How Much Does 5 Tons of Crushed Stone Cover?
How much does 5 tons of crushed stone cover depends on how deep you spread it. At about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 5 tons is roughly 3.6 cubic yards. Spread 4 inches deep, that covers about 289 square feet. Halve the depth and you roughly double the area.
Volume and tonnage calculator →How the coverage is figured
- Tons to cubic yards: 5 ÷ 1.4 = 3.6 yd³.
- Cubic yards to cubic feet: × 27 = 96 cu ft.
- Divide by depth in feet: at 4 inches (0.333 ft), 96 ÷ 0.333 = 289 sq ft.
Coverage of 5 tons at different depths
| Depth | Square feet covered | Square yards |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 579 | 64 |
| 3 in | 386 | 43 |
| 4 in | 289 | 32 |
| 6 in | 193 | 21 |
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 runs about 1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so treat the table as a planning range rather than an exact figure.
Planning around 5 tons
For delivery, 5 tons usually fits on one smaller dump truck. Ask the supplier how they will split it. Spread from the pile with a loader, skid steer or wheelbarrow, then rake to depth before compacting if the material calls for it.
- Check depth as you go. Stakes marked at the target depth help keep the spread even.
- Expect some loss. Compaction and uneven ground use more than the flat-math figure. Keep about 10 percent in reserve.
- Ask about moisture. Wet material weighs more, so a ton of it covers less.
To run your own numbers, use the volume and tonnage calculator.
Good and poor uses for crushed stone
Best suited to:
- Driveway top courses and parking pads
- Shed and hot tub bases
- Backfill behind walls when a clean size is used
Think twice for:
- 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 8x16 area at 3 inches takes about 1.7 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Questions people ask
How many cubic yards is 5 tons of crushed stone?
About 3.6 cubic yards at 1.4 tons per yard.
How many square feet does 5 tons of crushed stone cover at 4 inches?
About 289 square feet.
How many square feet does 5 tons cover at 2 inches?
About 579 square feet.
How much does a yard of crushed stone weigh?
About 1.35 to 1.5 tons.
Will 5 tons fit in one truck?
It depends on the truck. Single-axle dump trucks often carry under 10 tons and tandems around 13 to 16; your supplier will know their limits.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Crushed Stone Cover?
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does 3 Tons of Crushed Stone Cover?
- How Much Does 4 Tons of Crushed Stone Cover?
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