Work out how much crushed stone, crushed rock, road base or blue metal you need in Australia. Enter your sizes and compacted depth, and get the order in tonnes and cubic metres, plus bulk bags, loads and cost.
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Planning quantities. Confirm them with your plans and your supplier.
This crushed stone calculator tells you how much to order for a driveway, path, slab base or drain. In Australia you are more likely to see crushed rock, road base or blue metal on a price list, and this tool covers all of them. Enter the depth you need after compaction, and it works back to what must be delivered.
The biggest number in the crushed stone calculator is your order, in tonnes or cubic metres. Here is what else you get:
Results are planning figures. The tool does not choose your material or depth. Those come from your plans, your supplier, or a builder or engineer.
Crushed stone is the American term. Australian yards use different names, and these change from state to state. This table helps you find the right product.
| Name | What It Is | Where You Will See It |
|---|---|---|
| Road base | A graded mix of stone and fines that packs tight | Australia wide. Nuway in Queensland sells Road Base 2.4 |
| Class 2 crushed rock | Crushed rock used for base layers | Victoria, to VicRoads criteria |
| Class 3 crushed rock | Used for sub-base, in 20 and 40 mm sizes | Victoria, to VicRoads criteria |
| Class 4 crushed rock | Used for sub-base only | Victoria |
| DGB20 | Dense graded base with a 20 mm maximum size | NSW |
| Blue metal | Crushed rock screened to one size, such as 10 or 20 mm | Australia wide |
| Crusher dust | Fine crushed rock, about 5 mm and under | Australia wide |
| Recycled aggregate | Crushed concrete or brick | Australia wide, often cheaper |
The class uses come from Frankston City Council's road pavement specification, and SoilWorx lists Classes 1 to 4 to VicRoads criteria. Road base and blue metal behave very differently. Road base has fines, so it locks together. Blue metal has few fines, so it drains. Pick by what the layer has to do, not by the name alone.
Quarries sell by weight, but you measure by volume, so density links the two. Suppliers publish a loose conversion factor. These are the figures we found in November 2026.
| Material | Tonnes Per m³ | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Road Base 2.4 | 1.6 | Nuway Burpengary |
| Crusher dust, blue | 1.6 | Nuway Burpengary |
| Crusher dust, recycled | 1.5 | Nuway Burpengary |
| 5, 10 or 20 mm blue metal | 1.5 | Nuway Burpengary |
| 20 mm recycled | 1.3 | Nuway Burpengary |
| Road base | 1.5 | Australian Landscape Supplies |
| 20 mm blue metal | 1.4 | Australian Landscape Supplies |
Notice that two suppliers give different figures for the same kind of product. Density changes with the rock type, grading and moisture. So one tonne of road base could be 0.63 m³ or 0.67 m³. On a big order that matters, so ask your yard which factor they use and enter it under Density.
These are loose figures. Once compacted, the same stone packs into less space. That is why the crushed stone calculator keeps compaction as its own step, rather than hiding it in the density.
To change millimetres to metres, divide by 1,000. If you work in cubic yards, use our Cubic Yards To Cubic Metres converter.
Each example rounds the order up to the next 0.5 t. Road base uses 1.6 t/m³, 20% compaction and 5% waste. Enter the same numbers in the crushed stone calculator and you will get the same results. The depths are examples only.
The area is 30 m², and the compacted volume is 30 × 0.1 = 3.000 m³. Add 20% for 3.600 m³ loose, then 5% for 3.780 m³. At 1.6 t/m³ that is 6.05 t, so order 6.5 t. That is about 4.06 m³, or seven 1 t bulk bags.
The area is 40 − 6 = 34 m². At 100 mm that is 3.400 m³ compacted, 4.080 m³ loose and 4.284 m³ with waste. That comes to 6.85 t, so order 7 t.
The area is π × 2² = 12.57 m², and the compacted volume is 0.942 m³. With compaction and waste it is 1.188 m³, or 1.90 t. Order 2 t.
