Crushed Limestone Calculator

Crushed Limestone Calculator

Calculation Results

Cubic Yards: 0 yd³

Total Weight: 0 Tons

Estimated Material Cost: $0.00

*Estimation based on standard crushed limestone density of 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) per cubic yard.

function calculateLimestone() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calcLength').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calcWidth').value); var depthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calcDepth').value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calcPrice').value) || 0; if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depthInches) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depthInches <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for length, width, and depth."); return; } // Convert depth to feet var depthFeet = depthInches / 12; // Calculate Cubic Feet var cubicFeet = length * width * depthFeet; // Convert to Cubic Yards (27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard) var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; // Standard Crushed Limestone weight: ~1.35 tons per cubic yard var tonsNeeded = cubicYards * 1.35; // Calculate total cost var totalCost = tonsNeeded * price; document.getElementById('resYards').innerText = cubicYards.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('resTons').innerText = tonsNeeded.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('resCost').innerText = totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('limestoneResults').style.display = 'block'; }

How to Calculate Crushed Limestone for Your Project

Whether you are building a new driveway, preparing a base for a patio, or creating a drainage field, determining the exact amount of crushed limestone you need is critical for staying on budget and avoiding multiple delivery fees.

The Calculation Formula

To calculate the volume of crushed limestone needed, we use the volume formula for a rectangular prism, then convert that into weight (tons), which is how most quarries sell the material.

1. Step 1: Calculate square footage (Length × Width).
2. Step 2: Convert your desired depth from inches to feet (Depth / 12).
3. Step 3: Multiply square footage by depth in feet to get total cubic feet.
4. Step 4: Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
5. Step 5: Multiply cubic yards by the density factor (1.35 tons per yard) to find the weight in tons.

Real-World Example

Imagine you are building a driveway that is 50 feet long and 10 feet wide. You want a solid base, so you plan for a 6-inch depth of #57 crushed limestone.

• Area: 50 ft × 10 ft = 500 sq ft
• Depth in Feet: 6 in / 12 = 0.5 ft
• Volume in Cubic Feet: 500 × 0.5 = 250 cu ft
• Volume in Cubic Yards: 250 / 27 = 9.26 cu yards
• Weight in Tons: 9.26 × 1.35 = 12.5 tons

Limestone Density Variations

While this calculator uses a standard density of 1.35 tons per cubic yard (approx. 2,700 lbs), different sizes of limestone can vary slightly:

• Crusher Run / ABC Stone: Often heavier due to the "fines" (dust) filling the gaps.
• #57 Stone (1-inch clean): Standard weight, roughly 1.3 to 1.4 tons per yard.
• Limestone Riprap: Larger stones may have more air gaps, slightly changing the yield per ton.

Pro Tip: Always order about 10% extra. This accounts for compaction (the stone settling and being pressed down) and unevenness in the subgrade.