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How Much #57 Stone for a 24x50 Driveway?

How much #57 stone for a 24x50 driveway is a quick volume problem. 1,200 square feet at 4 inches comes to 14.81 cubic yards. #57 stone usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.45 tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 20.0 tons.

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The math for a 24x50 driveway

  1. Area: 24 × 50 = 1,200 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 1,200 × 0.333 = 400.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 14.81 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.35 = 20.0 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

#57 stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in7.4110.011.0
3 in11.1115.016.5
4 in14.8120.022.0
6 in22.2230.033.0

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 driveway

Strip sod and soft topsoil, grade for drainage and compact the subgrade before any stone goes down. Gravel drives last longer with a compacted base layer under the top stone and a slight crown so water runs off. For car and truck traffic, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.

Ordering tips

  • Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
  • Delivery size. 22.0 tons may take more than one 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 driveway 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 3 inches takes about 4.9 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

  • Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
  • Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
  • Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
  • Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.

Questions people ask

How many tons of #57 stone for a 24x50 driveway?

About 20.0 tons at 4 inches deep, or 22.0 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 24x50 driveway at 4 inches?

About 14.81 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 driveway?

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 24x50?

1,200 square feet.

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