15 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
15 cubic yards of crushed stone in tons works out to about 21.0 tons using a planning weight of 1.4 tons per yard. Real loads land between roughly 20.2 and 22.5 tons depending on stone size, fines and moisture. That is about 42,000 pounds.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The conversion
- Yards × tons per yard: 15 × 1.4 = 21.0 tons.
- Low end: 15 × 1.35 = 20.2 tons.
- High end: 15 × 1.5 = 22.5 tons.
If your supplier quotes a different weight per yard, multiply by theirs.
What 15 yards covers
| Depth | Square feet |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 2,430 |
| 3 in | 1,620 |
| 4 in | 1,215 |
| 6 in | 810 |
About crushed stone
Most quarries sell crushed stone by a size number or a screen size. Clean crushed stone drains well; stone with fines packs harder but sheds water more slowly.
Hauling 15 yards
Plan the delivery around 21.0 tons: two or more trucks in most areas. A pickup is a poor fit for anything past a fraction of a yard; see how much gravel a half-ton pickup can carry.
Before you order
- Confirm whether the yard prices crushed stone by the ton or by the yard.
- Add about 10 percent for compaction and uneven ground.
- Clear a firm spot for the truck to dump.
The volume and tonnage calculator converts any area and depth into yards and tons.
Good and poor uses for crushed stone
Best suited to:
- Driveway top courses and parking pads
- Shed and hot tub bases
- Backfill behind walls when a clean size is used
Less suited to:
- Barefoot areas, since angular stone is rough
- Play areas
- Places that need a smooth rolling surface for wheels
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of crushed stone (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 12x24 area at 2 inches takes about 2.5 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
Questions people ask
How many tons is 15 yards of crushed stone?
About 21.0 tons, with a typical range of 20.2 to 22.5.
How many pounds is 15 cubic yards of crushed stone?
About 42,000 pounds.
How much area does 15 yards of crushed stone cover at 4 inches?
About 1,215 square feet.
Why does crushed stone weight vary?
Stone size, the share of fines and moisture all change how much a yard weighs.
Is it better to buy by the ton or the yard?
Either works; just convert with the supplier’s own weight per yard so the two quotes compare fairly.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Crushed Stone Cover?
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Yard of Crushed Stone Weigh?
- 13 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
- 14 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
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