How Much Road Base for 800 Square Feet?

How much road base for 800 square feet depends on depth. At 6 inches you need about 14.81 cubic yards, roughly 22.2 tons at 1.5 tons per yard. At 4 inches the order drops to 14.8 tons.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

Road base for 800 sq ft by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons	Tons +10%
4 in	9.88	14.8	16.3
6 in	14.81	22.2	24.4
8 in	19.75	29.6	32.6

Working it out

800 sq ft × (6 ÷ 12) ft = 400.0 cubic feet.
÷ 27 = 14.81 cubic yards.
× 1.5 tons per yard = 22.2 tons.

About road base

Road base is meant to be compacted at close to the right moisture. Dry base rock does not lock up well; a light spray of water before rolling helps. 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

Works well for:

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

Think twice for:

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 3 inches takes about 2.8 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.

Questions people ask

How many tons of road base for 800 square feet?

About 22.2 tons at 6 inches deep.

How many cubic yards of road base for 800 square feet?

About 14.81 yards at 6 inches.

How much road base for 800 square feet at 4 inches?

About 14.8 tons, or 9.88 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.

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