How Much #57 Stone for a 12x16 Greenhouse Floor?
A 12 by 16 foot greenhouse covers 192 square feet. At 3 inches of #57 stone, plan on 1.78 cubic yards, or about 2.4 tons, which answers how much #57 stone for a 12x16 greenhouse floor.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math
- Area: 192.0 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic yards: 192.0 × 0.250 ÷ 27 = 1.78 yd³.
- Tons: × about 1.35 tons per yard = 2.4 tons.
The crushed stone calculator does this for any size.
Related: How Much Pea Gravel for a 12x16 Greenhouse Floor?
#57 stone needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons of #57 stone | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 1.19 | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| 3 in | 1.78 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| 4 in | 2.37 | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| 6 in | 3.56 | 4.8 | 5.3 |
Stone for a greenhouse
A stone floor drains spilled water, holds some heat and is easy to rake clean. Many growers use about 3 inches of pea gravel or washed stone over fabric, with paver or concrete stepping paths if they roll carts.
Related: How Much #57 Stone for a 12x16 Patio?
Before the stone goes in
Clear vegetation, rake the soil level and compact it. Lay fabric overlapped at the seams and set edging before spreading the stone.
Buying the stone
If you haul it yourself, a typical half-ton pickup should carry only about half a cubic yard of stone, well under what the bed looks like it can hold. #57 is a washed stone of roughly 1/2 to 1 inch with few fines; it drains fast but stays a little loose on its own. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard number, since stone source and moisture change it.
Tools for the job
A flat shovel, a steel rake, a wheelbarrow and a rented plate compactor cover most residential pads. A landscape rake or the back of a rake levels the top layer, and a long straightedge or a level string shows high and low spots before the final pass.
Common mistakes
The most frequent problem is ordering for the finished depth without allowing for compaction, which can shrink a loose layer by 10 to 20 percent. Another is skipping fabric on soft soil and watching the stone vanish into the mud over the first wet season. Spreading everything in one thick layer instead of compacted lifts also leaves a soft, rutted surface.
Questions people ask
How many tons of #57 stone for a 12x16 greenhouse floor?
About 2.4 tons at 3 inches deep.
How many yards of #57 stone for a 12x16 greenhouse floor?
About 1.78 cubic yards.
How many tons of #57 stone are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.35 tons for planning, but suppliers vary with stone size and moisture.
Do I need to compact it?
Yes for anything that carries weight. Compact in lifts of a few inches with a plate compactor.
Related guides
- Gravel for a Greenhouse Floor: Best Stone, Depth and Tons
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Geotextile Fabric for Driveways: Woven vs Nonwoven and How Much You Need
- Compacting a Driveway Gravel Base in Lifts
- How Much Gravel for a 12x16 Greenhouse Floor?
- How Much Crushed Stone for a 12x16 Greenhouse Floor?
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