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How Much Crushed Stone Under a 12x24 Deck?

A 12 by 24 foot deck covers 288 square feet. At 3 inches of crushed stone, plan on 2.67 cubic yards, or about 3.7 tons, which answers how much crushed stone under a 12x24 deck.

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The math

  1. Area: 288.0 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
  3. Cubic yards: 288.0 × 0.250 ÷ 27 = 2.67 yd³.
  4. Tons: × about 1.4 tons per yard = 3.7 tons.

The crushed stone calculator does this for any size.

Crushed stone needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons of crushed stoneTons +10%
2 in1.782.52.7
3 in2.673.74.1
4 in3.565.05.5
6 in5.337.58.2

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.

Prep

Clear vegetation, rake the soil level and compact it. Lay fabric overlapped at the seams and set edging before spreading the stone.

Ordering and delivery

If you haul it yourself, a typical half-ton pickup should carry only about half a cubic yard of stone, well under what the bed looks like it can hold. Crushed stone has angular faces that lock together under a compactor, which is why it holds a pad shape. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard number, since stone source and moisture change it.

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 12x24 deck?

About 3.7 tons at 3 inches deep.

How many yards of crushed stone under a 12x24 deck?

About 2.67 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.

Should I put landscape fabric under the stone?

On soft or clay soil, a woven geotextile keeps stone from sinking into the dirt and makes the layer last longer.

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