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How Much Road Base for 200 Square Feet?

How much road base for 200 square feet depends on depth. At 6 inches you need about 3.70 cubic yards, roughly 5.6 tons at 1.5 tons per yard. Going to 8 inches raises it to 7.4 tons.

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Road base for 200 sq ft by depth

DepthCubic yardsTonsTons +10%
4 in2.473.74.1
6 in3.705.66.1
8 in4.947.48.1

Working it out

  1. 200 sq ft × (6 ÷ 12) ft = 100.0 cubic feet.
  2. ÷ 27 = 3.70 cubic yards.
  3. × 1.5 tons per yard = 5.6 tons.

About road base

Road base (also called base rock, ABC, or Class 2 base in different states) is a graded mix of stone and fines made to compact into a load-bearing layer. Typical weight: 1.4 to 1.65 compacted tons per cubic yard.

Before the truck comes

  • Measure odd shapes in pieces. Split curves and L-shapes into rectangles and add them.
  • Add a margin. About 10 percent covers compaction and low spots.
  • Bulk or bags. Bulk delivery is the practical choice here.
  • Prep first. Remove sod, compact the subgrade and set edging before the stone arrives.

Use the volume and tonnage calculator for any other size.

When to choose road base

Works well for:

  • Base under asphalt and concrete
  • Gravel roads and drives
  • Equipment and shed pads

Less suited to:

  • Drainage layers
  • Decorative surfaces
  • Surfaces that will stay uncompacted

Quick reference numbers

  • Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.46 tons of road base (0.31 cubic yards).
  • Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.6 tons.
  • Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 2 inches takes about 1.9 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

  • Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
  • Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
  • Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
  • 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 road base for 200 square feet?

About 5.6 tons at 6 inches deep.

How many cubic yards of road base for 200 square feet?

About 3.70 yards at 6 inches.

How much road base for 200 square feet at 4 inches?

About 3.7 tons, or 2.47 cubic yards.

How much does a yard of road base weigh?

About 1.4 to 1.65 compacted tons.

Should I add extra?

Yes, about 10 percent is a common allowance.

Related guides

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