How do you calculate stone dust for pavers?
Michael Henderson
Published Feb 09, 2026
How do you calculate stone dust for pavers?
To estimate the cubic yards of sand and gravel needed for a paver base follow these steps:
- Measure the length and width of the patio in inches.
- Multiply the length and width to find the area in square inches.
- Multiply the area by the gravel depth in inches to find the volume in cubic inches.
How do you calculate stone dust?
In the construction world, most materials are measured in cubic yards. Multiply the length (L), in feet, by the width (W), in feet, by the height (H), in feet, and divide by 27. This will tell you how many cubic yards of crushed stone you need.
How many tons of stone dust do I need?
Length in feet x Width in feet x Depth in feet (inches divided by 12). Take the total and divide by 21.6 (the amount of cubic feet in a ton). The final figure will be the estimated amount of tons required.
How much area does a ton of stone dust cover?
Building Stone Calculator
| AGGREGATES FOR GROUND COVER (PER TON) | |
|---|---|
| DEPTH | COVERAGE (STONE SOLD BY THE TON) |
| 1” | 220 SQ/FT PER TON |
| 2” | 110 SQ/FT PER TON |
| 3” | 75 SQ/FT PER TON |
How thick should stone dust be under pavers?
It is important to have a MINIMAL of a 4 inch deep, packed sand base (recommend more if you have alot of clay in the area). That will allow you the room for movement and shifting.
How many cubic feet is a ton of stone dust?
How many cubic feet in a ton of stone dust/sand?, there is around 20 cubic feet in a ton of stone dust/sand.
How much does a ton of stone dust cost?
Stone Dust or Screenings Cost. Stone dust costs $30 to $145 per ton, or between $10 to $25 per yard, depending on if it’s delivered or picked up. The finished product can be used as a base material below patios and pavers, as a final base for horse barns, or for filling void spaces.
Is it better to use sand or stone dust under pavers?
In contrast to stone dust, concrete sand provides superior performance over time. It doesn’t eat away at pavers, it affords excellent drainage, and it compacts well.
Does water drain through stone dust?
Drainage- Sand is a good drainer because it is porous and will not shift the pavers even in heavy rain. On the other hand, very fine stone dust will hold water instead of draining it, and this can lead to damage to the paving stone during the freeze and thaw cycles.
How much is a load of stone dust?
Stone dust costs $30 to $145 per ton, or between $10 to $25 per yard, depending on if it’s delivered or picked up.
Is stone dust the same as paver sand?
Also called rock dust, stone dust is more prone than sand to settling and drainage problems when used as a base beneath walkway or patio pavers. A proper base material can be compacted easily; however, due to stone dust’s powdery nature, it does not compact as well as other materials.
Is stone dust the same as screening?
The smaller material or “screenings” falls through the screen. Depending on the size of the holes in the screen used, it can be so fine in texture that it is basically a powder. This is what you are buying as “stone dust.” But it may go by other names, such as: Quarry dust.