AsphaltTons.com — asphalt tonnage calculator

How Much Crushed Stone Under a 12x16 Deck?

How much crushed stone under a 12x16 deck: about 2.5 tons at 3 inches deep. The area is 192 square feet, which is 1.78 cubic yards at that depth.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math

  1. Area: 192.0 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic yards: 192.0 × 0.250 ÷ 27 = 1.78 yd³.
  4. Tons: × about 1.4 tons per yard = 2.5 tons.

The crushed stone calculator does this for any size.

Crushed stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons of crushed stoneTons +10%
2 in1.191.71.8
3 in1.782.52.7
4 in2.373.33.7
6 in3.565.05.5

Building the deck base

Under a deck, stone is a weed and moisture barrier rather than a structural layer. Slope the soil away from the house, lay fabric and spread 2 to 3 inches of washed stone that drains quickly.

Before the stone goes in

Remove sod and roots, level the area and slope it slightly for drainage. Install edging so the stone stays inside the footprint.

Getting it delivered

Small dump trucks commonly carry around 5 to 10 tons and tri-axles more, but loads vary by truck and state, so ask the yard what fits in one trip. Crushed stone has angular faces that lock together under a compactor, which is why it holds a pad shape. The scale ticket is the real weight; tons per yard here is a planning figure.

Planning the cost

Quarries and landscape suppliers set their own prices, and they change by region and season. Get the price per ton, the delivery fee and the minimum order. If two products will both work, compare cost per square foot at your depth rather than cost per ton.

Measuring the area

Use a long tape and measure each side twice. If the ground slopes, measure depth at the high and low ends and average them. Irregular outlines can be broken into simple rectangles, triangles and circles; add the pieces for the total square footage before converting to tons.

Questions people ask

How many tons of crushed stone under a 12x16 deck?

About 2.5 tons at 3 inches deep.

How many yards of crushed stone under a 12x16 deck?

About 1.78 cubic yards.

How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?

Roughly 1.4 tons for planning, but suppliers vary with stone size and moisture.

Do I need to compact it?

Yes for anything that carries weight. Compact in lifts of a few inches with a plate compactor.

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.

Related answers