Tons of Road Base per 100 Feet of 20 ft Road
Tons of road base per 100 feet of 20 foot road: about 56 tons at 6 inches deep. The strip is 20 ft × 100 ft = 2,000 square feet. Long runs magnify small depth changes, so pin the depth down before ordering.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Tons by depth
| Depth | Tons | Truckloads (~14 t) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 28 | 2 |
| 4 in | 37 | 3 |
| 6 in | 56 | 4 |
| 8 in | 74 | 6 |
The math
- Area: 20 × 100 = 2,000 sq ft.
- Volume at 6 in: 2,000 × 0.500 = 1,000 cu ft (37 cubic yards).
- × 1.5 tons per yard = 56 tons.
What goes into the section
At 20 feet wide, two cars can meet with care. Road base (also called base rock, ABC, or Class 2 base in different states) is a graded mix of stone and fines made to compact into a load-bearing layer. Crown the surface so water sheds to ditches on both sides.
Practical notes
- Phasing. Large tonnages are delivered over days; schedule spreading and compaction to keep up with trucks.
- Waste. Allow 5 to 10 percent.
- Hauling. Distance from the quarry or plant often costs as much as the material on long jobs; see asphalt hauling cost per ton.
Check other sizes with the volume and tonnage calculator.
When to choose road base
Good uses:
- Base under asphalt and concrete
- Gravel roads and drives
- Equipment and shed pads
Less suited to:
- Drainage layers
- Decorative surfaces
- Surfaces that will stay uncompacted
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.46 tons of road base (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.6 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 15x30 area at 3 inches takes about 6.2 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- 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.
Questions people ask
How many tons of road base per 100 feet of 20 ft road?
About 56 tons at 6 inches.
How many truckloads is that?
About 4 loads at roughly 14 tons each.
How many square feet is 100 feet of 20 ft road?
2,000 square feet.
Should I add extra for waste?
Yes, 5 to 10 percent is common.
Does this include the shoulders?
No. Measure shoulders and pullouts separately and add them.
Related guides
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- Asphalt Hauling Cost Per Ton: What Drives the Delivered Price
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: Differences and Best Uses
- Tons of Road Base per 100 Feet of 18 ft Road
- Tons of Road Base per Mile of 20 ft Road
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