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How Much Crushed Stone for a 10x10 Shed Base?

A 10 by 10 foot shed base is 100 square feet. How much crushed stone for a 10x10 shed base depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 1.23 cubic yards or 1.7 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.

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The math for a 10x10 shed base

  1. Area: 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 100 × 0.333 = 33.3 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 1.23 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.4 = 1.7 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Crushed stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in0.620.91.0
3 in0.931.31.4
4 in1.231.71.9
6 in1.852.62.9

About crushed stone

Most quarries sell crushed stone by a size number or a screen size. Clean crushed stone drains well; stone with fines packs harder but sheds water more slowly. Weight per yard is a planning number; the scale ticket at the yard is the real one.

Preparing the shed base

Level the footprint, extend the stone a foot or so beyond the shed walls for drip and drainage, and compact in lifts. A timber or block border holds the pad shape. For a shed floor frame, 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. 1.9 tons fits in a single 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 shed base as firm ground allows.

Where crushed stone fits

Works well for:

  • Driveway top courses and parking pads
  • Shed and hot tub bases
  • Backfill behind walls when a clean size is used

Think twice for:

  • Barefoot areas, since angular stone is rough
  • Play areas
  • Places that need a smooth rolling surface for wheels

Quick reference numbers

  • Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of crushed stone (0.31 cubic yards).
  • Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
  • Another size for comparison: a 8x16 area at 4 inches takes about 2.2 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Where estimates go wrong

  • Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
  • 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.
  • Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.

Questions people ask

How many tons of crushed stone for a 10x10 shed base?

About 1.7 tons at 4 inches deep, or 1.9 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 10x10 shed base at 4 inches?

About 1.23 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of crushed stone weigh?

Usually around 1.35 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should crushed stone be for a shed base?

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 10x10?

100 square feet.

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