How Much #57 Stone for a 16x20 Shed Base?
A 16 by 20 foot shed base is 320 square feet. How much #57 stone for a 16x20 shed base depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 3.95 cubic yards or 5.3 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 16x20 shed base
- Area: 16 × 20 = 320 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 320 × 0.333 = 106.7 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 3.95 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 5.3 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 | 1.98 | 2.7 | 2.9 |
| 3 in | 2.96 | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| 4 in | 3.95 | 5.3 | 5.9 |
| 6 in | 5.93 | 8.0 | 8.8 |
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. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
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. 5.9 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 shed base 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
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 8x16 area at 4 inches takes about 2.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- 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.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
Questions people ask
How many tons of #57 stone for a 16x20 shed base?
About 5.3 tons at 4 inches deep, or 5.9 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 16x20 shed base at 4 inches?
About 3.95 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 16x20?
320 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 16x14 Shed Base?
- How Much #57 Stone for a 16x16 Shed Base?
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