The average width is 4.75 m, so the area is 57 m² and the compacted volume is 8.550 m³. That becomes 10.260 m³ loose and 10.773 m³ with waste. At 1.6 t/m³ it is 17.24 t, so order 17.5 t.
The volume is 20 × 0.4 × 0.3 = 2.400 m³. Blue metal uses 1.5 t/m³ and a 10% allowance here. So it is 2.640 m³ loose, 2.772 m³ with waste, and 4.16 t. Order 4.5 t.
This chart shows tonnes for each 10 m², using the crushed stone calculator settings above with 5% waste, before rounding.
| Compacted Depth | Road Base | Blue Metal |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mm | 1.01 t | 0.87 t |
| 75 mm | 1.51 t | 1.30 t |
| 100 mm | 2.02 t | 1.73 t |
| 150 mm | 3.02 t | 2.60 t |
| 200 mm | 4.03 t | 3.47 t |
Turned around, one tonne of road base covers about 5 m² at 100 mm with these settings, and one tonne of blue metal covers about 5.8 m². A handy rule for road base is roughly 2 t for every 10 m² at 100 mm. Your own figure will depend on your density and compaction.
This table runs common jobs through the crushed stone calculator, using road base at 1.6 t/m³, 20% compaction, 5% waste and rounding up to 0.5 t. The depths are examples only, so use the depth on your plans.
| Job | Size | Depth | Compacted Volume | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden path | 10 m × 1.2 m | 75 mm | 0.900 m³ | 2.0 t |
| Shed slab base | 6 m × 6 m | 100 mm | 3.600 m³ | 7.5 t |
| Single driveway | 12 m × 3.5 m | 100 mm | 4.200 m³ | 8.5 t |
| Double driveway | 6 m × 6 m | 150 mm | 5.400 m³ | 11.0 t |
| Carport pad | 6 m × 3 m | 100 mm | 1.800 m³ | 4.0 t |
Those figures show how fast tonnes add up. Even a modest driveway takes more than a tandem trailer can sensibly carry in one trip, so delivery is usually the right call. For a small path, bulk bags or a ute may work. If the job has more than one area, run each one and add them up.
Measure the area the stone will really cover, not the size on the plans. Use a tape or wheel, and split odd shapes into rectangles and triangles. Our Concrete Area Calculator handles the harder shapes, and you can bring that figure back here as a Known Area.
For depth, use pegs and a string line, and measure down in several places. Ground is rarely flat, and a 20 mm low spot across a driveway can use a lot of stone. Average your readings, or level the ground first. If the edges are not held by kerbs or boards, the stone will spread out as it is compacted, so allow a little extra width.
Road base tipped from a truck is full of air. A plate compactor or roller pushes the stones together and the layer gets thinner. If you need 100 mm finished, you must spread more than 100 mm. Forget this and you run short.
Published allowances vary. iSeekplant suggests ordering 5 to 10% extra for compaction and spillage. One US road base guide says road base loses about 10 to 15% of its volume, and adds 10% to the order. Our default is 20% for road base, crushed rock and crusher dust, which is the same planning figure we use on our slab pages. It is cautious on purpose, as a dense, well-rolled base can pack down a lot and a short order means a second delivery. Lower it if your supplier advises less.
Blue metal is different. It is mostly one size, so the stones have little room to move. We start at 10% and you can change it. For drainage, the aim is to keep the gaps open, not to crush them.
On engineered work, compaction is measured, not guessed. Frankston's specification asks for at least 95% of modified maximum dry density on standard layers and 98% within 100 mm of the finished surface. It also keeps moisture at 85 to 115% of optimum during compaction. On a home job, ask your builder or engineer what is needed.
