How to Calculate Road Base
What is Road Base?
Road base (also called crusher run or road aggregate) is compacted gravel used as the foundation for driveways, roads, and paths. A road base calculator determines how many tons of material are needed based on area and depth.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Volume = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
- 2Convert to cubic yards: Volume / 27
- 3Weight: road base weighs ~1.5–2.0 tons per cubic yard (depending on material)
- 4Typical depth: 4–6 inches for residential driveways; 6–12 for heavy use
Worked Examples
Input
Road 500 ft × 20 ft · 6 in compacted depth
Result
≈ 185 tons of road base needed
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