Limestone Driveway Calculator
A limestone driveway is two lifts: 4–6″ of ¾″ minus or screenings compacted as the base, then 2″ of #57 on top. Run this once per lift and order each separately; they come from different piles at the quarry.
Order 20.00 t — quarries sell by the ton; a tri-axle carries about 20 tons per load.
- Area
- 600 ft²
- Volume (300.0 ft³)
- 11.11 yd³
- Net weight @ 1.50 t/yd³
- 33,333 lb · 16.67 t
- Waste / settling 20%
- + 3.33 t
- Order quantity
- 20.00 tons
- Truckloads
- 1 × tri-axle dump (≈20 t)
- Metric
- 8.50 m³ · 18.14 tonnes
- 50 lb bag (0.5 ft³)
- 720 bags
- Materials + delivery$25–$55 / ton · Sep 2026
- $585 – $1,185
- Installed (with labor)typ. $1,345
- $885 – $1,985
Quantities follow the ticket. Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; they never change a number.
What will this limestone job cost?
See the installed price range for these quantities and get up to 3 quotes from local contractors. Free, no obligation.
How to calculate crushed limestone by hand
Tons = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.45 t/yd³
Worked example
- Area: 50 ft × 12 ft = 600 ft².
- Volume: 600 ft² × (4 in ÷ 12) = 200 ft³ = 7.41 yd³.
- Weight: 7.41 yd³ × 1.45 t/yd³ = 10.7 tons.
- Compaction and waste 10%: 10.7 × 1.10 = 11.8 tons → order 12 tons, one tri-axle load.
- 1 ton #57 limestone at 4″
- ≈ 56 ft²
- 1 ton #57 limestone at 2″
- ≈ 112 ft²
- 1 yd³ crushed limestone
- ≈ 2,900 lb · 1.45 t
- Tri-axle dump
- ≈ 20 tons
Questions crews ask
How many tons of limestone for a 12x50 driveway?
Base: 600 ft² at 6″ of ¾″ minus = 11.1 yd³ × 1.5 = 16.7 tons, order 20 with compaction (one tri-axle). Top: 2″ of #57 = 3.7 yd³ × 1.45 = 5.4 tons, order 6.
What limestone is best for a driveway?
¾″ minus or screenings for the base because the fines lock together under compaction. #57 for the surface for drainage and looks, or leave the base as the surface on a budget — it packs into a hard, dusty finish.
How thick should a limestone driveway be?
6–8″ total on good soil, 8–12″ on clay: 4–6″ compacted base plus 2″ top course. Compact the base in lifts no thicker than 3″. Crown the centre 2–3″ so water runs off.