How much does crushed limestone weigh?

It depends heavily on whether it's loose or compacted: loose crushed limestone runs around 1,400 kg/m³, while the same material compacted (as under a driveway) is closer to 2,400 kg/m³. Solid limestone rock is denser still, around 2,700 kg/m³. This calculator applies the right figure for the type you select.

Is crushed limestone good for a driveway sub-base?

Yes — compacted crushed limestone locks together into a stable, well-draining base, which is why it's a standard driveway and path sub-base material. Use a compacted depth of 15-20 cm for vehicle loads, and select the compacted density preset for an accurate weight and cost estimate.

Is limestone sold by the tonne in the UK?

Yes — UK builders' merchants and quarries price crushed limestone by the tonne rather than by volume, so this calculator's weight output is what you'll actually be quoted against.

Limestone Calculator | Crushed Limestone Volume, Weight & Cost

How Much Crushed Limestone Do You Need?

Crushed limestone is one of the most common aggregates for driveway sub-bases, garden paths, foundation backfill and drainage layers, since it compacts into a stable, well-draining base once rolled. This calculator turns the length, width and depth of your area into the volume, weight and cost of crushed limestone you need to order — whether you're working with loose fill, a compacted sub-base, decorative chip or solid stone.

How to Use the Limestone Calculator

Enter the length and width of the area you're covering.
Enter the depth of the limestone layer — typically 10 cm (4 in) for a path base, more for a driveway sub-base.
Pick a limestone type: loose crushed, compacted crushed, chip/gravel, or solid stone — each has a different bulk density.
Adjust the waste allowance if needed (10% by default), then read off the volume, weight and estimated cost.

The Limestone Calculation

Volume = Length x Width x Depth, plus a waste allowance for compaction and off-cuts: Volume needed = Volume x (1 + waste%). Weight = Volume needed x the limestone type's bulk density, since limestone is bought and priced by weight, not volume.

Worked example: a 6 m x 3 m path at 10 cm (0.1 m) deep, using compacted crushed limestone (2,410 kg/m³) with a 10% waste allowance. Volume = 6 x 3 x 0.1 = 1.8 m³. With waste: 1.8 x 1.1 = 1.98 m³. Weight = 1.98 x 2,410 = 4,772 kg, or about 5.26 US tons.

Pro Tips

Using the 6 m x 3 m, 10 cm-deep path example above with compacted crushed limestone (about 5.26 US tons, roughly 4.77 tonnes), at a typical UK price of around £40 per tonne that's approximately £190 in material, before delivery.

Loose crushed limestone weighs far less per cubic metre than the same material compacted — pick the preset that matches what you're actually ordering, not just "limestone" generically.
Depth means the finished, compacted depth. A driveway sub-base usually needs 15-20 cm compacted, not the loose depth before rolling.