Depth depends on the load, the soil and the surface on top. Here are published figures. They are general, so follow your plans first.
| Use | Published Depth | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway base | At least 100 mm compacted | Nepean Landscape Supplies |
| Road base layer | 75 to 150 mm per layer | Nepean Landscape Supplies |
| Crusher dust under pavers or turf | 20 to 40 mm | Nepean Landscape Supplies |
| Total dig for a driveway or path | 150 to 300 mm | Nepean Landscape Supplies |
| Class 3 under paving or slabs | At least 50 mm | Daisy's Garden Supplies |
| Patio slab base, NSW | 75 to 100 mm of DGB20 | The Quote Yard |
| Patio slab base, Victoria | 100 to 150 mm of Class 3 | The Quote Yard |
| Road pavement layer, maximum | 150 mm compacted | Frankston City Council |
Frankston's specification also says a compacted layer should not be less than three times the nominal stone size. So a 20 mm rock should go down at least 60 mm thick. For a thicker job, build it up in layers, and set Most Depth Per Layer to suit. The default of 150 mm comes from that same limit.
Soft clay needs more care. A base over reactive or wet ground may need more depth, geofabric or an engineer's advice. For slabs and driveways, see the Concrete Slab Thickness Guide and Concrete Driveway Thickness Guide.
| Job | Common Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Base under concrete | Road base or Class 2 or 3 crushed rock | Packs firm and even |
| Driveway base | Road base | Locks together under wheels |
| Path or paver base | Road base with crusher dust on top | Gives a fine, level bed |
| Drainage trench | 10 or 20 mm blue metal | Water runs through the gaps |
| Pipe bedding | Product named on the plans | Often has a set specification |
| Decorative topping | Coloured gravel or screened stone | Chosen for looks |
| Budget fill | Recycled aggregate | Often lower in price. Check suitability |
Fines matter most. Fines bind the stone, so road base makes a firm surface but drains slowly. Clean stone does the reverse. If you want both, put road base under the surface and a drain where the water collects. SoilWorx sells pipe embedment stone to set WSAA specifications, so never swap these without asking.
Recycled products can work well, and yards in Victoria sell recycled versions of classed rock. Quality still varies, and some products contain bits of brick or tile, so look at a sample. Ask your council or engineer if the base is under anything structural.
Three small items can decide how long a crushed stone layer lasts. The planning list shows two of them, and you can set the third with a string line.
If concrete is going on top, your plans may also call for a plastic underlay or sand blinding over the stone. Our slab tool lists these, and Nepean Landscape Supplies suggests 20 to 40 mm of crusher dust as a level finishing layer under pavers or turf. Add it as a second run of the crushed stone calculator, with its own depth and material.
Prices vary by yard, distance and load size. This table shows what two retail suppliers list, and an estimate from one guide. The per tonne and per m³ columns in italics are our own conversions, using each supplier's density.
| Product | Listed Price | Converted |
|---|---|---|
| Road Base 2.4, Nuway | $100.90 per m³ | About $63 per tonne |
| 20 mm blue metal, Nuway | $119.90 per m³ | About $80 per tonne |
| 10 mm blue metal, Nuway | $121.90 per m³ | About $81 per tonne |
| Crusher dust blue, Nuway | $106.90 per m³ | About $67 per tonne |
| 20 mm recycled, Nuway | $99.90 per m³ | About $77 per tonne |
| Road base, Australian Landscape Supplies | $78 per tonne incl. GST | About $117 per m³ |
| 20 mm blue metal, Australian Landscape Supplies | $91 per tonne incl. GST | About $127 per m³ |
Nuway prices are from its Burpengary list of 1 March 2026, and it does not say whether GST is included. Australian Landscape Supplies prices were read in November 2026. iSeekplant gives two sets of estimates on one page: about $50 to $70 per tonne for crushed rock in one table, and $20 to $30 in another, both excluding GST. The first is closer to the retail prices above. Quarry prices for big loads can be lower than yard prices for small ones.
Enter your price under Cost, and pick Tonne or Cubic Metre so it matches your quote. A price per cubic metre and a price per tonne can't be compared until you apply the density. Nuway also lists half cubic metre prices, which cost more per m³, and 10% off orders of 10 m³ or more of one bin product. Ask what breaks your yard offers.
