How Much Crushed Stone for a 10x8 Shed Base?

A 10 by 8 foot shed base is 80 square feet. How much crushed stone for a 10x8 shed base depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 0.99 cubic yards or 1.4 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 10x8 shed base

Area: 10 × 8 = 80 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
Cubic feet: 80 × 0.333 = 26.7 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.99 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 1.4 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Crushed stone needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
2 in	0.49	0.7	0.8
3 in	0.74	1.0	1.1
4 in	0.99	1.4	1.5
6 in	1.48	2.1	2.3

About crushed stone

Crushed stone has fractured faces, so the pieces interlock when compacted. That is why it holds a driveway or pad shape better than round stone of the same size. 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. This shed base sees a shed floor frame, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.

Ordering tips

Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
Delivery size. 1.5 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 about 1.4 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the shed base as firm ground allows.

Where crushed stone fits

Good uses:

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

Less suited to:

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 20x25 area at 3 inches takes about 6.5 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
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.
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 10x8 shed base?

About 1.4 tons at 4 inches deep, or 1.5 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 10x8 shed base at 4 inches?

About 0.99 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 10x8?

80 square feet.

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