How much does a ton of #57 stone cover?

About 80 square feet at 3 inches deep, 60 square feet at 4 inches and 40 square feet at 6 inches, based on roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard.

How much does a yard of #57 stone weigh?

About 2,400 to 2,700 pounds loose, so roughly 1.2 to 1.35 tons. #57 limestone usually falls in the same range.

Is #57 stone the same as 3/4 inch gravel?

Usually, yes. #57 is mostly 1/2 to 1 inch stone, so many yards call it 3/4 inch gravel or 3/4 inch clean stone. 3/4 minus is different: it includes fines and compacts like crusher run.

Does #57 stone compact?

It settles and locks together, but not into a hard surface the way crusher run does, because it has no fines. That is why it drains so well.

57 Stone Calculator: #57 Gravel and 3/4 Rock in Tons

#57 stone is clean crushed stone about 3/4 inch across, with no dust or fines. It drains freely, so it goes under slabs, around drain pipe and in the middle layer of driveways.

Calculating #57 stone

Cubic yards = length × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × about 1.35

Example: shed base. A 10 × 12 ft pad, 4 inches deep, is 120 × 0.333 = 40 cubic feet = 1.48 cubic yards, about 2 tons. With 10 percent extra, order about 2.2 tons.

What #57 stone is used for

Use	Typical depth	Why #57
French drains and drainage trenches	Fills the trench	Water passes through the gaps. See the French drain gravel calculator
Under concrete slabs	About 4 in (check your plans)	Firm, free-draining layer
Driveway middle layer	3–4 in	Locks into the base stone below
Shed and deck footings	4–6 in	Drains, so wood stays drier
Pipe bedding	As specified	Supports pipe evenly
Behind retaining walls	12 in wide drainage zone is common	Relieves water pressure on the wall

#57 coverage chart

Depth	Sq ft per cubic yard	Sq ft per ton (about)
2 in	162	120
3 in	108	80
4 in	81	60
6 in	54	40

#57 vs other stone sizes

#67 is a little smaller (3/8 to 3/4 inch). It is often used in concrete and for walkways.
#8 is around 3/8 inch, close to pea gravel in size but angular.
#3 is 1 to 2 inches, used under #57 in driveways.
Crusher run / 3/4 minus has the same top size as #57 but includes fines down to dust, so it packs hard and does not drain like #57. Use the crusher run calculator for that.

Limestone, granite or trap rock?

#57 is made from whatever rock the local quarry crushes. Limestone is common in much of the eastern and central US, granite and trap rock elsewhere. All of them work for drainage. Limestone can be slightly lighter per yard; use your supplier’s number if they give one.

Stone sizes follow ASTM/AASHTO numbering, but quarries vary. Ask for "#57 clean stone" or "3/4 inch clean" and confirm there are no fines if the job is drainage.

Illustration of a shovel in a pile of three-quarter-inch crushed stone beside a wheelbarrow

Questions people ask

How much does a ton of #57 stone cover?: About 80 square feet at 3 inches deep, 60 square feet at 4 inches and 40 square feet at 6 inches, based on roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
How much does a yard of #57 stone weigh?: About 2,400 to 2,700 pounds loose, so roughly 1.2 to 1.35 tons. #57 limestone usually falls in the same range.
Is #57 stone the same as 3/4 inch gravel?: Usually, yes. #57 is mostly 1/2 to 1 inch stone, so many yards call it 3/4 inch gravel or 3/4 inch clean stone. 3/4 minus is different: it includes fines and compacts like crusher run.
Does #57 stone compact?: It settles and locks together, but not into a hard surface the way crusher run does, because it has no fines. That is why it drains so well.

#57 stone calculator