Field calculator
Aggregate base tonnage calculator (crushed stone)
Crushed aggregate base is the compacted stone layer under a pavement, slab, or unpaved road, and it is sold by the ton, so estimating it means converting an area and a depth into tonnage. The tonnage is the area times the compacted depth times the material density, divided by 2000. Enter the area in square feet, the compacted depth in inches, and the compacted density in pounds per cubic foot. Crushed aggregate base typically runs about 135 to 150 pcf compacted depending on the gradation and the stone, so 140 is a reasonable default to start from. The tool returns the in-place compacted tonnage and the equivalent cubic yards. Two cautions keep the order honest. This is the compacted in-place quantity, so the loose material delivered is more because it compacts down under rolling, and you should add for waste and over-excavation, commonly 10 to 20 percent. Confirm the design depth, the material specification, and the compacted density with the geotechnical engineer and the project specification, since the base thickness is set by the subgrade and the traffic, not a rule of thumb.
Result
Aggregate base tonnage: tons = area × compacted depth × density, divided by 2000. Enter the area in square feet, the compacted depth in inches, and the compacted density in pounds per cubic foot (crushed aggregate base typically runs about 135 to 150 pcf, default 140). The tool returns the in-place compacted tonnage and the equivalent cubic yards. Two cautions keep the order honest: this is the compacted in-place quantity, so loose material delivered will be more because it compacts down, and you should add for waste and over-excavation, commonly 10 to 20 percent. Aggregate is usually sold by the ton, so the tonnage is what you order. Confirm the design depth, the material, and the compacted density with the geotechnical engineer and the project specification.
Worked example
A 5,000 sq ft pad needs 6 in of compacted crushed base at 135 lb/cu ft.
- Area5,000 sq ft
- Compacted depth6 in
- Unit weight135 pcf
- Volume = 5,000 × (6 ÷ 12) = 2,500 cu ft (92.6 cu yd).
- Tons = 2,500 × 135 ÷ 2,000 = 168.8 tons.
About 168.8 tons (92.6 cu yd). Confirm the compacted unit weight of your specific aggregate with the pit or plant.
anvilfield.com/calculators/aggregate-base-tonnage-calculator · Free field calculators and FieldOS. A planning estimate, verify against the code, the manufacturer, and the engineer of record.
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Aggregate base FAQ
What is crusher run or dense-graded aggregate?
Crusher run, also called dense-graded aggregate, DGA, GAB, 21A, 411, or 3/4 minus, is a crushed-stone blend running from a top size around 3/4 in down through sand to fines. The continuous range of sizes lets it compact into a tight, interlocked layer, which makes it the standard material for road base and gravel-road surfacing.
What is the best gravel for a road?
The best road gravel is a dense-graded, angular crushed stone with enough clay fines to bind the surface but a low plasticity index so it does not hold water. A driving-surface gravel commonly runs around 8 to 15 percent fines at low plasticity. Round pit-run gravel is a poor choice because it will not lock. The spec sets the gradation.
Crushed stone or round pit-run gravel: which is better for a road?
Crushed stone is better because its angular, fractured faces lock against each other and resist shoving under load. Round river or pit-run gravel is smooth, so the stones roll and rearrange, and the road keeps rutting and washboarding no matter how it is graded. Many specs require a minimum percentage of crushed faces for this reason.
Why does my gravel road washboard?
Washboarding comes from traffic acting on a dry, loose surface with too little binder. Tires bounce and push the loose gravel into ridges that feed on themselves. Dry conditions, gravel short on fines or built of round stone, and speed all drive it. The fix is to cut below the corrugations, restore the crown, and recompact.
Why does a gravel road need a crown?
A gravel road needs a crown to shed rain off the surface before it soaks in or channels down the road and cuts it. Water is the main thing that destroys an unpaved road. Gravel is commonly crowned steeper than pavement, often around 4 percent, roughly 1/2 in of fall per foot, but the agency spec sets the number.