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How Much #57 Stone for a 14x20 Patio?

How much #57 stone for a 14x20 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 2.59 cubic yards, which is roughly 3.5 tons at 1.35 tons per yard. The patio covers 280 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.86 yards.

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The math for a 14x20 patio

  1. Area: 14 × 20 = 280 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 280 × 0.250 = 70.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 2.59 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.35 = 3.5 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

#57 stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in1.732.32.6
3 in2.593.53.9
4 in3.464.75.1
6 in5.197.07.7

About #57 stone

#57 stone is a clean crushed stone in roughly the 1/2 to 1 inch range with very few fines. It drains fast, which suits drainage layers and the top of a gravel drive, but it does not pack into a hard crust by itself. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.

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. 3.9 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

Works well for:

  • 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 12x24 area at 2 inches takes about 2.4 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

  • Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
  • Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
  • Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
  • Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.

Questions people ask

How many tons of #57 stone for a 14x20 patio?

About 3.5 tons at 3 inches deep, or 3.9 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 14x20 patio at 3 inches?

About 2.59 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 14x20?

280 square feet.

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