Crusher Run Calculator — Loose Tons to Order, Compacted Tons In-Place, and Real 2026 Driveway / Pad Cost
Estimate how much crusher run (DGA, ABC, road base) to order vs how much you’ll have in-place after compaction — the only crusher run calculator that separates loose delivered tonnage from compacted finished tonnage so you don’t end up 20% short after the plate compactor passes.
Crusher Run Calculator
Enter project dimensions below — results update instantly. Switch units freely.
Estimates assume typical industry density and waste factors. Always verify with your supplier and local building code before purchasing material.
Why a Standard Gravel Calculator Under-Orders Crusher Run by 20–25%
Crusher run is the only common aggregate that must be priced two ways — loose at the quarry, compacted on the ground. A 12×50 driveway at 4-in finished depth needs 5.0 yd³ in place, but you have to order 6.25 yd³ loose because the material shrinks 20–25% under a vibratory plate. Use a standard #57-stone calculator (which assumes a 5–10% loose-vs-placed delta) and the second dump-truck shows up half-full while you’re already standing on bare clay in the last 10 feet.
Three things make crusher run different from #57, #4, or pea gravel:
- Fines content 8–15% — the 0–3/4 in gradation (often called DGA, ABC, GAB, Crush & Run, or Class 5 depending on region) contains stone dust that lubricates compaction. Loose density 100–110 lb/ft³; compacted 130–140 lb/ft³.
- Compaction factor 1.20–1.30 — vs 1.05–1.10 for clean #57. Always model 1.25 unless the supplier’s product data sheet says otherwise.
- Sold by the ton at the quarry; delivered weight tickets are loose tons — never compacted. The bill of lading shows what came off the truck, not what you’ll have after the roller.
The calculator above asks for the compacted finished depth you want (4 in for residential driveways, 4 in for shed pads, 6 in for rural road overlay) and outputs both numbers: loose tons to order for the truck and compacted tons in place after compaction, plus the loose-volume cubic yards for landscape suppliers that price by the yard.
Loose vs Compacted Math — the One Formula Most DIY Estimates Get Wrong
Loose ft³ = Compacted ft³ × 1.25
Loose Tons to Order = (Loose ft³ × 105) ÷ 2000 × (1 + waste%)
1.25 is the conservative compaction factor for crusher run with a vibratory plate; switch to 1.30 if you’re using a 1-ton vibratory roller. 105 lb/ft³ is loose-pile density; do not use 135 lb/ft³ (compacted) for the order math — that’s what creates the 20% shortfall.
Compacted Depth by Application
- Residential driveway (top of compacted sub-base, no HMA) — 4-in compacted, single lift with vibratory plate
- Shed / shop pad foundation — 4-in compacted, single lift; thicker (6 in) if soil is clay or sub-frost
- Base course under HMA or concrete — 4-in compacted for residential drive; 6-in for parking lot per most state DOT specs
- Rural road / farm lane — 6 in compacted in two 3-in lifts; one-lift placement above 4 in won’t hit 95% standard Proctor density
- French drain bedding — do not use crusher run; use #57 clean stone (fines clog the drain)
What This Material Is Called in Your Region
| Region | Common name | Gradation spec |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic, Northeast US | Crusher Run, Crush & Run, CR-6 | MD State Highway CR-6 / VA 21A / PA 2A |
| Southeast US | ABC Stone, Crusher Run | NC DOT ABC / GA DOT GAB |
| Midwest, Plains US | Class 5 Aggregate, Road Base | MN DOT Class 5 / IA DOT Class A |
| Pacific NW / Mountain US | 3/4-in Minus, Road Mix | WSDOT Crushed Surfacing Top Course |
| UK / Ireland | Type 1 MOT, Hardcore | SHW Clause 803 (Type 1) |
| Canada (BC, ON) | 3/4-in Crush, Granular A | OPSS Granular A / BC MoTI 25mm Crush |
For the gravel sub-base under crusher run, see the Base Rock Calculator (larger #2 or #4 stone, no fines). Once your driveway base is in, prime with HMA per the Asphalt Tonnage Calculator, or skip pavement entirely and cap with #57 stone using the Crushed Stone Calculator.
Crusher Run Coverage Table and Material Reference
| Length | 4-in compacted | 5-in compacted | 6-in compacted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 1.2 tons | 1.5 tons | 1.8 tons |
| 20 ft | 2.3 tons | 2.9 tons | 3.5 tons |
| 40 ft | 4.6 tons | 5.8 tons | 6.9 tons |
| 50 ft | 5.7 tons | 7.2 tons | 8.6 tons |
| 100 ft | 11.5 tons | 14.4 tons | 17.2 tons |
| 200 ft | 23.0 tons | 28.7 tons | 34.5 tons |
All figures are loose tons to order (delivered weight). Compacted in-place tons are ~22% less. Driveway widths greater than 4 ft, multiply linearly: 12-ft drive = 3× the table value.
| Product | Gradation | Fines | Compactable? | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher Run / DGA / ABC | 0–3/4 in mix | 8–15% | Yes (1.25 factor) | Driveway sub-base, shed pad, road base |
| #57 stone | 3/4 in angular | <2% | No (drains) | Driveway top course, drainage, concrete sub-base |
| #4 stone | 1–1.5 in angular | <2% | No (drains) | Deep drainage, sub-base for crusher run lift |
| #2 stone (Ballast) | 2 in angular | <2% | No (large voids) | Deep base under heavy traffic, railroad ballast |
| Pea gravel | 3/8 in rounded | 0% | No (rounded won’t lock) | Decorative top, drainage trench cap |
| River rock | 1–6 in rounded | 0% | No (decorative only) | Dry creek beds, xeriscape, French-drain cap |
Crusher run is the only material in this table designed to compact and harden into a load-bearing surface. Everything else either drains (#57, #4, #2) or decorates (pea, river).
