Limestone Calculator
Crushed limestone volume is length × width × depth; multiply by about 1.3 tons per cubic yard for weight. A 30 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in deep needs 3.70 yd³ (≈ 4.8 tons), or 4.08 yd³ with 10% waste. Limestone is one type of crushed stone — for granite-based stone, use the Crushed Stone Calculator.
How it's calculated: Tons = length × width × depth (in yd³) × ≈ 1.3 t/yd³ typical loose density.
Result appears here
Fill in the fields and press Calculate.
Formula, calculation, assumptions and sources
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
Weight = Volume × bulk density
Run the calculation to see each step with your own numbers.
A 30 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 in of crushed limestone, 10% waste.
Volume = 100 ft³ = 3.70 yd³ exact
Weight ≈ 3.70 × 1.3 ≈ 4.8 US tons
+10%: order 4.08 yd³
- A rectangular area at one uniform depth; split an irregular surface into rectangles and total them.
- Crushed dense-graded limestone at a typical loose density — confirm the tons-per-yard with your quarry.
- Depth entered is loose; compacted limestone settles ~10–15%.
- Is limestone the same as crushed stone?
- Limestone is one type of crushed stone — a sedimentary rock. It's slightly less dense than granite-based crushed stone and it compacts to a tight, light-coloured surface, which is why it's popular for driveways and paths.
- Limestone or gravel for a driveway?
- Both work. Crushed limestone locks together and compacts to a firmer, dust-bound surface that sheds water well; rounded pea gravel stays loose and is harder to drive on. Limestone is the more common choice for a maintained driveway.
- How many tons of crushed limestone do I need?
- Multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.3 tons per yard. A 30 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in deep needs about 4.8 tons before the 10% waste allowance.
- How much does a yard of crushed limestone weigh?
- Roughly 1.3–1.5 US tons per cubic yard loose (about 1,550 kg/m³), depending on the gradation and moisture. Confirm the figure with your quarry.
Volume
Standard geometry: Volume = L × W × D. Unit conversions per NIST SP 811.
Bulk density
Crushed limestone ≈ 1.3–1.5 t/yd³ loose (≈1,550 kg/m³). Aggregate producer data / Engineering ToolBox.
About the Limestone Calculator
The Limestone Calculator gives the volume and estimated weight of crushed limestone for a driveway, a base layer, or agricultural and drainage use. Limestone is slightly lighter than granite-based crushed stone and compacts to a tight, pale surface, which is why it is a common driveway choice. The weight uses a typical loose density of about 1,550 kg/m³ (≈ 1.3 t/yd³), so confirm the tons-per-yard with your quarry.
What you enter
- Length
- Width
- Depth — 2–3 in for a top course; 4 in for a driveable base.
- Waste allowance — Default 10%. Adjust to your own allowance — the exact figure is always shown too.
What you get back
- Volume — shown as the exact figure and, separately, a recommended figure with your waste allowance added.
- Delivered weight — Suppliers usually sell by weight. Weight uses a typical loose density for crushed limestone (≈ 1,550 kg/m³) — confirm the tons-per-yard with your quarry.
The formula, a worked example, the assumptions behind it and the sources are shown in full below the calculator.
Related calculators
- Crushed Stone Calculator — Crushed stone by volume and weight. Shares the density question with the Gravel Calculator.
- Gravel Calculator — Gravel by volume and by delivered weight for driveways, paths and fill.
- Road Base Calculator — Road base / crusher-run quantity for a sub-base layer.
Related articles
- Limestone in Construction: Common Uses — Crushed limestone shows up as a base material, drainage stone, and even a cement ingredient — one of the most widely used construction aggregates.
- Crushed Stone vs Gravel: What's the Difference? — Crushed stone is mechanically broken into angular pieces; natural gravel is rounded by water and weathering — a difference that affects how each performs.
Part of the Materials calculators.