Limestone Calculator

Free limestone calculator for #53/#73 crushed limestone. Instant cubic yards plus tons at 2,700 lb/yd³, with 25% compaction built in. For driveways and bases.

Limestone is one of the most common crushed stones used in US construction. The "crushed limestone #53" or "#73" gradation (1″-down with fines) is the standard base material under driveways, slabs, and asphalt. A cubic yard of crushed limestone weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 US tons) compacted.

The 25% compaction factor is critical for limestone — the fines (dust) lock the larger pieces together when compacted, and a limestone base that's not properly compacted will settle under load. For a driveway, plan on 4–6 inches of compacted #53 limestone over a stable subgrade.

Common limestone gradations

• #53 (also called #53 stone, "1″-down with fines") — the standard driveway base and slab sub-base. Compacts hard.
• #73 (similar to #53 but with smaller top size, around 3/4″-down) — used where a tighter finish is needed, like a base under pavers.
• #8 / #9 (pea-gravel-sized limestone) — used for landscaping and as a top dressing on driveways.
• Rip rap (large limestone boulders) — for erosion control on slopes and shorelines. See the stone calculator for that.

How much limestone for a driveway?

A standard 10×50 ft (500 ft²) driveway at 4 inches of compacted limestone:

• 500 × 4 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³ = 8.3 tons

Order 7 yd³ / 9 tons with 10% waste. Most quarries deliver in 15–25 ton tandem loads; a small driveway often gets a partial tandem or a single-axle dump.

Limestone vs gravel

Crushed limestone and crushed granite (often just called "gravel") behave similarly as a base material. Limestone is usually cheaper in the Midwest and Mid-South; granite is more common in the Mountain West and Southeast. For most residential applications — driveways, slab bases, walking paths — the choice is regional and either works.

Frequently asked questions