Real-World Example Calculations
Residential Driveway 12 × 50 ft, 4-in Compacted Crusher Run
Typical single-car drive from county road to garage. Existing soil is firm; one lift of crusher run with vibratory plate.
- L × W
- 50 × 12 ft
- Compacted depth
- 4 in
- Compaction factor
- 1.25
- Loose density
- 105 lb/ft³
Takeaway: Single tri-axle delivery (22-ton capacity). Spread in one 5-in loose lift; vibratory plate gets you to 4 in compacted. At $35/ton delivered, total $483.
12 × 20 ft Shed Pad, 4-in Compacted
Foundation pad under prefab shed; soil tested as firm sandy loam.
- L × W
- 20 × 12 ft
- Compacted depth
- 4 in
- Compaction factor
- 1.25
Takeaway: Half a tri-axle (or one single-axle dump). Pad will support shed up to 1,500 lb point loads; for shop with vehicle storage, increase to 6-in compacted with #57 capillary break below.
Rural Road Overlay 16 × 200 ft, 6-in Compacted
Existing dirt lane has rutting; adding 6-in crusher run cap in two 3-in lifts.
- L × W
- 200 × 16 ft
- Compacted depth
- 6 in (in two 3-in lifts)
- Compaction factor
- 1.25
Takeaway: 5 tri-axle loads (22 tons each). Place first lift, compact with 1-ton vibratory roller, place second lift, compact again. Single-lift placement above 4 in won’t hit 95% Proctor density; you’ll get ruts within a year.
Sources & Standards
These references are used for terminology, safety boundaries, and engineering assumptions. Local code, supplier specifications, and licensed design documents still control your project.
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Maryland State Highway Administration — Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials (Section 901: CR-6 Dense-Graded Aggregate)
Maryland Department of Transportation
Referenced for CR-6 gradation spec (Mid-Atlantic crusher run): 100% passing 1 in sieve, 30–55% passing #4, 8–15% passing #200.
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AASHTO M147 — Standard Specification for Materials for Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Referenced for compaction requirement: minimum 95% maximum dry density per AASHTO T99 (Standard Proctor) for unbound aggregate base courses.
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ASTM D1241 — Standard Specification for Materials for Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses
ASTM International
Referenced for Type I-A (3/4 in) gradation envelope used by most state DOTs and quarries for residential crusher run product.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much crusher run do I need for a driveway?
For a typical 12 × 50 ft driveway at 4-in compacted depth: order 14 tons loose to land 11 tons compacted after vibratory plate compaction. The 1.25 compaction factor is the most common DIY mistake — you must order ~25% more loose tons than the compacted volume calls for.
What is the difference between crusher run and gravel?
Crusher run is one type of gravel — a 0–3/4 in mix with 8–15% stone-dust fines that compact under a vibratory plate into a hard, load-bearing surface. ‘Gravel’ in general can mean #57 stone (clean drainage), pea gravel (decorative), river rock (landscape) or any of a dozen quarry products. Crusher run is the one you want for a driveway base; #57 is the one for the top course or for drainage.
How many tons of crusher run in a cubic yard?
Loose: 1.42 tons/yd³ at 105 lb/ft³. Compacted in place: 1.82 tons/yd³ at 135 lb/ft³. The supplier’s weight ticket is always loose; the calculator above shows both numbers so you don’t confuse the two.
How thick should crusher run be for a driveway?
Minimum 4 in compacted on firm soil; 6 in compacted on clay or freeze-thaw soils, placed in two 3-in lifts with compaction between lifts. Single-lift placement above 4 in won’t hit 95% standard Proctor density and the drive will rut within the first wet season.
How much does crusher run cost per ton in 2026?
$25–$45 per ton delivered in most of the US (Mid-Atlantic baseline $35/ton in this calculator). Delivery within 20 miles of a quarry is typically included in the per-ton price; longer hauls add $4–8/mile in fuel surcharge. Mountain West and remote rural areas can run $50–65/ton because of haul distance, not material cost.
Can I compact crusher run with a hand tamper?
For shed-pad areas under 50 ft², yes — with 30 minutes of effort per 10 ft². For driveways and pads over 100 ft², rent a 4,000-lbf vibratory plate ($75/day) or a 1-ton walk-behind vibratory roller ($350/day for road work). Hand-tamped crusher run won’t reach 90% Proctor density; the drive will be soft and rut under the first vehicle.
What is the difference between crusher run, DGA, ABC, and Class 5?
All four names describe the same dense-graded 0–3/4 in crushed-stone aggregate with 8–15% fines — just different regional terminology. Crusher Run is Mid-Atlantic/Northeast; DGA is the Pennsylvania spec name (Dense Graded Aggregate); ABC is North Carolina (Aggregate Base Course); Class 5 is Minnesota DOT. When you order, give the supplier whichever name they use in your region.