How Much Limestone Screenings for a 20x24 Patio?
How much limestone screenings for a 20x24 patio: at 3 inches deep you need about 4.44 cubic yards, which is roughly 6.2 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The patio covers 480 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 1.48 yards.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 20x24 patio
- Area: 20 × 24 = 480 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
- Cubic feet: 480 × 0.250 = 120.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 4.44 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 6.2 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 | 1.48 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 2 in | 2.96 | 4.1 | 4.6 |
| 3 in | 4.44 | 6.2 | 6.8 |
About limestone screenings
Limestone screenings are the fine dust and chips left after crushing limestone. They pack very tight, which makes them a common setting bed for pavers and flagstone and a surface for paths. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.
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. For foot traffic and furniture, 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. 6.8 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
Good uses:
- Paver and flagstone setting beds
- Firm walking paths
- Top-dressing a compacted stone base
Poor fit 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 8x16 area at 3 inches takes about 1.7 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- 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.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Questions people ask
How many tons of limestone screenings for a 20x24 patio?
About 6.2 tons at 3 inches deep, or 6.8 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 20x24 patio at 3 inches?
About 4.44 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 20x24?
480 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 20x18 Patio?
- How Much Limestone Screenings for a 20x20 Patio?
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