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How Much Crusher Run for a 16x8 Shed Base?

A 16 by 8 foot shed base is 128 square feet. How much crusher run for a 16x8 shed base depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 1.58 cubic yards or 2.4 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.

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The math for a 16x8 shed base

  1. Area: 16 × 8 = 128 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 128 × 0.333 = 42.7 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 1.58 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.55 = 2.4 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Crusher run needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
3 in1.191.82.0
4 in1.582.42.7
6 in2.373.74.0
8 in3.164.95.4

About crusher run

Crusher run (also sold as crush and run, dense-grade aggregate or QP in some regions) mixes stone with stone dust. It compacts into a firm, nearly solid layer, which makes it the usual base under pavers, asphalt and gravel drives. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.

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. 2.7 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 crusher run fits

Best suited to:

  • Base under asphalt, pavers or concrete
  • Gravel drives that need a firm, packed surface
  • Shed pads and equipment pads

Less suited to:

  • Drainage layers, since the fines slow water
  • Decorative beds
  • Spots where you want water to soak straight through

Quick reference numbers

  • Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.48 tons of crusher run (0.31 cubic yards).
  • Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.8 tons.
  • Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 2 inches takes about 1.9 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.55 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

  • Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
  • Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
  • 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.

Questions people ask

How many tons of crusher run for a 16x8 shed base?

About 2.4 tons at 4 inches deep, or 2.7 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 16x8 shed base at 4 inches?

About 1.58 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of crusher run weigh?

Usually around 1.5 to 1.7 compacted tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should crusher run be for a shed base?

The table above shows 3 to 8 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.

How many square feet is 16x8?

128 square feet.

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