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What the Limestone Calculator Does — and How It Works
This calculator helps you estimate the compacted volume, mass (tons/tonnes), truck loads, and optional material cost for a limestone base layer. It’s designed for roads, driveways, patios, and subbases — with unit switching, waste/compaction allowance, density overrides, and a one-click HTML report for records.
When to Use It
Use this tool when you need a quick, defensible take-off for crushed limestone base materials. It’s ideal for: driveways, patios, sidewalks, road subbases, and heavy-duty aprons. Pair it with your drawings and site measurements to avoid under-ordering or waste.
Inputs You Provide
- Length & Width (ft or m) of the area
- Compacted thickness (in or cm)
- Density (optional override): default 150 lb/ft³ (≈ 2400 kg/m³)
- Allowance (%): waste + overfill (typ. 5–15%)
- Truck capacity (tons/tonnes)
- Material price (per ton/tonne) — optional
Tip: If your supplier/lab provides a tested density, use that for better accuracy.
What the Calculator Outputs
- Area (ft² or m²)
- Compacted volume (ft³ or m³)
- Order volume (incl. allowance)
- Estimated mass (tons/tonnes, plus lb/kg)
- Truck loads (rounded up)
- Estimated cost (if price provided)
- HTML report (KPIs + input table + citations)
How the Math Works (Step-by-Step)
- Convert units (if needed): inches → feet or cm → meters for depth.
- Area = Length × Width.
- Compacted volume = Area × Compacted thickness.
- Order volume = Compacted volume × (1 + Allowance%).
- Mass = Order volume × Density.
- Truck loads = ceil(Mass / Truck capacity).
- Cost (optional) = Mass × Unit price.
Worked Example — Imperial (ft/in, lb/ft³, short tons)
Given: Length 100 ft, Width 20 ft, Thickness 6 in, Density 150 lb/ft³, Allowance 10%, Truck 18 tons.
- Area = 100 × 20 = 2000 ft²
- Thickness = 6 in = 0.5 ft → Volume_compacted = 2000 × 0.5 = 1000 ft³
- Volume_ordered = 1000 × 1.10 = 1100 ft³
- Mass = 1100 × 150 = 165,000 lb = 82.5 short tons
- Trucks = ceil(82.5 / 18) = 5 trucks
Worked Example — Metric (m/cm, kg/m³, tonnes)
Given: Length 30 m, Width 5 m, Thickness 15 cm, Density 2400 kg/m³, Allowance 10%, Truck 18 tonnes.
- Area = 30 × 5 = 150 m²
- Thickness = 15 cm = 0.15 m → Volume_compacted = 150 × 0.15 = 22.5 m³
- Volume_ordered = 22.5 × 1.10 = 24.75 m³
- Mass = 24.75 × 2400 = 59,400 kg = 59.4 tonnes
- Trucks = ceil(59.4 / 18) = 4 trucks
Choosing Stone Size Quickly
- 20 mm (≈¾”) — go-to base under pavers/driveways (good interlock).
- 40 mm (≈1½”) — heavy-duty first lift over weak subgrade; choke with 20 mm.
- 10–14 mm — drainage/bedding; not ideal as sole base layer.
Confirm with the project spec or local authority guidance.
Typical Compacted Thickness
| Use Case | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Sidewalk / Path | 75–100 mm (3–4″) |
| Patio under pavers | 100–150 mm (4–6″) |
| Driveway (cars) | 150–200 mm (6–8″) |
| Heavy-duty / Light trucks | 200–300 mm (8–12″) |
| Subbase (under PCC/Bit.) | 150–300 mm (6–12″) |
Increase for weak soils, frost, or poor drainage. Always follow contract documents.
Where to Go Next
- Layered road sections? Try the Roadwork Layer Take-off Calculator.
- Balancing excavations? Use the Earthwork Cut & Fill Calculator.
- Pouring slabs over the base? Estimate with the Concrete & Rebar Calculator.
📚 Citations
- AASHTO M 147 — Materials for Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses.
- ASTM C33/C33M — Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates (gradation context).
- ASTM D698 / ASTM D1557 — Laboratory compaction standards (Proctor).
- IS 2386 — Indian Standard Methods of Test for Aggregates.
- MORTH — Typical compacted densities used in Indian road works (≈140–160 lb/ft³ ≈ 2240–2560 kg/m³).
Default density used by the calculator is 150 lb/ft³ (≈2400 kg/m³) unless you override it with supplier/lab test values.
