How many tons of limestone screenings are in a yard?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A cubic yard of screenings weighs about 1.5 tons (3,000 lb) loose, as it comes off the truck — published factors run 1.24–1.75 tons.

Where the number comes from: Vulcan 1.49–1.67, Mulch Pros 1.45, Kokosing 1.75, GravelShop 1.24.
One ton is 0.67 cu yd (18 cu ft) and covers about 108 sq ft at 2 in, 72 at 3 in or 54 at 4 in.
In bags: 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft make a cubic yard; each weighs about 56 lb.
Compacted in place it is heavier: about 1.72 tons per cubic yard, because you need 1.15 yd³ of loose screenings for every compacted yard.
A single-axle dump truck (about 5 tons) carries roughly 3.3 cu yd; a tandem (up to 18 tons) about 12 cu yd.
Price check: $54.95/ton at a GA yard (Mulch Pros granite dust). At the default $54.95/ton that is about $82.43 per cubic yard.

Adjust it to your exact job

What's it for?

Project

Decorative gravel needs at least 2 in to hide fabric (Stone Center); larger rock looks best at 3 in or more (Roseville suggests 3–6 in).

Size

Shape

Amount you're ordering

cu yd

Measured in

Material & depth

Material

A fine, tight layer for stepping-stone beds and under above-ground pools. Holds water — not a drainage layer. Also sold as: stone dust, crusher fines, granite dust, quarry process (fines).

How you'll buy it

“Cheapest” compares bulk delivered with 0.5 cu ft bags at the prices below.

Order

1.5tons of screenings

1 cu yd loose · 1.5 tons · 54 × 0.5 cu ft bags

Volume: 1 cu ydloose
Weight: 1.5 tons1.5 t per cu yd
Covers at 2 in: 162 sq ft
Covers at 4 in: 81 sq ft

Weight factors vary by quarry

Limestone screenings / stone dust: 1.5 t per loose cu yd (published 1.24–1.75).Your yard's scale ticket is the final word — enter its factor under “Weight factor”.

Bulk or bags?

54 × 0.5 cu ft bags

—

no bag price — add one

1.5 tons delivered

$157

incl. 1 delivery fee

Your plan (delivered): $157.

Getting it home

Total weight: 1.5 tons · 3,000 lb
Dump truck: 1 single-axle load
Your pickup: 3 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 33% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Shopping list

1.5 tons Limestone screenings / stone dust$82.43
1 load Delivery$75.00
1 day Plate compactor rental

Estimated total$157

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

screenings, bulk
1.5 tons × $
$82.43
Delivery
1 load × $
$75.00

Materials total$157

Bulk prices are typical 2026 yard and national-guide prices (American Rock Supply, Mulch Pros, Roseville Rock Supply); bag prices are retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your yard's.

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Compare

Limestone screenings / stone dust: coverage of one cubic yard and one ton

Depth	Sq ft per cu yd	Sq ft per ton	Tons per 100 sq ft
1 in	324	216	0.46
2 in	162	108	0.93
3 in	108	72	1.39
4 in	81	54	1.85
6 in	54	36	2.78

How this was worked out

Weight converts yards to tons: tons = cubic yards × 1.5. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet; spread 1 in deep it covers 324 sq ft, so coverage at any depth is 324 ÷ inches, and per ton it is 324 ÷ (inches × 1.5).

Quarry tables disagree because stone type, gradation and moisture change the weight, and because some list compacted rather than loose weights — Martin Marietta's "base" figures (1.90–1.95 t) are compacted-in-place values. If your yard prints a factor on its ticket or website, enter it in the calculator; it beats any average.

A fine, tight layer for stepping-stone beds and under above-ground pools. Holds water — not a drainage layer.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main gravel calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Mulch Pros — material weight & coverage (scale weights) — 2,600–2,900 lb per yd³ of stone; 1 yd³ covers 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 at 3 in; pine straw bale ≈ 40 sq ft; single-axle ≈ 5 t, tandem up to 18 t · checked October 2026
Martin Marietta product calculator — material density table — coarse stone 1.32 t/yd³, base 1.90–1.95 t/yd³ (compacted basis), crushed-concrete base 1.47 · checked October 2026
Vulcan Materials construction aggregates calculator — screenings 110–124 lb/ft³, sand 100–110 lb/ft³, coarse 90–102 lb/ft³ by geology · checked October 2026
Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads — DSA Tech Bulletin (Apr 2025) — 8 in loose compacts to 6 in (factor 1.33); 0.04 t per sq ft; crown 1/2–3/4 in per ft · checked October 2026
American Rock Supply — how much does gravel cost (2026) — #57 $35–$55/ton, pea gravel $28–$45/ton, crusher run $24–$34/ton (material only); delivered per-ton prices · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros price list (October 22, 2026) — bag and bulk prices for mulch, soil, compost, #57, crush & run, pea gravel, sand; delivery $7/mi ($60 min) · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — calculator & reference table — DG ~3,000 lb/yd³, mulch 400–800 lb, topsoil 2,000–2,200 lb; order 5–10% extra; base materials up to 15% for compaction · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — aggregates, sands, topsoil & delivery rates — DG $106.95/yd³, concrete sand $68.95/yd³, screened topsoil $51.95/yd³; free delivery from 4 yd within 14 mi · checked October 2026
Stone Center (Ohio) material calculator — pea gravel 1.4–1.6 t/yd³; 2 in minimum for decorative pea gravel and river rock; 10% waste · checked October 2026
Nebraska DOT — Estimating Material Quantities (July 2024) — stockpiled crushed concrete 1.35 t/yd³; soil compacted in place 110 lb/ft³ · checked October 2026
The Pricer — crushed concrete cost (updated July 2026) — $9–$25 per ton at recycling yards; 1.2–1.4 t per yd³ · checked October 2026
Kokosing Materials (Ohio) tonnage calculator — factors 1.5 (sand), 1.65 (#57/#8), 1.75 (304/411/screenings) — the high end of published values · checked October 2026
Quikrete — how to build a patio — place about 5 in of compactible gravel, tamp to 4 in; extend the base at least 6 in beyond the edges · checked October 2026
Unilock Basic Tech Guide (Jan 2024) — base 6–8 in patios & walks, 6–12 in pool decks, 10–14 in driveways; 1 in bedding; compact in 2–3 in layers; edge restraints spiked into the base · checked October 2026
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) — Table 2 depths and fall heights; loose fill compresses at least 25%; 12 in initial fill for 9 in · checked October 2026

Short answer

A cubic yard of screenings weighs about 1.5 tons (3,000 lb) loose, as it comes off the truck — published factors run 1.24–1.75 tons.

Where the number comes from: Vulcan 1.49–1.67, Mulch Pros 1.45, Kokosing 1.75, GravelShop 1.24.

One ton is 0.67 cu yd (18 cu ft) and covers about 108 sq ft at 2 in, 72 at 3 in or 54 at 4 in.

In bags: 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft make a cubic yard; each weighs about 56 lb.

Compacted in place it is heavier: about 1.72 tons per cubic yard, because you need 1.15 yd³ of loose screenings for every compacted yard.

A single-axle dump truck (about 5 tons) carries roughly 3.3 cu yd; a tandem (up to 18 tons) about 12 cu yd.

Price check: $54.95/ton at a GA yard (Mulch Pros granite dust). At the default $54.95/ton that is about $82.43 per cubic yard.