How to use the calculator (yards and tons)

1. Choose shape (e.g., Rectangular).
2. Enter length (ft), e.g., 12 ft.
3. Enter width (ft), e.g., 8 ft.
4. Enter depth (in or ft), e.g., 3 in (the tool converts inches to feet).
5. Set waste factor (default 10%) to account for compaction, irregular edges, and loss.

Based on your input, the calculator will give you:

• The required volume of crushed stone in cubic yards, e.g., 0.98 yd³.
  
• The estimated weight of the material e.g., 1.5 US tons.

For rectangular or square surfaces:

S = (L × W × D) / 27

For circular or elliptical surfaces:

S = (π × (L / 2) × (W / 2) × D) / 27

Where:

• S = Volume in cubic yards
  
• L = Length in feet
  
• W = Width in feet
  
• D = Depth in feet
  
• π = 3.1416 (approx.)
  
• 27 = Conversion from cubic feet to cubic yards
  

🙋 A 10% waste factor is usually added to the total to account for spillage and compaction.

To add waste:

Sₜ = S + (S / 10)

💡 To convert cubic yards into tons, multiply by 1.5 (1 yd³ ≈ 1.5 tons).

Let’s take an example of calculating how much crushed stone we’ll need for a patio that measures 14′ × 10′, with a depth of 3″.

First, convert the depth to feet:

3″ ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft

Placing the values into the formula:

S = (14 × 10 × 0.25) / 27 = 1.30

So, we require about 1.30 cubic yards of crushed stone without including the waste factor.

To account for a standard 10% waste:

Sₜ = 1.30 + (1.30 / 10) = 1.43

Therefore, the total amount of crushed stone required is approximately 1.43 cubic yards.

Now, to convert this to weight:

Tons = 1.43 × 1.5 = 2.15 US tons