Bags of Crushed Stone for a 16x18 Patio
How many bags of crushed stone for a 16x18 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 72.0 cubic feet, which is 144 bags of the common 0.5 cubic foot size. If your store sells crushed stone in 50-pound bags instead, figure about 150 bags, since crushed stone weighs roughly 104 pounds per cubic foot.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Bag count by depth
| Depth | Cubic feet | 0.5 cu ft bags | 50 lb bags (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 24.0 | 48 | 50 |
| 2 in | 48.0 | 96 | 100 |
| 3 in | 72.0 | 144 | 150 |
| 4 in | 96.0 | 192 | 200 |
How to figure it
- Area: 16 × 18 = 288 sq ft.
- Volume: 288 × (3 ÷ 12) = 72.0 cu ft.
- Bags: 72.0 ÷ 0.5 = 144 bags (round up).
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 72.0 cubic feet is 2.67 yards, about 3.7 tons. At this size, a bulk delivery usually beats a cart full of bags once you count trips. Compare the bag price × 144 against a bulk quote for 4.1 tons delivered.
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.
Laying it down for a patio
- Dig and level. Remove sod and set the base slightly below the surrounding grade.
- Edge it. Steel, plastic or stone edging keeps material in place.
- Spread in layers. Rake to depth, then tamp or wet and compact.
- Buy a few extra. Grab 5 to 10 percent more bags for settling and touch-ups.
The volume and tonnage calculator handles other sizes and depths.
When to choose crushed stone
Good uses:
- Driveway top courses and parking pads
- Shed and hot tub bases
- Backfill behind walls when a clean size is used
Poor fit for:
- 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 4 inches takes about 6.8 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- 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 bags of crushed stone for a 16x18 patio?
About 144 bags of 0.5 cubic feet at 3 inches deep.
How many 50 lb bags of crushed stone for 16x18?
About 150 bags at 3 inches.
How many 0.5 cubic foot bags are in a cubic yard?
54 bags.
How many cubic feet is a 16x18 patio at 3 inches?
About 72.0 cubic feet.
When does bulk make more sense?
Usually once the job passes about a cubic yard, or when you would need more than a few car trips.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Crushed Stone Cover?
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Bags of Crushed Stone for a 16x14 Patio
- Bags of Crushed Stone for a 16x16 Patio
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