Bags of Limestone Screenings for a 12x18 Patio
How many bags of limestone screenings for a 12x18 patio: at 2 inches deep you need about 36.0 cubic feet, which is 72 bags of the common 0.5 cubic foot size. If your store sells limestone screenings in 50-pound bags instead, figure about 75 bags, since limestone screenings 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 | 18.0 | 36 | 38 |
| 2 in | 36.0 | 72 | 75 |
| 3 in | 54.0 | 108 | 112 |
| 4 in | 72.0 | 144 | 150 |
How to figure it
- Area: 12 × 18 = 216 sq ft.
- Volume: 216 × (2 ÷ 12) = 36.0 cu ft.
- Bags: 36.0 ÷ 0.5 = 72 bags (round up).
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 36.0 cubic feet is 1.33 yards, about 1.9 tons. At this size, a bulk delivery usually beats a cart full of bags once you count trips. Compare the bag price × 72 against a bulk quote for 2.1 tons delivered.
About limestone screenings
Screenings hold moisture and can crust over. Use them in thin layers over a compacted stone base instead of as a thick layer on their own.
Before you spread 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 limestone screenings
Works well for:
- Paver and flagstone setting beds
- Firm walking paths
- Top-dressing a compacted stone base
Think twice for:
- Deep layers on their own
- Low spots that collect water
- Under heavy vehicle traffic without a base
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of limestone screenings (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
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Questions people ask
How many bags of limestone screenings for a 12x18 patio?
About 72 bags of 0.5 cubic feet at 2 inches deep.
How many 50 lb bags of limestone screenings for 12x18?
About 75 bags at 2 inches.
How many 0.5 cubic foot bags are in a cubic yard?
54 bags.
How many cubic feet is a 12x18 patio at 2 inches?
About 36.0 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
- #10 Stone (Stone Dust): Size, Uses and How Many Tons
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Bags of Limestone Screenings for a 12x14 Patio
- Bags of Limestone Screenings for a 12x16 Patio
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