Aggregate Density & Compaction Chart
Official quarry weighbridge reference guide: loose and compacted bulk densities (lbs/cu ft), short tons per cubic yard, volumetric yield, and mechanical compaction factors across common civil construction aggregates.
| Material Specification | Bulk Density | Tonnage Yield | Compaction Settlement % | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3000 PSI Concrete ASTM C39 | 142 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 142 | 1.92 t/yd³ (2.27 t/m³) | 0% | Footings |
4000 PSI Concrete ASTM C39 | 145 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 145 | 1.96 t/yd³ (2.32 t/m³) | 0% | Driveways |
Crusher Run (Dense Grade 21A) Crush and run, 3/4 in down to fines | 115 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 125 | 1.55 t/yd³ (1.84 t/m³) | 12-15% | Road Base |
#57 Crushed Stone AASHTO M43, 3/4 in clean | 104 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 104 | 1.40 t/yd³ (1.66 t/m³) | 4-6% | Driveways |
#89 Pea Gravel Decorative round | 100 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 100 | 1.35 t/yd³ (1.60 t/m³) | 3-5% | Walkways |
Granular A OPSS 1010, Ontario crusher run limestone | 112 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 125 | 1.51 t/yd³ (1.79 t/m³) | 12-15% | Road Base (Ontario) |
Granular B Type I OPSS 1010, Ontario sandy gravel | 105 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 118 | 1.42 t/yd³ (1.68 t/m³) | 10-15% | Sub Base (Ontario) |
#617 Limestone ODOT 617, 1 in down with fines | 112 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 125 | 1.51 t/yd³ (1.79 t/m³) | 10-12% | Driveway Base (Ohio) |
21AA Crushed Concrete MDOT 21AA, recycled with fines | 100 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 115 | 1.35 t/yd³ (1.60 t/m³) | 10-15% | Driveways (Michigan) |
2A Modified Stone PennDOT 2A, 1.5 in down with fines | 115 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 130 | 1.55 t/yd³ (1.84 t/m³) | 12-15% | Base (Pennsylvania) |
AB3 Limestone KDOT AB3, 1 in down with fines | 110 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 125 | 1.49 t/yd³ (1.76 t/m³) | 10-15% | Driveways (Kansas) |
Masonry Sand (C33) ASTM C33 | 95 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 105 | 1.30 t/yd³ (1.54 t/m³) | 8-10% | Paver Setting Bed |
Concrete / Fill Sand Dry coarse sand | 100 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 110 | 1.35 t/yd³ (1.60 t/m³) | 8-10% | Fill & Concrete Mix |
Decomposed Granite DG with fines | 111 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 111 | 1.50 t/yd³ (1.78 t/m³) | 12-15% | Stabilized Paths |
River Rock Rounded Cobble | 96 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 96 | 1.30 t/yd³ (1.54 t/m³) | 0-2% | Dry Creek Beds |
Screened Topsoil Dry sandy-loam | 82 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 82 | 1.10 t/yd³ (1.30 t/m³) | 15-20% | Lawn Grading |
Shredded Mulch Organic bark | 26 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 26 | 0.35 t/yd³ (0.42 t/m³) | 10-12% | Garden Beds |
Asphalt Millings (RAP) Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement | 108 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 108 | 1.46 t/yd³ (1.73 t/m³) | 8-10% | Rural Driveways |
Rip-Rap Class 1 Heavy Armor Stone | 105 lbs/ft³ Compacted: 105 | 1.42 t/yd³ (1.68 t/m³) | 0% | Erosion Control |
Aggregate Density in kg/m³ (Metric Reference)
Outside the US, aggregate density is quoted in kilograms per cubic meter. Most dry coarse aggregate lands between 1,400 and 1,750 kg/m³, and the figure eases down as the stone size goes up because larger particles leave larger voids. To convert the US table above, multiply pounds per cubic foot by 16.02, so #57 stone at 104 lbs/ft³ works out to about 1,666 kg/m³.
