Bags of Limestone Screenings for a 16x20 Patio
How many bags of limestone screenings for a 16x20 patio: at 2 inches deep you need about 53.3 cubic feet, which is 107 bags of the common 0.5 cubic foot size. If your store sells limestone screenings in 50-pound bags instead, figure about 111 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 | 26.7 | 54 | 56 |
| 2 in | 53.3 | 107 | 111 |
| 3 in | 80.0 | 160 | 166 |
| 4 in | 106.7 | 214 | 222 |
How to figure it
- Area: 16 × 20 = 320 sq ft.
- Volume: 320 × (2 ÷ 12) = 53.3 cu ft.
- Bags: 53.3 ÷ 0.5 = 107 bags (round up).
Bags or bulk?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 53.3 cubic feet is 1.98 yards, about 2.8 tons. Past about a yard, bulk is usually less work and often less money. Compare the bag price × 107 against a bulk quote for 3.0 tons delivered.
About limestone screenings
Limestone screenings are the fine dust and chips left after crushing limestone. They pack very tight, which makes them a common setting bed for pavers and flagstone and a surface for paths.
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.
Good and poor uses for limestone screenings
Best suited to:
- Paver and flagstone setting beds
- Firm walking paths
- Top-dressing a compacted stone base
Less suited to:
- 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 20x25 area at 4 inches takes about 8.6 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- 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.
Questions people ask
How many bags of limestone screenings for a 16x20 patio?
About 107 bags of 0.5 cubic feet at 2 inches deep.
How many 50 lb bags of limestone screenings for 16x20?
About 111 bags at 2 inches.
How many 0.5 cubic foot bags are in a cubic yard?
54 bags.
How many cubic feet is a 16x20 patio at 2 inches?
About 53.3 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 16x16 Patio
- Bags of Limestone Screenings for a 16x18 Patio
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