How this limestone calculator works
Crushed limestone sells over a scale, so the estimate is volume × density with the gradation setting the density:
tons = yd³ × 1.35 (#57) × (1 + waste%) → rounded up to ¼ ton
Worked example: limestone for a 20 × 10 pad
200 ft² at 3 in is 50 ft³ — 1.85 yd³, exactly 2.5 tons of #57. With 5% waste the scale order is 2.75 tons, about $110 bulk. One ton stretches 80 ft² at this depth.
How much does a ton of limestone cover?
| Depth | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|
| 2″ | 120 ft² |
| 3″ | 80 ft² |
| 4″ | 60 ft² |
| 6″ | 40 ft² |
| Size | Best for |
|---|---|
| Screenings | Paths, under pavers |
| #8 — ⅜″ | Walks, pipe bedding |
| #57 — ¾–1″ | Driveway top, drainage |
| #3 — 1–2″ | Base lifts, culverts |
| Rip-rap — 3″+ | Erosion control |
Limestone FAQ
How much crushed limestone do I need?
Length × width × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27 gives cubic yards; multiply by 1.35 for tons of #57. The default 20 × 10 ft area at 3 in is 1.85 yd³ — exactly 2.5 tons, ordered as 2.75 with 5% waste, about $110 at $40 a ton.
How many tons of limestone are in a cubic yard?
About 1.35 tons for clean #57 crushed limestone, 1.4 for screenings that pack tighter, and closer to 1.3 for large #3–#4 stone with more voids. Pick the gradation in the material menu and the math follows.
How much does a ton of limestone cover?
80 ft² at 3 in deep in #57 — 120 ft² at 2 in, 60 at 4 in, 40 at 6 in. The live coverage line under the drawing recomputes for your depth.
What size limestone for a driveway?
A 2–3 in top course of #57 (¾–1 in stone) over 4–6 in of compacted base is the standard build. #57 is large enough to stay put under tires and small enough to walk on; save the big #3 for the mud-season base lift.
What are limestone screenings used for?
The fines from crushing — under pavers and flagstone, as a path topping, and to tighten loose stone. They compact almost like concrete, which is exactly why they’re the classic setting bed for dry-laid stone.
How much does crushed limestone cost?
Commonly $30–55 per ton in 2026 depending on size and haul distance — limestone country pays the low end. The default job runs about $110 bulk; bagged stone at ~$6 per half-cubic-foot bag costs several times bulk past a ton.
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