Limestone Calculator
Get the tons of crushed limestone needed for driveways, paths and bases.
What you'll need to order
- crushed limestone
- limestone screenings
- geotextile fabric
Prices vary by region and haul distance. Get quotes from at least two local suppliers.
How this calculator works
tons = length × width × (depth ÷ 12) × 100 ÷ 2000
Crushed limestone weighs about 100 lb per cubic foot, roughly 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Solid limestone is far denser at 160 lb per cubic foot, but you are almost certainly buying it crushed.
Switch the site to metric — the control is in the footer — and your inputs, your results and the tables below follow. The formula, the constants, the guidance text and the sources stay in US units on purpose: that is how the standards they come from are written, and restating them would detach each figure from the document you are meant to be able to check it against.
Where these numbers come from
- ASTM C29/C29M 2023 — the test method that defines bulk density for crushed limestone; the figure used here is a typical published value, not a mandated one
Cited to a specific edition on purpose — table numbers and values move between cycles. Confirm against whichever edition is enforced locally.
Worked example
With length 10 ft, width 10 ft, depth 3 in, this calculator returns 1.25 tons.
Crushed limestone for common jobs
Each row is a link that fills in the calculator above. Send one and the other end sees the same figures you do.
| Job | Size | Limestone needed |
|---|---|---|
| Shed pad base | 12 ft × 10 ft × 4 in | 2.00 tons |
| Driveway base course | 40 ft × 12 ft × 4 in | 8.00 tons |
| Long rural drive | 200 ft × 12 ft × 6 in | 60.00 tons |
| Walkway | 40 ft × 3 ft × 3 in | 1.50 tons |
| Parking pad | 20 ft × 20 ft × 6 in | 10.00 tons |
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of limestone do I need?
Multiply area in square feet by depth in feet, multiply by 100, then divide by 2,000. A 40 by 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 6.7 tons.
How much does a ton of crushed limestone cover?
At 2 inches deep, about 120 square feet. At 3 inches, roughly 80 square feet. At 4 inches, around 60 square feet.
What size limestone is best for a driveway?
Build in layers: 3 to 4 inch clean stone as a sub-base, then #57 limestone, then a top course of #8 or screenings that binds when compacted. A driveway made only of large stone never firms up and never stops shifting.
Does crushed limestone harden over time?
Yes, if it contains fines. Limestone dust reacts with moisture and cements the stone together into a firm surface. This is why crusher run and screenings outperform clean washed stone for driveways.
Is limestone better than gravel for a driveway?
Generally yes. Crushed limestone is angular and its fines bind, so it compacts into a solid surface. Rounded river gravel never locks together and continually migrates under traffic.