Crusher run calculator for Iowa
A base material that compacts into a pavement-like layer, calculated for finished depth rather than an estimated loose depth.
Enter your project dimensions
Because crusher run settles 10-15% from its loose truck depth, measuring only for the finished layer can leave the compacted base half an inch short. This calculator has the +10% allowance turned on for that reason. The material may be called 1 Inch Roadstone, 1 inch minus, road rock in Iowa, or 2 inch minus on some tickets. Each name describes crushed stone with fines retained, about 3,000 lb per cubic yard, which compacts into a tire-resistant surface.
Calculating for compacted depth
- Enter the footprint in feet. For a lane, multiply length by width; for a pad, use its length and width.
- Choose the required finished compacted depth: 4 inches for pavers and paths, 4-6 for driveways, and 6-8 for truck traffic.
- To convert, divide cubic feet by 27 for yards and multiply by 1.5 for tons. Leave +10% enabled because specifications describe the layer after rolling.
Tons of coverage
| Compacted depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 54 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 36 sq ft |
| 8 inches | 41 sq ft | ≈ 27 sq ft |
Best uses and limits
- Driveway bases need 4-6 inches after compaction. Add 2-3 inches of #57 or driveway gravel above it for the travel surface.
- Crusher run alone can make an economical rural-lane surface. In dry summer conditions, expect dust and plan to regrade every 2-4 years.
- Paver and slab bases use 4 inches placed and compacted in 2-inch lifts. Use the Paver Base Calculator for the complete paver stack.
- For shed and hot-tub pads, use 4 inches over stripped ground and 6 where soil is soft.
- Keep it out of a French drain. Its fines help it lock together but also retain water, so drainage needs clean #57 or drain rock.
Example calculation: 20 x 10 parking pad
For a base that also needs to drain through Iowa freeze-thaw, compact the material in layers: Two hundred square feet at 4 inches compacted: 200 x 0.333 = 67 cubic feet = 2.5 cubic yards, or 3.7 tons, so 4 tons with the allowance. Place half, compact it, then place and compact the remainder. Two 2-inch lifts last years longer than a single 4-inch layer, and renting a plate compactor for an afternoon costs less than repairing the first pothole. By the second delivery, ruts can show drivers where compaction was skipped.
Delivery guidance
- Have base stone and surface stone delivered together to keep the work moving. Delivery is free either way.
- On a long run, tip the load at the far end and work back toward the pile. For big pads, spreading downhill beats uphill by a full day.
- Before compaction, lightly mist each lift. Crusher run locks together more tightly when damp than when dry.
- Set aside a wheelbarrow-load for later. The same material can be used for pothole patching.
Pricing details
Because crusher run comes from the crusher and is not washed and sorted stone, it is commonly used for structural base. On a 4-ton order, the +10% allowance can avoid needing a separate half-ton delivery. See the Crusher Run product page for the per-ton price, compare Road Base, then order both driveway layers in one free delivery.
Crusher run, 1 Inch Roadstone, 1 inch minus, and road rock: common questions
How much crusher run is required for a driveway?
What is the weight of a yard of crusher run?
How do crusher run and gravel differ?
Are crush and run and crusher run identical?
Can crusher run serve as the top surface?
How much compaction occurs with crusher run?
Other calculators
Base tonnage calculated.
Crusher run is available by the ton with free delivery.