| Material | Loose Bulk Density (kg/m³) | Approx (lbs/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| 10mm coarse aggregate | 1,550 to 1,600 | 97 to 100 |
| 20mm coarse aggregate | 1,500 to 1,550 | 94 to 97 |
| 40mm coarse aggregate | 1,450 to 1,500 | 91 to 94 |
| Crushed stone / crushed rock | 1,600 to 1,750 | 100 to 109 |
| Sharp / building sand | 1,600 to 1,750 | 100 to 109 |
| Type 1 MOT / dense base (compacted) | 1,900 to 2,100 | 119 to 131 |
| Recycled concrete aggregate | 1,300 to 1,500 | 81 to 94 |
| Lightweight aggregate (LECA) | 300 to 900 | 19 to 56 |
Regional Names for Base Stone and What They Weigh
Most of the base stone sold in North America is the same product under a local DOT name: crushed limestone or granite from about 3/4 to 1.5 inches down to dust, meant to be compacted. Crusher run and crush and run are the generic terms. Ontario calls it Granular A, Ohio sells it as #617 or 304, Michigan as 21AA (often made from crushed concrete), Pennsylvania as 2A modified, Kansas and Missouri as AB3, and Virginia as 21A. They all land between 110 and 115 pounds per cubic foot loose, 1.5 to 1.55 tons per cubic yard, and gain 10 to 15 percent in density once rolled.
Clean stone with no fines is the other family. #57 is the 3/4 inch workhorse, #67 and #8 are smaller, #89 is pea gravel size, and #3 or #4 is the 2 inch ballast under them. Clean stone weighs 100 to 105 pounds per cubic foot and barely compacts, so a ton covers more ground but the layer will not lock up. For a driveway or pad you want the base course from the first group and, if you like, a top course from the second. The gravel calculator converts your square footage and depth into tons for either type.
Loose vs. Compacted Density (The Physics of Voids & Mechanical Vibration)
ASTM C29 testing protocols measure bulk density by filling a calibrated cylinder with aggregate. Loose bulk density measures material simply dropped into place, while compacted bulk density is recorded after rodding or mechanical vibration settles the particles into their tightest physical arrangement.
Mathematical Proofs & Worked Formulas
Formula 1: Tonnage Conversion
Used by weighbridge operators to convert measured volumetric yields into billable US Short Tons.
Formula 2: Pre-Compaction Volume
Determines how many loose cubic yards you must order to achieve a final target compacted thickness.
Stockpile Moisture Saturation (SSD Conditions)
Saturated Surface Dry (SSD) condition refers to aggregates where all internal pores are filled with water, but the surface remains dry. However, open-air stockpiles exposed to rain absorb significant surface moisture. This rain adds 5–8% water weight to the material without adding a single cubic inch of usable ground-coverage volume. If purchasing by the ton after a heavy rainstorm, you are paying for water weight.
Technical FAQ
Commercial quarries bill by weight (US Short Tons) using a certified drive-on scale, not by volume (Cubic Yards). You must convert your geometric volume requirement into tonnage using the specific material's density factor before ordering.
Angular crushed stone creates structural interlock; mechanical vibration forces smaller particles into void spaces, reducing volume by up to 15%. Rounded pea gravel particles lack fines and shear past one another without interlocking, yielding minimal compaction (under 5%).
Divide total scale tons by the material's bulk density factor. For #57 crushed limestone (factor 1.40): 10 tons / 1.40 = 7.14 cubic yards.
The Modified Proctor compaction test (ASTM D1557) measures an aggregate's maximum laboratory dry density. Civil specifications typically require subgrade and base layers to achieve 95% of this standard to eliminate structural settlement under heavy axle loads.
20mm coarse aggregate has a loose bulk density of about 1,500 to 1,550 kg/m³, or roughly 94 to 97 pounds per cubic foot. Smaller 10mm stone runs a little higher near 1,600 kg/m³, and 40mm sits lower near 1,470 kg/m³, since larger particles pack with larger voids. Compacted into a dense base like Type 1, the same stone reaches 1,900 to 2,100 kg/m³.
A cubic yard of 3/4 inch crushed stone weighs about 2,800 pounds, or 1.4 tons, when dry. Crusher run and other base stone with fines run heavier at 3,000 to 3,100 pounds per yard, pea gravel and river rock a little lighter at 2,600 to 2,700. So 2 cubic yards of gravel weighs roughly 2.7 to 3.1 tons, and a standard half ton pickup carries about a third of a yard.
Granular A is the Ontario crusher run limestone used for road base and driveways. It weighs about 112 pounds per cubic foot loose, or 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and compacts to roughly 125 pounds per cubic foot, so order 12 to 15 percent more than the compacted volume. Granular B is the coarser sub base material under it, about 105 pounds per cubic foot loose and 1.4 tons per cubic yard. One metric tonne of Granular A covers about 0.6 cubic metres loose.
Loose asphalt millings weigh about 108 pounds per cubic foot, so a cubic yard is roughly 2,900 pounds, or about 1.45 tons. Rolled and compacted on a driveway the same material tightens to about 1.6 tons per yard, which is why a ton of millings covers only about 80 square feet at a 2 inch compacted depth.