How Much #57 Stone for a 12x12 Patio?
How much #57 stone for a 12x12 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 1.33 cubic yards, which is roughly 1.8 tons at 1.35 tons per yard. The patio covers 144 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.44 yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 12x12 patio
- Area: 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 144 × 0.250 = 36.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 1.33 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 1.8 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
#57 stone needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.89 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| 3 in | 1.33 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| 4 in | 1.78 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| 6 in | 2.67 | 3.6 | 4.0 |
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. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
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. Since the patio carries foot traffic and furniture, a little extra depth is cheap insurance.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 2.0 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.
Where #57 stone fits
Best suited to:
- French drains and drainage layers
- The top course of a gravel driveway
- Under sheds where water needs to drain away
Less suited to:
- 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 14x28 area at 2 inches takes about 3.3 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- 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.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
Questions people ask
How many tons of #57 stone for a 12x12 patio?
About 1.8 tons at 3 inches deep, or 2.0 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 12x12 patio at 3 inches?
About 1.33 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 12x12?
144 square feet.
Related guides
- Number 57 Stone: Size, Weight, Uses, and Coverage
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much #57 Stone for a 10x30 Patio?
- How Much #57 Stone for a 12x10 Patio?
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