Is the Caterpillar bank weight for crushed stone a compacted weight?

No, the Caterpillar "bank" figure of 4,500 lb per yard is solid rock in the quarry face, not compacted base. Compacted crushed-rock base runs 3,375–3,645 lb per yard (NRCS).

How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?

A cubic yard of loose crushed stone weighs 1.3–1.35 tons. Compacted in place, the same yard weighs 1.69–1.82 tons.

Stone Calculator

Crushed stone weighs 1.3–1.35 tons per cubic yard loose. Enter length, width and depth below to get yards, tons and cost for your shed pad, loose or compacted.

Material

Shape

Area

Length ft

Width ft

Count

Depth in

Tape readings work: 10' 6", 10½. Sloped? Type the depth as 2-6. Other material? Use the cubic yard calculator.

Order

1.5 cubic yards to order

rounded up to the nearest ¼ yd³

Solid: exact 1.48 yd³. Dashed: what you order, 1.5 yd³ (rounded up). Person: 6 ft, for scale.

Weight: 1.95–2.03 tons (loose, as delivered)
Bags: Sold in bulk
Cost: $53–$81

Round up to your supplier's step. Compacting it as a base? Pick crushed stone base (compacted) — it orders more loose stone.

Details: exact volume, bags vs bulk, order sheet

Exact 1.48 yd³ · 40 ft³ · 1.13 m³

At 4 in deep, 1 yd³ covers 81 ft².

You need 1.5 cubic yards of crushed stone ≈ 1.95–2.03 tons (loose, as delivered).

Order sheet for your supplier

Crushed stone weight: loose, as delivered (Caterpillar, Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel). Cost: reference range, crushed limestone, delivered (HomeGuide, Dec 2025); local prices vary.

Result looks wrong? Tell us

Crushed stone weight loose vs compacted

Crushed stone weighs about 25–60% more per yard compacted than loose, as delivered. Choose the compacted option for a packed base ordered by the ton.

Crushed stone per cubic yard, loose and compacted
Material	lb per yd³	tons per yd³	Bags	$ per yd³
Crushed stone	2,600–2,700	1.3–1.35	Bulk only	$35–$54
Crushed stone base (compacted)^*	3,375–3,645	1.69–1.82	Bulk only	—

Weight basis: crushed stone loose, as delivered; crushed stone base (compacted) compacted in place. * Estimate: supplier data or one source only. Prices are reference ranges from dated cost guides and supplier lists (updated September 2026); local prices vary. Sources: Caterpillar; Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel; Vulcan Materials; USDA-NRCS; HomeGuide; Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Road Studies.

Caterpillar lists crushed stone at 4,500 lb "bank": that figure is solid rock in the quarry, not compacted base, so it does not belong in a base order.

Crushed stone grades #57 and #411

Crushed stone #57 weighs 2,322–2,600 lb per cubic yard loose (1.16–1.3 tons): 1/2–1 in clean stone with no fines. #411, 1 in stone down to dust, weighs about 2,800 lb.

Grade	lb per yd³	tons per yd³	Source
#57 stone (loose)	2,322–2,600 lb	1.16–1.3	Rohrer's data sheet + 3 supply yards
#411 stone	2,800 lb	1.4	Smoky Mountain Sand & Gravel; Ohio yards list more

Suppliers disagree on #411: Ohio yards list more than the Tennessee figure, so treat it as an estimate and check with your quarry. Pick #57 in the calculator for its own range. For rounded or mixed stone, use the gravel calculator.

Stone worked example: 12 × 10 ft shed pad

A 12 × 10 ft shed pad at 4 in deep takes 1.5 cubic yards of crushed stone, or 1.95–2.03 tons loose.

Area12 ft × 10 ft120 ft²
Volume120 ft² × 4 in ÷ 1240 ft³
Cubic yards40 ft³ ÷ 271.48 yd³
Ordernext ¼ yard up1.5 yd³
Weight1.5 yd³ × 2,600–2,700 lb1.95–2.03 tons

Crushed stone FAQ

Is the Caterpillar bank weight for crushed stone a compacted weight?: No, the Caterpillar "bank" figure of 4,500 lb per yard is solid rock in the quarry face, not compacted base. Compacted crushed-rock base runs 3,375–3,645 lb per yard (NRCS).
How many tons of crushed stone are in a cubic yard?: A cubic yard of loose crushed stone weighs 1.3–1.35 tons. Compacted in place, the same yard weighs 1.69–1.82 tons.