AsphaltTons.com — asphalt tonnage calculator

How Much Gravel for a 36x48 Pole Barn?

How much gravel for a 36x48 pole barn: about 44.8 tons for a 6-inch pad covering the 1,728 square foot footprint. Many builders extend the pad a foot or two past the walls, which adds material.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math

  1. Area: 1,728.0 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.500 ft.
  3. Cubic yards: 1,728.0 × 0.500 ÷ 27 = 32.00 yd³.
  4. Tons: × about 1.4 tons per yard = 44.8 tons.

The gravel calculator does this for any size.

Gravel needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons of gravelTons +10%
4 in21.3329.932.9
6 in32.0044.849.3
8 in42.6759.765.7
12 in64.0089.698.6

Pole barn pad depth

A 4-inch layer works for storage and light use on firm soil. For equipment, vehicles or a future concrete floor, 6 to 8 inches of compacted stone is common, and soft ground may need more plus fabric underneath.

Extending the pad past the walls

Many owners run the stone 1 foot beyond each wall: 38x50 feet, 1,900 sq ft, about 49.3 tons at 6 inches. It keeps mud away from the doors and protects the post bases.

Build it in layers

Remove sod and organic soil first. Compact the subgrade, then place and compact the stone in thin lifts. If the barn floor will be stone permanently, finish with a material that has fines so it packs firm.

Ordering and delivery

Small dump trucks commonly carry around 5 to 10 tons and tri-axles more, but loads vary by truck and state, so ask the yard what fits in one trip. Gravel is a broad label, so confirm whether the yard means crushed or rounded stone and whether it carries fines. The scale ticket is the real weight; tons per yard here is a planning figure.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel for a 36x48 pole barn?

About 44.8 tons at 6 inches deep.

How many yards of gravel for a 36x48 pad?

About 32.00 cubic yards at 6 inches.

How deep should a pole barn gravel pad be?

About 4 inches for light use and 6 to 8 inches for vehicles or a future slab.

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

Roughly 1.4 tons for planning, but suppliers vary with stone size and moisture.

Should I put landscape fabric under the stone?

On soft or clay soil, a woven geotextile keeps stone from sinking into the dirt and makes the layer last longer.

Related guides

Open the volume and tonnage calculator → Asphalt tonnage calculator →

As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.

Related answers