Stone dust, sometimes called rock dust or quarry screenings, is a popular material for paving walkways, patios, and other outdoor surfaces. Composed of tiny crushed stone fragments, this versatile product helps lock pavers in place and improves drainage.
But when ordering materials, the key question arises: how much does a yard of stone dust weigh? Understanding stone dust weights helps with planning transportation, calculating coverage, and budgeting your project costs accurately.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the standard weight per cubic yard of stone dust and other key metrics. Whether you’re a homeowner, landscaper, or contractor figuring quantities and logistics, read on to learn what contributes to stone dust’s heft and how to work with it by the yard.
What is the Weight of Crushed Stone Per Cubic Foot?
Stone dust is an aggregated material, meaning its weight per volume can vary based on stone type, particle sizes, and composition. However, most types of stone dust weigh about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
This equates to about 2,700 lbs per cubic yard or 100 lbs per cubic foot. A cubic foot represents a volume of 1 foot x 1 foot x 1 foot.
So if you know you need cubic yards of coverage, multiply by 1.5 tons per yard to estimate the total pounds and tons required. Compare this weight to the stated weight capacity of any equipment you plan to use for transporting or spreading.
Key Factors That Determine Stone Dust Weight
What makes stone dust heavier or lighter? Here are key factors affecting the weight per yard:
- Stone type – Limestone, granite, and basalt dust vary in density.
- Particle size – Finer particles compact more densely.
- Moisture content – Wet dust weighs more than dry.
- Composition – Organic matter lowers density.
- Processing method – Impact vs. compression crushing produces different sizes.
- Supplemental materials – Adding polymers or binders increases weight.
- Compaction – Packing and settling condensed material.
For the most accurate per-yard estimate, ask your quarry or landscape supplier for the average weight of their specific stone dust products.
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How is Stone Dust Weight Per Yard Commonly Specified?
When purchasing stone dust, you’ll see weight specified in a few key units:
- Tons – Most common base unit. 1 ton = 2,000 lbs.
- Pounds – Useful for smaller amounts.
- Kilograms – Metric unit. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs.
- Cubic yards – Volumetric unit. Weights approx. 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
- Cubic feet – Smallest volumetric unit. Weights approx. 100 lbs per cubic foot.
Make sure you understand which units the product is priced and sold by to calculate totals accurately. Consider any conversion factors as needed.
How Much Does a Yard of Stone Dust Weigh Per Ton?
As a baseline, one cubic yard of stone dust weighs about 1.5 tons or 3,000 lbs.
So if purchasing dust by the ton, you would need about 1.5 tons to equal one cubic yard.
In equation form:
1 cubic yard stone dust x 1.5 tons/cubic yard = 1.5 tons
When buying by weight instead of volume, use this simple conversion to determine how many cubic yards your tons of stone dust will cover.
What is the Weight of a Yard of Stone Dust in Pounds?
If specified in pounds rather than tons, the math works out like this:
1 cubic yard stone dust x 2,700 lbs/cubic yard = 2,700 lbs
So one cubic yard equals 2,700 pounds. Or looked at another way:
1 ton stone dust = 2,000 lbs
1 cubic yard = 1.5 tons
1.5 tons x 2,000 lbs/ton = 3,000 lbs
So in pounds, a single cubic yard weighs about 3,000 lbs.
How Much Does a Yard of Stone Dust Weigh in Kilograms?
To calculate the weight of a yard of stone dust in metric units:
1 cubic yard = 2,700 lbs
2,700 lbs x 0.453592 kg/lb = 1,225 kg
So one cubic yard of stone dust weighs roughly 1,225 kg.
Knowing stone dust weights in both standard and metric units allows flexibility in materials estimation and purchasing.
How Much Does a Yard of Stone Dust Weigh Per Square Foot?
When calculating coverage by the square foot instead of cubic yardage, the conversion is:
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
1 cubic foot = 144 square inches
So 1 cubic yard = 27 x 144 = 3,888 square inches
At 2,700 lbs per cubic yard, that equals:
2,700 lbs / 3,888 square inches = ~0.7 lbs per square inch
Overall, you can estimate stone dust to weigh about 0.7 lbs per square inch laid an inch thick.
Compare this to your project’s total square footage to plan how many yards are needed for the area.
How Much Stone Dust is Needed Per Square Foot?
