Limerock calculator · tons
Road Base Calculator (Limerock)
How much road base do you need? Measure your driveway or pad and get the tons of compacted limerock base.
1 · Material
2 · Two quick choices: depth, then size
2a · Pick a depthLength × width in feet. Add as many areas as you need; we add them up.
Recommended order
26 tons
of Road Base (2"-fines)
≈ 16.8 yd³ · covers 720 sq ft at 6″ · 2 dump trucks
720 sq ft × 6 in ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 13.33 yd³ × 1.55 t/yd³ = 20.7 tons. Plus 25% for compaction and spreading, rounded up to a whole ton.
3 · Get your delivered quote
One ton of road base
- ≈ 0.65 yd³ (17 cu ft)
- covers 35 sq ft at 6″
- a yd³ weighs about 3,100 lb
- a full truck is about 21 tons
About this material: Road Base (2"-fines) →
How much does a ton of road base cover?
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × the material’s density. The calculator then adds the buffer for compaction and spreading and rounds up. Tons use our catalog densities: road base 1.55 t/yd³; crushed concrete road base 1.35 t/yd³.
Swipe the table sideways →
| Material | Depth | Used for | Coverage | Per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Base (2"-fines) | 4″ | Shed pad or walkway, compacted. | 52 sq ft per ton | 1.91 tons |
| Road Base (2"-fines) | 6″ | Home driveway, compacted. (typical) | 35 sq ft per ton | 2.87 tons |
| Road Base (2"-fines) | 8″ | RVs, trucks or soft ground. | 26 sq ft per ton | 3.83 tons |
| Crushed Concrete Road Base | 4″ | Pads and paths, compacted. | 60 sq ft per ton | 1.67 tons |
| Crushed Concrete Road Base | 6″ | Most home driveways, compacted. (typical) | 40 sq ft per ton | 2.5 tons |
| Crushed Concrete Road Base | 8″ | RVs and trucks. | 30 sq ft per ton | 3.33 tons |
Before the buffer. Updated November 2026
How much road base for common projects
Swipe the table sideways →
| Project | Depth | Area | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential drive 100 ft × 12 ft | 4″ | 1,200 sq ft | ~24 tons |
| Heavy-vehicle drive 100 ft × 12 ft | 6″ | 1,200 sq ft | ~36 tons |
| Pole barn pad 30 ft × 50 ft | 6″ | 1,500 sq ft | ~45 tons |
| Shed pad 12 ft × 16 ft | 4″ | 192 sq ft | ~4 tons |
| RV pad 12 ft × 40 ft | 6″ | 480 sq ft | ~15 tons |
Before the buffer. Measure your own areas above for an order quantity.
Limerock or crushed concrete road base?
Delivered by dump truck. “From” prices are per ton on a full truck, delivery included; the second line is the smallest load.
Road base mistakes to avoid
Too thin under a driveway
4 inches compacted is the minimum residential spec. Below that, the drive ruts under any weight.
No top course
Bare limerock base ages to a dusty, flaky surface. Top with #57 stone or asphalt millings for a finished, water-shedding wear surface.
Limerock on top of organic soil
Strip topsoil and any organic matter before laying base. Limerock over soft organics will sink for years.
No fabric
Geotextile fabric between the subgrade and the limerock keeps soil fines from migrating up into the base. Without fabric you lose 1 inch of base per year to pumping.
Skipping compaction
A loose limerock base is not a base. Vibrate or roll each lift before the next material goes on.
Road base calculator questions
Need another material? All calculators →
Know how much road base you need? Get your delivered quote.
We’ll quote your 26 tons of road base, delivery included.