). Loose/lab dry density is a bit lower (~1.35 ton/yd³). Defaulting to the ordering figure means estimates don't fall short; always confirm exact density with your supplier and add a 10–15% waste allowance.
Project Dimensions
How the math works
Step 1 — volume in cubic yards
cu yd = (length_ft × width_ft × depth_in) ÷ 324 324 = 27 cu ft/yd × 12 in/ft. A canonical landscaping shortcut: multiply area by depth (in inches) and divide by 324.
Step 2 — apply waste / compaction allowance
cu yd (with waste) = cu yd × (1 + waste % ÷ 100) The waste allowance inflates both tonnage and bag count — you buy the waste-inclusive amount.
Step 3 — tons
tons = cu yd × density (ton/yd³) Material densities (US short tons per cubic yard): pea gravel 1.35, #57 stone 1.40, paver base 1.40, river rock 1.30, crusher run 1.40. Confirm exact weight with your supplier — density varies with moisture and stone source.
Step 4 — retail bags
bags = ⌈ cu yd × 54 ⌉ A standard 50 lb bag holds 0.5 cu ft. One cubic yard = 27 cu ft ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags.
How #57 stone differs from other gravel
Unlike paver base or crusher run, #57 does not compact — there are no fines to fill the voids and lock the particles. That is a feature for drainage applications but a liability if you need a stable compacted layer. For a patio sub-base or shed pad, use paver base (3/8″ minus dense-grade) or crusher run instead.
For driveways, a common three-layer approach is: 6 in of crusher run base (compacted), 4 in of #57 base course, then 2 in of pea gravel or paver base as the wearing surface. Use the driveway calculator to size all three layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The calculator defaults to 1.40 ton/yd³ — the practical ordering density most suppliers bill at (typical range 1.4–1.5 ton/yd³), and within the published range (1.21–1.50 ton/yd³). Loose/lab dry density is a bit lower (~1.35 ton/yd³). Always confirm the exact density with your supplier and add 10–15% margin when ordering.
#57 crushed stone (3/4") is used for French drains and drainage channels, driveway sub-bases, concrete aggregate, under-slab fill, and septic-system drain fields. Its open-graded structure means it drains freely and does not compact under load.
No — #57 is open-graded, meaning the angular particles leave voids and the stone does not bind together. It drains freely but will not support a compacted sub-base. For a compacted base, use paver base or crusher run instead.
A standard French drain uses 6–12 in of #57 stone surrounding a perforated pipe. For a simple surface drain channel without pipe, 6 in is typical. Use the 10–15% waste allowance for trench work.
The calculator uses 1.40 ton/yd³ — the practical ordering density most suppliers bill at (typical range 1.4–1.5 ton/yd³). This aligns with what you will actually be charged per ton. Loose/lab dry density is ~1.35 ton/yd³. If your supplier quotes a different density, adjust your order accordingly.