Tons of Road Base per 100 Feet of 28 ft Road
Tons of road base per 100 feet of 28 foot road: about 78 tons at 6 inches deep. The strip is 28 ft × 100 ft = 2,800 square feet. On a job this long, half an inch of extra depth adds a lot of tons.
Volume and tonnage calculator →Tons by depth
| Depth | Tons | Truckloads (~14 t) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 39 | 3 |
| 4 in | 52 | 4 |
| 6 in | 78 | 6 |
| 8 in | 104 | 8 |
The math
- Area: 28 × 100 = 2,800 sq ft.
- Volume at 6 in: 2,800 × 0.500 = 1,400 cu ft (52 cubic yards).
- × 1.5 tons per yard = 78 tons.
Road section basics
At 28 feet wide, this is a two-lane road width. 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
Best suited to:
- 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 10x20 area at 3 inches takes about 2.8 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- 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.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Questions people ask
How many tons of road base per 100 feet of 28 ft road?
About 78 tons at 6 inches.
How many truckloads is that?
About 6 loads at roughly 14 tons each.
How many square feet is 100 feet of 28 ft road?
2,800 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 Mile of 28 ft Road
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