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Crushed Stone #57 Tonnage & French Drain Calculator

Calculate exact quarry tonnage, cubic yards, and tandem dump truck loads for AASHTO #57 clean washed limestone. Includes automatic perforated pipe volume displacement deductions for French drains, retaining wall backfill chimneys, and driveway top-dressing projects.

Measurements

US customary
ft
ft
in
Perforated Drain Pipe Trench Length (ft) Width (ft) Depth (in)
AASHTO #57 clean washed stone • French drain envelope • Automatic pipe displacement
Drainage Pipe & Compaction
ESTIMATE READY
Quarry Order Weight
6.12 Tons
Order 4.37 cubic yards (6.12 tons) of AASHTO #57 crushed limestone.
Loose cubic yards to order 4.37 yd³
Net placement volume (minus pipe) 107.1 cu ft
50-lb retail bagged equivalent 245 Bags
Dump truckloads (single-axle hauler) 1 Truckload
Trench top surface area 75.0 sq ft
Field Guide & Technical Contents

How to Calculate #57 Stone Tonnage Manually

AASHTO #57 (also classified under ASTM C33) is an open-graded, washed aggregate consisting of crushed angular limestone, granite, or trap rock sized from 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Because clean stone contains no stone dust or soil fines, it retains a void ratio of approximately 40% between particles, delivering high water percolation capacity while maintaining structural shear stability.

The Master #57 Stone Equations:
Gross Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Depth (in) ÷ 12)
Pipe Displacement (cu ft) = pi × (Pipe Diam (in) ÷ 24)² × Length (ft)
Net Volume (cu yds) = Gross Cu Ft – Pipe Displacement ÷ 27 × (1 + Settlement Buffer)
Quarry Tonnage = Net Cubic Yards × 1.40 Tons/yd³

Worked-Out Jobsite Numerical Example

Assume excavating a 50 ft long French drain trench that is 18 inches (1.5 ft) wide and 18 inches (1.5 ft) deep, installing a continuous 4-inch perforated drain pipe, with a standard 10% gravel settlement buffer:

  1. Calculate Gross Trench Volume: 50 ft × 1.5 ft × 1.5 ft = 112.5 gross cu ft.
  2. Calculate 4″ Pipe Radius in Feet: 4 in ÷ (2 × 12) = 0.1667 ft.
  3. Calculate Pipe Volume to Deduct: pi × (0.1667)² × 50 ft = 3.1416 × 0.02778 × 50 = 4.36 cu ft.
  4. Calculate Net Stone Volume: 112.5 – 4.36 = 108.14 net cu ft.
  5. Add 10% Settlement Buffer: 108.14 × 1.10 = 118.95 cu ft.
  6. Convert to Cubic Yards: 118.95 / 27 = 4.41 Cubic Yards.
  7. Convert to Quarry Tons (at 1.40 tons/yd³): 4.41 × 1.40 = 6.17 Tons.

Technical Reference: ASTM C33 / AASHTO M43 #57 Sieve Gradation Specifications

Commercial civil engineering projects specify #57 clean stone to guarantee exact particle distribution and zero fine sediment:

Standard Sieve Size Metric Sieve Opening Percent Passing by Weight Engineering Purpose
1-1/2 Inch (37.5 mm) 37.5 mm 100% Ensures zero oversized boulders enter chute
1 Inch (25.0 mm) 25.0 mm 95 – 100% Primary top nominal aggregate size
1/2 Inch (12.5 mm) 12.5 mm 25 – 60% Interlocking particle size distribution
No. 4 Sieve (4.75 mm) 4.75 mm 0 – 10% Prevents smaller grit from blinding pipe holes
No. 8 Sieve (2.36 mm) 2.36 mm 0 – 5% Guarantees 100% clean washed water drainage
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For complete ASTM C33 gradation curves, clean wash specifications, and perforated drainage trench detailing, review our in-depth Gravel & Crushed Stone Sizing & Tonnage Guide →

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Frequently Asked Questions About #57 Stone

To calculate crushed stone in tons: calculate cubic feet by multiplying length by width by depth in feet. Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Finally, multiply cubic yards by 1.4 for clean #57 stone or by 1.5 for dense crusher run to get total tons needed.
Ten cubic yards of clean #57 crushed stone weighs approximately 14.0 tons (28,000 lbs). Always add a 5% to 10% compaction allowance when backfilling french drains or foundation footings.
A cubic yard of clean, washed AASHTO #57 crushed limestone weighs approximately 2,550 to 2,800 pounds (1.28 to 1.40 tons) depending on quarry moisture content and placement compaction. In commercial civil estimating, 1.40 tons per cubic yard is the standard trade factor used for quarry procurement.
#57 stone is thoroughly washed and screened between 1/2-inch and 1-inch in diameter with zero stone dust or fine sediment (0% fines). Crusher run or road base contains fine stone dust that compacts into an impermeable concrete-like barrier. In contrast, #57 stone creates an interconnected 40% void matrix allowing stormwater to freely flow into perforated drainage pipes.
A standard commercial tandem-axle dump truck hauls between 12 and 15 tons (approximately 8.5 to 10.5 cubic yards) of #57 crushed stone, constrained by state DOT highway legal axle-weight limits. Tri-axle dump trucks haul between 16 and 19 tons.
For a gravel driveway surface layer, install 2 to 3 inches of compacted #57 stone over a 4 to 6-inch dense-graded aggregate (DGA / Crusher Run #21A) subbase. Installing clean #57 stone thicker than 3 inches without a binding base will cause vehicle tires to sink and spin, as clean stone cannot form a rigid interlock without fines.
Planning Disclaimer

Results are estimates based on the dimensions and material assumptions entered. Actual material requirements can vary due to site conditions, material density, compaction, waste, supplier specifications, and construction methods. Confirm quantities with your supplier or project professional before ordering.

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