How Much Limestone Screenings for a 12x18 Patio?
How much limestone screenings for a 12x18 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 2.00 cubic yards, which is roughly 2.8 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The patio covers 216 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.67 yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 12x18 patio
- Area: 12 × 18 = 216 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 216 × 0.250 = 54.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 2.00 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 2.8 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 | 0.67 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
| 2 in | 1.33 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| 3 in | 2.00 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
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. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
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. 3.1 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 patio as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for limestone screenings
Best suited to:
- Paver and flagstone setting beds
- Firm walking paths
- Top-dressing a compacted stone base
Less suited to:
- 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 8x16 area at 3 inches takes about 1.7 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- 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 tons of limestone screenings for a 12x18 patio?
About 2.8 tons at 3 inches deep, or 3.1 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 12x18 patio at 3 inches?
About 2.00 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 12x18?
216 square feet.
Related guides
- #10 Stone (Stone Dust): Size, Uses and How Many Tons
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much Limestone Screenings for a 12x14 Patio?
- How Much Limestone Screenings for a 12x16 Patio?
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