20 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
20 cubic yards of crushed stone in tons works out to about 28.0 tons using a planning weight of 1.4 tons per yard. Real loads land between roughly 27.0 and 30.0 tons depending on stone size, fines and moisture. That is about 56,000 pounds.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The conversion
- Yards × tons per yard: 20 × 1.4 = 28.0 tons.
- Low end: 20 × 1.35 = 27.0 tons.
- High end: 20 × 1.5 = 30.0 tons.
If your supplier quotes a different weight per yard, multiply by theirs.
What 20 yards covers
| Depth | Square feet |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 3,240 |
| 3 in | 2,160 |
| 4 in | 1,620 |
| 6 in | 1,080 |
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 20 yards
Plan the delivery around 28.0 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.
Where crushed stone fits
Works well for:
- 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 14x28 area at 3 inches takes about 5.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Questions people ask
How many tons is 20 yards of crushed stone?
About 28.0 tons, with a typical range of 27.0 to 30.0.
How many pounds is 20 cubic yards of crushed stone?
About 56,000 pounds.
How much area does 20 yards of crushed stone cover at 4 inches?
About 1,620 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?
- 18 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
- 19 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons
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