Crush and run gravel, often called crusher run, is a compactable mix of crushed stone and smaller particles. Use the calculator below to estimate cubic yards, US short tons, metric tonnes, material cost and truckloads from your project dimensions. The guide also explains crusher run weight, driveway use, cost, drainage and the difference between crusher run and #57 stone.
Crusher Run Calculator
Estimate yards, tons, tonnes, coverage, cost and truckloads. Density and allowance remain editable.
Optional price and delivery inputs
What Is Crush and Run Gravel?
Crush and run gravel and crusher run are common names for a compactable crushed aggregate that includes a range of particle sizes, including smaller material and fines. The Virginia Department of Transportation's crusher-run specification describes a crushed aggregate containing the sizes produced as the source material passes through crushers, subject to the specified grading and quality requirements.
In engineering terms, products sold for this purpose are generally part of the dense-graded aggregate family. The Federal Highway Administration defines dense-graded aggregate as mechanically crushed, well-graded material that develops relatively small voids when compacted. That combination of larger particles and fines is why crusher run can form a dense, stable layer.
Names vary considerably by region and supplier. You may see crusher run, crush and run, crush-n-run, road base, quarry process, dense-graded aggregate, aggregate base or a local specification number. Those names do not guarantee identical gradation or density. For an actual order, use the supplier's product specification rather than assuming every similarly named material is interchangeable.
Crusher Run Formula
The quantity calculation is straightforward. First find the project volume, then convert that volume to mass using the density of the actual material.
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × [depth (in) ÷ 12] ÷ 27
US short tons = cubic yards × density (short tons/yd³)
Order tons = base tons × [1 + allowance (%) ÷ 100]
The calculator keeps geometry, density and allowance separate. That matters because there is no single crusher-run density or universal compaction percentage that applies to every quarry, rock type, moisture condition and specification.
Worked example: 12 ft × 40 ft driveway section at 4 in
For a 12 ft × 40 ft area with a 4 in planned layer depth:
- Area = 12 × 40 = 480 ft².
- Depth = 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Volume = 480 × 0.333 = 160 ft³.
- Cubic yards = 160 ÷ 27 = 5.93 yd³.
- Using the calculator's editable planning density of 1.45 short tons/yd³ gives 8.59 short tons before allowance.
- With a 10% order allowance, the estimate becomes about 9.45 short tons.
That density and allowance are example assumptions, not a supplier specification. Replace them with values appropriate to the material you are actually buying.
How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Crusher Run Weigh?
There is no single universal weight for one cubic yard of crusher run. Bulk density changes with the parent rock, gradation, moisture, how the material is stockpiled, and whether the quoted volume is loose or compacted. This is why the calculator makes density editable instead of hiding a fixed conversion.
The default value on this page is 1.45 US short tons per cubic yard (2,900 lb/yd³), used only as a convenient planning starting point. If your quarry, landscape yard or project specification provides a unit weight, enter that number instead.
Do not confuse mass with volume: a cubic yard is a volume; a ton is a mass. The conversion depends on density.
How Much Area Does 1 Ton of Crusher Run Cover?
Coverage depends on depth and density. The table below uses 1.45 short tons/yd³ and does not include any added order allowance.
| Layer depth | Approx. coverage per US short ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 112 ft² |
| 3 in | 74 ft² |
| 4 in | 56 ft² |
| 6 in | 37 ft² |
| 8 in | 28 ft² |
If your supplier's density is different, the coverage changes. A denser product covers less volume per ton; a lighter product covers more.
How Much Does Crusher Run Cost?
Crusher run pricing is highly local because the delivered cost depends on quarry location, haul distance, order size, minimum-load rules and whether the supplier quotes by the ton or cubic yard. The calculator therefore leaves the price field blank and lets you enter your actual quote.
As a dated reference rather than a universal price, HomeGuide's 2026 gravel-price guide lists crusher run gravel at about $24–$34 per ton and notes that pricing varies by location and order size. Treat that only as a broad comparison point; a local quote is more useful for an actual project.
For a simple material estimate:
Estimated total shown by this calculator = material cost + entered delivery charge(s)
It does not add excavation, grading, geotextile, compaction equipment, labor, tax or structural design unless you include those costs separately.
Is Crusher Run Good for a Driveway?
Crusher run is widely used where a dense, compactable aggregate layer is needed. VDOT's specification explicitly includes crusher run for uses such as maintaining traffic and constructing or repairing all-weather private access pavements. FHWA guidance likewise describes dense-graded crushed aggregate as a common base material because compacted, angular aggregate can provide stability and load support.
