How Much #57 Stone for a 16x16 Shed Base?
A 16 by 16 foot shed base is 256 square feet. How much #57 stone for a 16x16 shed base depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 3.16 cubic yards or 4.3 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 16x16 shed base
- Area: 16 × 16 = 256 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 256 × 0.333 = 85.3 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 3.16 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 4.3 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 | 1.58 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 3 in | 2.37 | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| 4 in | 3.16 | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| 6 in | 4.74 | 6.4 | 7.0 |
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. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.
Preparing the shed base
Level the footprint, extend the stone a foot or so beyond the shed walls for drip and drainage, and compact in lifts. A timber or block border holds the pad shape. This shed base sees a shed floor frame, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 4.7 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 shed base as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for #57 stone
Good uses:
- French drains and drainage layers
- The top course of a gravel driveway
- Under sheds where water needs to drain away
Think twice 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 14x28 area at 2 inches takes about 3.3 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.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- 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.
Questions people ask
How many tons of #57 stone for a 16x16 shed base?
About 4.3 tons at 4 inches deep, or 4.7 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 16x16 shed base at 4 inches?
About 3.16 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 shed base?
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 16x16?
256 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 16x12 Shed Base?
- How Much #57 Stone for a 16x14 Shed Base?
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