Some yards sell by the tonne, while others sell by the cubic metre. To compare them, use the same job. Take our 30 m² area at 100 mm, which is 3.780 m³ with compaction and waste.
Those are two different suppliers, and we don't know that Nuway's price includes GST, so treat it as a way to compare, not a price check. Set Sold By and Price Is Per to match each quote, and the crushed stone calculator does the conversion for you. Always get the delivery price at the same time, as a cheap yard further away can cost more in the end. Moist stone also weighs more, so a load sold by the tonne after rain may hold a little less rock.
How you move crushed stone can cost as much as the stone on a small job. iSeekplant estimates $50 to $300 or more for delivery, depending on distance. Nuway says deliveries are generally to the footpath only, so plan how you will move it from there.
Bulk bags keep a load neat where you cannot tip on the ground. Most hold about a tonne, but check the weight, as some yards sell by volume. Nuway lists a $15 bulka bag loading fee. Small bags suit small repairs. Australian Landscape Supplies lists a 20 kg bag of blue metal at $8. That is $400 per tonne, over four times its bulk price, so bags are only for small jobs.
Crushed stone is heavy, and a trailer fills up by weight long before it fills up by volume. One cubic metre of road base is about 1.6 t. Brown and Hurley gives the rule: payload = GVM − tare. A trailer with a 750 kg payload can carry just 0.47 m³ of road base at that density. Enter your payload under Trailer Payload and the tool counts the trips. Check the compliance plate on your trailer, stay within your tow vehicle's limits, and cover the load.
Ask how big the truck is and whether it can reach your tipping point. A tipper needs firm ground and overhead room to lift its body. Lay a tarp if the stone will sit on grass or paving, and keep the pile away from drains.
If concrete is going on top, the base has to be firm and level. See How To Pour A Concrete Slab, and use the Concrete Slab Calculator, Concrete Driveway Calculator or Concrete Patio Calculator for the concrete. The Concrete Estimator prices the whole job.
Dust from crushed rock and crusher dust can contain silica. Keep it damp, wear suitable protection, and read Safe Work Australia's silica guidance. Lift heavy bags with equipment, not by hand.
Multiply the area by the compacted depth, add a compaction and waste allowance, then multiply by the density. A 30 m² area at 100 mm of road base takes about 6 t with our default settings.
Suppliers commonly use about 1.5 to 1.6 t/m³ for loose road base and crushed rock, and about 1.4 to 1.5 t/m³ for blue metal. Ask your yard which factor they use.
At 100 mm compacted, one tonne of road base covers about 5 m² with our default settings. Thinner layers cover more.
Usually crushed rock, road base or blue metal. Names vary by state, such as Class 2 and Class 3 in Victoria and DGB20 in NSW.
Retail lists we checked in 2026 show about $100 to $120 per m³ on one Queensland list, and $78 to $91 per tonne from another supplier. Delivery is often extra.
One Australian supplier suggests at least 100 mm compacted. Heavy vehicles or soft ground can need more, so follow your plans or ask an engineer.
Published advice ranges from 5 to 15%. We start at 20% for road base as a cautious planning figure, and 10% for blue metal. Ask your supplier and change it to suit.
Road base contains fines, so it packs tight. Blue metal is screened to one size, so it drains well but does not lock together in the same way.
Often, but it depends on the job. Published patio guides use 75 to 150 mm of compacted base. Your plans or engineer decide.
Payload is GVM minus tare. At 1.6 t/m³, a 750 kg payload carries about 0.47 m³. Check your compliance plate and tow limits.
Often, for sub-base and fill, and it is usually cheaper. Quality varies, so check the product, and ask if it is going under anything structural.
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Figures reviewed November 2026. Sources: Nuway, Australian Landscape Supplies, Frankston City Council, Nepean Landscape Supplies, SoilWorx, iSeekplant, The Quote Yard and others linked in the sections above. Results are planning estimates, so confirm your final quantity, material and price with your supplier and the people responsible for your project. See our Disclaimer and Calculator Methodology.