The important limitation is that the material alone does not determine whether a driveway will perform well. Subgrade strength, drainage, frost conditions, grading, traffic loads, lift thickness and compaction all matter. A calculator can estimate quantity after you choose a depth; it cannot choose the correct structural depth for every site.
How deep should crusher run be for a driveway?
There is no universal driveway depth that is correct for every soil and vehicle loading condition. Many consumer and supplier guides use values around 4–6 inches for light residential applications and more for weak subgrade or heavier loading, but that should not be treated as an engineering design rule. Use the depth required by your local specification, contractor or project design, then enter that value in the calculator.
Does crusher run harden?
Crusher run does not chemically harden like concrete. It densifies and mechanically interlocks as the graded particles are compacted. The smaller particles fill voids between larger aggregate, producing a firmer layer.
Should crusher run be compacted?
If it is being used as a structural aggregate base, compaction is normally part of the construction process. Highway specifications control compaction by test methods and target density rather than by a single generic percentage. For a small private project, follow the product supplier's placement guidance and the applicable local requirements.
Crusher Run vs #57 Stone
| Feature | Crusher run / crush and run | #57 stone / similar clean stone |
|---|---|---|
| Gradation | Broad range of sizes with fines | More uniformly sized, generally with fewer fines |
| Compaction | Designed to form a dense, interlocked layer | Remains more open than dense-graded crusher run |
| Drainage through the layer | Generally slower after compaction | Generally better when clean/open-graded |
| Typical role | Compactable base, access surface, pads and similar uses | Drainage, clean aggregate applications, or surface stone depending on specification |
The exact product matters more than the nickname. FHWA distinguishes dense-graded aggregate, which compacts to relatively small voids, from open-graded aggregate, whose particle distribution preserves void space for enhanced drainage.
Does crusher run drain well?
Not in the same way as a clean open-graded drainage aggregate. FHWA notes that dense-graded bases are generally slower draining, while open-graded materials are specifically used when enhanced drainage is required. If the purpose of the stone is a French drain, drainage trench or similar water-conveyance layer, confirm the specified clean/open-graded aggregate rather than assuming crusher run is suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between crush and run and crusher run?
They are commonly used as regional names for the same general type of compactable crushed aggregate with fines. However, gradation and product specifications vary by supplier, so confirm the actual material rather than relying only on the name.
How much crush and run do I need?
Multiply project area by the planned depth to obtain volume, convert to cubic yards, then multiply by the material density. The calculator at the top of this page performs those conversions and can add one explicit order allowance.
How many tons of crusher run are in a cubic yard?
There is no single exact conversion. This calculator starts at 1.45 US short tons per cubic yard, but the value is editable because supplier unit weights vary. Use your quarry's figure whenever possible.
How many cubic yards are in 1 ton of crusher run?
At 1.45 short tons per cubic yard, 1 short ton is about 0.69 yd³. If your supplier gives a different density, divide 1 by the supplier's tons-per-yard value.
How many tons of crusher run fit in a dump truck?
Truck payload is not universal. It depends on the truck, axle configuration, material density and legal weight limits. Enter the payload provided by your supplier in the calculator to estimate the number of loads.
Is crusher run good for a driveway?
It is commonly used as a compactable driveway or access-road material, but performance depends on subgrade, drainage, depth, grading and compaction. Use project-specific requirements for structural decisions.
Can crusher run be used for a French drain?
Crusher run is dense-graded and contains fines, so it is generally not the same material used for an open drainage layer. French drains usually call for clean, open-graded aggregate that preserves void space for water movement. Follow the drain design and local specification.
Is crusher run the same as road base or ABC?
Those terms can refer to similar dense-graded base materials, but they are not guaranteed to be identical specifications. State agencies and suppliers use different gradations and names. Check the product sheet or specification before substituting one for another.
Sources and Technical References
- Virginia Department of Transportation — Road and Bridge Specifications, Section 205: Crusher Run Aggregate
- Federal Highway Administration — Geotechnical terminology for dense-graded and open-graded aggregate bases
- Federal Highway Administration — Granular Base Application Description
- HomeGuide — 2026 gravel and crushed-stone price reference
Prices and product names can change. Sources above support the general engineering explanations; the calculator's default density and allowance are editable planning inputs, not values prescribed by those sources.
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