AsphaltTons.com — asphalt tonnage calculator

How Much #57 Stone Under a 12x24 Deck?

How much #57 stone under a 12x24 deck: about 3.6 tons at 3 inches deep. The area is 288 square feet, which is 2.67 cubic yards at that depth.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math

  1. Area: 288.0 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic yards: 288.0 × 0.250 ÷ 27 = 2.67 yd³.
  4. Tons: × about 1.35 tons per yard = 3.6 tons.

The crushed stone calculator does this for any size.

#57 stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons of #57 stoneTons +10%
2 in1.782.42.6
3 in2.673.64.0
4 in3.564.85.3
6 in5.337.27.9

Deck tips

Gravel under a deck blocks weeds, keeps the ground from turning to mud and lets water drain. Lay landscape fabric first, then about 2 to 3 inches of stone; there is no need to compact it the way you would a driveway base.

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. The scale ticket is the real weight; tons per yard here is a planning figure.

Common mistakes

People often forget that compaction reduces volume, so they come up short. Others order clean, round stone where a packable crushed stone with fines would have stayed put. Finally, dumping the whole load in one pile far from the work area adds hours of wheelbarrow trips.

Tools for the job

For anything bigger than a small path, rent a plate compactor; hand tampers cannot match it. A wheelbarrow, shovels, a hard rake and stakes with string are the rest of the kit. Wet the stone lightly before compacting so it binds.

Questions people ask

How many tons of #57 stone under a 12x24 deck?

About 3.6 tons at 3 inches deep.

How many yards of #57 stone under a 12x24 deck?

About 2.67 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.

Should I put landscape fabric under the stone?

On soft or clay soil, a woven geotextile keeps stone from sinking into the dirt and makes the layer last longer.

Related guides

Open the volume and tonnage calculator → Asphalt tonnage calculator →

As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.

Related answers