AsphaltTons.com — asphalt tonnage calculator

How Much Crushed Stone for a 20x250 Driveway?

How much crushed stone for a 20x250 driveway is a quick volume problem. 5,000 square feet at 4 inches comes to 61.73 cubic yards. Crushed stone usually weighs about 1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 86.4 tons.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 20x250 driveway

  1. Area: 20 × 250 = 5,000 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 5,000 × 0.333 = 1,666.7 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 61.73 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.4 = 86.4 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Crushed stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
2 in30.8643.247.5
3 in46.3064.871.3
4 in61.7386.495.1
6 in92.59129.6142.6

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 driveway

Strip sod and soft topsoil, grade for drainage and compact the subgrade before any stone goes down. Gravel drives last longer with a compacted base layer under the top stone and a slight crown so water runs off. Since the driveway carries car and truck traffic, a little extra depth is cheap insurance.

Ordering tips

  • Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
  • Delivery size. 95.1 tons may take more than one 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 driveway as firm ground allows.

Good and poor uses for crushed stone

Works well for:

  • 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 10x20 area at 2 inches takes about 1.7 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Where estimates go wrong

  • Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
  • 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.
  • Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.

Questions people ask

How many tons of crushed stone for a 20x250 driveway?

About 86.4 tons at 4 inches deep, or 95.1 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 20x250 driveway at 4 inches?

About 61.73 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 driveway?

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 20x250?

5,000 square feet.

Related guides

Open the volume and tonnage calculator → Asphalt tonnage calculator →

As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.