How Much Limestone Screenings for a 10x10 Patio?

A 10 by 10 foot patio is 100 square feet. How much limestone screenings for a 10x10 patio depends on depth: at 3 inches it is about 0.93 cubic yards or 1.3 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 10x10 patio

Area: 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
Cubic feet: 100 × 0.250 = 25.0 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 1.3 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Limestone screenings needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
1 in	0.31	0.4	0.5
2 in	0.62	0.9	1.0
3 in	0.93	1.3	1.4

About limestone screenings

Screenings hold moisture and can crust over. Use them in thin layers over a compacted stone base instead of as a thick layer on their own. Weight per yard is a planning number; the scale ticket at the yard is the real one.

Preparing the patio

Remove sod, level the area with a slight slope away from the house, and lay landscape fabric if weeds are a concern. Edging keeps loose material inside the patio footprint. Since the patio carries foot traffic and furniture, 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. 1.4 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 about 1.3 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the patio as firm ground allows.

Where limestone screenings fits

Works well for:

Paver and flagstone setting beds
Firm walking paths
Top-dressing a compacted stone base

Think twice for:

Deep layers on their own
Low spots that collect water
Under heavy vehicle traffic without a base

Quick reference numbers

Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of limestone screenings (0.31 cubic yards).
Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 3 inches takes about 2.6 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.

Questions people ask

How many tons of limestone screenings for a 10x10 patio?

About 1.3 tons at 3 inches deep, or 1.4 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 10x10 patio at 3 inches?

About 0.93 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of limestone screenings weigh?

Usually around 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should limestone screenings be for a patio?

The table above shows 1 to 3 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.

How many square feet is 10x10?

100 square feet.

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