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6 Cubic Yards of Crushed Stone in Tons

6 cubic yards of crushed stone in tons works out to about 8.4 tons using a planning weight of 1.4 tons per yard. Real loads land between roughly 8.1 and 9.0 tons depending on stone size, fines and moisture. That is about 16,800 pounds.

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The conversion

  • Yards × tons per yard: 6 × 1.4 = 8.4 tons.
  • Low end: 6 × 1.35 = 8.1 tons.
  • High end: 6 × 1.5 = 9.0 tons.

Quarries can tell you the weight per yard for their own product; use it if you have it.

What 6 yards covers

DepthSquare feet
2 in972
3 in648
4 in486
6 in324

About crushed stone

Crushed stone has fractured faces, so the pieces interlock when compacted. That is why it holds a driveway or pad shape better than round stone of the same size.

Hauling 6 yards

At about 8.4 tons, this is a load most single-axle dump trucks can take. 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

Good uses:

  • 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 15x30 area at 2 inches takes about 3.9 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

  • Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
  • Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
  • Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
  • Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.

Questions people ask

How many tons is 6 yards of crushed stone?

About 8.4 tons, with a typical range of 8.1 to 9.0.

How many pounds is 6 cubic yards of crushed stone?

About 16,800 pounds.

How much area does 6 yards of crushed stone cover at 4 inches?

About 486 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

Open the volume and tonnage calculator → Asphalt tonnage calculator →

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