How much does crusher run weigh?

About 2,650–2,750 lbs per cubic yard loose; roughly 3,200 lbs after compaction. The calculator uses 2,700 as the U.S. average for the loose density that matches what you'll receive.

How much crusher run for a driveway?

A 100 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 12.3 cubic yards or 17 tons of crusher run, plus a 15% buffer for compaction. The calculator above gives you the exact number.

Is crusher run the same as gravel?

Crusher run is a type of gravel — specifically, an unwashed, full-size-range crushed stone. Most other "gravel" products are washed and graded to a tighter size range.

Does crusher run need to be compacted?

Yes — that's the entire point of using crusher run. Uncompacted crusher run is less stable than #57 stone. Plate-compact in 2-inch lifts for a base that will last 20+ years.

How deep does crusher run need to be for a driveway?

4 inches minimum for a passenger-car driveway on firm sub-grade; 6 inches for trucks, RVs, or soft soil. Always topped with 2 inches of clean stone (#57) for the wearing surface.

Is crusher run the same as ABC?

Functionally yes. ABC stands for "Aggregate Base Course" and is the most common name in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. "Crusher run" is more common in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and the Midwest. Both refer to a dense-graded crushed stone running from 1 inch or ¾ inch down to dust. CA6 (Illinois), 21AA (Michigan), and Class 5 (Minnesota) are the same product under different DOT names.

Does crusher run drain water?

Poorly — that's by design. The fines (dust and sand-sized particles) bind the stones together when compacted, which makes a strong load-bearing surface but blocks drainage. Use crusher run for compacted bases under driveways, paver patios, and shed pads. For drainage applications (French drains, behind retaining walls), use clean washed stone like #57.

How much does crusher run cost?

Typically $25–$45 per ton delivered in the US, depending on quarry distance. It's one of the cheapest aggregates because it requires the least processing — just one trip through a crusher and a screening to remove oversize. Unwashed status keeps the price down. The cost calculator above takes your local per-ton or per-yard price.

Crusher Run Calculator — Yards & Tons

Crusher run, in plain English

Crusher run is whatever falls out of the rock crusher — the full size range from large pieces down to fine dust. The fines (the dust) are the magic ingredient: they fill the voids between bigger pieces and bind the whole mass together when wetted and compacted.

Same material, different regional names:

Crusher Run / Crush and Run — most of the U.S.
ABC (Aggregate Base Course) — Carolinas, Georgia
GAB (Graded Aggregate Base) — Georgia DOT
21AA — Michigan
CA6 — Illinois
Class 5 — Minnesota
MOT Type 1 — UK

Don't use crusher run for drainage

The fines that make crusher run great for compaction also make it terrible for drainage — water cannot pass through. For French drains or behind retaining walls, use #57 stone instead.

Recommended depth & material

Use	Depth	Material	Notes
Light driveway base	4"	Crusher Run / ABC	Topped with 2" of #57.
Heavy / RV driveway base	6"	Crusher Run	Compact in 2-inch lifts.
Paver patio base	4"	ABC / 21AA / CA6	Same product, regional name.
Path / walkway base	3"	Crusher Run	Compacted firm under pavers or pea gravel.
Shed pad	4"	Crusher Run	Hard, weed-free surface.

Measuring for a crusher run order

Crusher run is sold by the ton at virtually every U.S. quarry. Standard rectangular math: length × width × depth. Use a 15% buffer because crusher run loses ~20% of its loose volume during compaction.

Length × width × depth. Measure in feet, depth in inches. Calculator does the conversion.
Pick the depth. 4" for a passenger driveway base; 6" for trucks or soft soil.
Apply 15% buffer. Covers compaction + spillage. Don't skip this — crusher run shrinks more than #57.
Order in tons. Quarries quote crusher run by the ton. The calculator's tons output is what you order.

Worked example — 800 sq ft driveway base

An 80 × 10 ft driveway needing 4 inches of crusher run base: volume = 800 × (4/12) ÷ 27 = 9.9 yd³. At 2,700 lb/yd³, that's 13.4 tons. With a 15% compaction buffer: 11.4 yd³ / 15.4 tons. At $38/ton delivered: $585.

Crusher Run Gravel Calculator