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How Much #57 Stone for a 12x10 Patio?

How much #57 stone for a 12x10 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 1.11 cubic yards, which is roughly 1.5 tons at 1.35 tons per yard. The patio covers 120 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.37 yards.

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The math for a 12x10 patio

  1. Area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 120 × 0.250 = 30.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 1.11 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.35 = 1.5 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

#57 stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in0.741.01.1
3 in1.111.51.7
4 in1.482.02.2
6 in2.223.03.3

About #57 stone

Since #57 is washed and open-graded, it moves a little underfoot. Many installers put it over a compacted base of a dense-graded stone rather than straight on soil. Weight per yard is a planning number; the scale ticket at the yard is the real one.

Preparing the patio

Remove sod, level the area with a slight slope away from the house, and lay landscape fabric if weeds are a concern. Edging keeps loose material inside the patio footprint. For foot traffic and furniture, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.

Ordering tips

  • Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
  • Delivery size. 1.7 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
  • Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
  • Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the patio as firm ground allows.

Good and poor uses for #57 stone

Works well for:

  • French drains and drainage layers
  • The top course of a gravel driveway
  • Under sheds where water needs to drain away

Poor fit for:

  • A standalone base, since it does not pack hard without fines
  • Paver setting beds
  • Walk paths meant for strollers or wheelchairs

Quick reference numbers

  • Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.42 tons of #57 stone (0.31 cubic yards).
  • Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.2 tons.
  • Another size for comparison: a 12x24 area at 2 inches takes about 2.4 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.35 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.
  • Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
  • 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 of #57 stone for a 12x10 patio?

About 1.5 tons at 3 inches deep, or 1.7 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 12x10 patio at 3 inches?

About 1.11 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of #57 stone weigh?

Usually around 1.3 to 1.45 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should #57 stone be for a patio?

The table above shows 2 to 6 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.

How many square feet is 12x10?

120 square feet.

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