Tons of Road Base per Mile of 24 ft Road
Tons of road base per mile of 24 foot road: about 3,520 tons at 6 inches deep. The strip is 24 ft × 5,280 ft = 126,720 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 | 1,760 | 126 |
| 4 in | 2,347 | 168 |
| 6 in | 3,520 | 252 |
| 8 in | 4,693 | 336 |
The math
- Area: 24 × 5,280 = 126,720 sq ft.
- Volume at 6 in: 126,720 × 0.500 = 63,360 cu ft (2,347 cubic yards).
- × 1.5 tons per yard = 3,520 tons.
Road section basics
At 24 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.
Good and poor uses for road base
Good uses:
- Base under asphalt and concrete
- Gravel roads and drives
- Equipment and shed pads
Poor fit for:
- 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 8x16 area at 4 inches takes about 2.4 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.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
Questions people ask
How many tons of road base per mile of 24 ft road?
About 3,520 tons at 6 inches.
How many truckloads is that?
About 252 loads at roughly 14 tons each.
How many square feet is mile of 24 ft road?
126,720 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 22 ft Road
- Tons of Road Base per 100 Feet of 22 ft Road
As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.