How Much Road Base for 600 Square Feet?
How much road base for 600 square feet depends on depth. At 6 inches you need about 11.11 cubic yards, roughly 16.7 tons at 1.5 tons per yard. Going to 8 inches raises it to 22.2 tons.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Road base for 600 sq ft by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in | 7.41 | 11.1 | 12.2 |
| 6 in | 11.11 | 16.7 | 18.3 |
| 8 in | 14.81 | 22.2 | 24.4 |
Working it out
- 600 sq ft × (6 ÷ 12) ft = 300.0 cubic feet.
- ÷ 27 = 11.11 cubic yards.
- × 1.5 tons per yard = 16.7 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.
Getting the order right
- 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.
Where road base fits
Best suited to:
- 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 12x24 area at 3 inches takes about 4.0 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- 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.
Questions people ask
How many tons of road base for 600 square feet?
About 16.7 tons at 6 inches deep.
How many cubic yards of road base for 600 square feet?
About 11.11 yards at 6 inches.
How much road base for 600 square feet at 4 inches?
About 11.1 tons, or 7.41 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
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Road Base for 400 Square Feet?
- How Much Road Base for 500 Square Feet?
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