For most uses like walkway or patio installation, a typical crushed stone dust depth is 1″ to 2″.
With a 1″ thickness, each square foot requires:
1 square foot x 1” thick x 0.7 lbs/square inch = 0.7 lbs per square foot
So for every 100 square feet, you’d need about 70 lbs of stone dust at a 1” depth.
Increase depth to 2” and you would need 140 lbs per 100 square feet. Use this to calculate the total yards required based on your project’s square footage.
How Many Cubic Feet are in a Yard of Stone Dust?
One cubic yard equals a volume of:
3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet = 27 cubic feet
So there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
Knowing this conversion helps in estimating needs if your stone dust is priced by cubic foot rather than the cubic yard.
What is the Weight of a Yard of Stone Dust in Wheelbarrows?
For spreading stone dust, it’s useful to know the weights in wheelbarrow volumes. A filled 9 cubic foot contractor wheelbarrow holds about:
- 1,350 lbs = 3/4 cubic yard
So one yard equals about:
1 yard / 0.75 yards per wheelbarrow = 1.33 wheelbarrows
In total, plan on 1 – 1 1/2 wheelbarrows to hold one cubic yard of stone dust.
How Much Does a Yard of Crushed Limestone Weigh?
Crushed limestone dust is similar in weight to other stone dust, averaging:
- 1.5 tons per cubic yard
- 3,000 lbs per cubic yard
- 100 lbs per cubic foot
Limestone dust weights are affected by particle size distribution and moisture content. But for estimating purposes, the weights per yard are very close to ordinary stone dust.
How to Calculate Coverage Area Per Yard of Stone Dust
To calculate coverage area:
- Determine depth needed based on project use – typical 1″ to 2″.
- Calculate weight per square foot at that depth using 0.7 lbs per inch.
- Divide total weight per yard (2,700 lbs) by weight per square foot to get square feet per yard.
- Convert square feet to linear feet covered at your desired width.
Example:
- For 2″ depth, 0.7 lbs x 2″ = 1.4 lbs per square foot
- 2,700 lbs per yard / 1.4 lbs per square foot = 1,928 square feet
- At a 4 ft wide walkway, 1,928 square feet covers 482 linear feet
Use this methodology to estimate how far each yard extends for your unique project specifications.
Factors That Impact Stone Dust Spreading and Compaction
When working with stone dust in the yard, consider these factors:
- Subgrade preparation – Any soft or uneven areas will take extra thickness.
- Containment edging – Helps confine spread to the calculated area.
- Spreading method – Powered equipment is faster than manual spreading.
- Compaction technique – Equipment and adequate water is needed for proper compaction.
- Grading and leveling – Rakes and tools smooth and contour material.
- Supplemental materials – Adding polymers or binders can alter the spread rate and compaction behavior.
Take each step into account when planning project timelines and yardage needs.
Best Practices for Transporting Stone Dust
When transporting bulk stone dust, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Verify weight limits for your vehicle or trailer to avoid overloading.
- Use properly secured heavy tarps to cover loads during transport.
- For larger projects, consider delivery instead of self-hauling multiple loads.
- Watch for overhead obstructions like power lines when dumping loads.
- Avoid excess speed or sharp turns to prevent shifting loads.
- Stage deliveries as close to the project area as possible.
Follow safe material transport practices to avoid spills, citations, or equipment damage.
Key Takeaways on Stone Dust Weight Per Yard
To summarize key facts on estimating crushed stone dust by the yard:
- One yard equals 1.5 tons or 2,700 lbs on average
- Fine particle dust compacts to around 100 lbs per cubic foot
- Coverage per yard depends on the thickness required
- Consider moisture content and composition variations
- Know your equipment or vehicle’s weight limits for transport
- Proper planning optimizes the use of material per yard
Understanding the standard weight per cubic yard takes the guesswork out of purchasing enough stone dust for your project needs.
Conclusion
When working on stone dust surfacing, walkways, patios, and other projects, accurately estimating needed cubic yards is critical. Knowing that a single cubic yard of this crushed stone material weighs about 1.5 tons on average provides a useful baseline for planning. But also consider specific factors like product type, particle size, spreading depth, compaction methods, and transport logistics that can alter actual weights and coverage. With the insights from this guide, you can confidently tackle projects using stone dust by the yard.
