Crusher Run Driveway: Layers, Tonnage and Cost
Updated · By the Roof to Footing editors
A crusher run driveway uses crusher run: crushed stone mixed with the stone dust and fines left over from crushing. Because the fines fill the gaps between stones, crusher run compacts into a hard, almost solid surface, unlike clean gravel that stays loose. It's one of the cheapest driveway surfaces you can build, around $20 to $50 per ton for the material according to HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor, and it's also the standard base layer under pavers, asphalt and concrete.
Depending on where you live, the same material is called crush and run, dense grade aggregate (DGA), quarry process (QP), ABC stone, road base or 3/4 inch minus.
Layer plan
| Layer | Material | Compacted depth |
|---|---|---|
| Subgrade | Native soil, stripped of topsoil and roots, compacted | |
| Fabric (soft soils) | Woven geotextile | |
| Base | Larger crushed stone (#3 or similar) or crusher run | 4 to 6 inches |
| Surface | Crusher run (3/4 inch minus) | 3 to 4 inches |
On firm, well-drained soil, 4 to 6 inches of crusher run alone can work. On clay or soft ground, the fabric and a coarser base layer stop the stone from pushing into the mud.
How many tons you need
A ton of crusher run covers roughly 60 to 80 square feet at 4 inches deep, per HomeGuide. A quick way to estimate:
- Length × width (feet) = square feet.
- Square feet × depth in feet = cubic feet (4 inches = 0.33 ft).
- Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
- Cubic yards × about 1.3 to 1.5 = tons (stone varies; ask the quarry for its exact weight).
Example: a 12 × 80 ft driveway at 4 inches is 960 × 0.33 = 317 cubic feet = 11.7 cubic yards, or roughly 15 to 18 tons depending on the stone. Add 10 percent for compaction.
Building it
- Strip topsoil and vegetation; dig out soft spots and refill with stone.
- Grade the subgrade with a crown or cross-slope so water runs off.
- Lay fabric on soft soils, overlapping seams.
- Spread the base layer and compact it.
- Spread crusher run in 2 to 3 inch lifts, dampen it, and compact each lift with a plate compactor or roller. Water helps the fines lock the stone together.
- Finish with a slight crown, about 1/4 inch per foot from the center to the edges, and ditches or swales where water collects.
Cost
| Item | Typical cost (national, October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Crusher run material | about $20 to $50 per ton |
| Delivery | often about $10 to $25 per ton, or a flat truckload fee |
| Excavation, grading and compaction | depends on site; often more than the stone |
Keeping it in shape
- Regrade or drag the surface once or twice a year to fill ruts and keep the crown.
- Add a few tons of fresh crusher run to low spots every few years.
- Keep water off it: clean culverts and ditches, and fix low spots where puddles sit.
- Raise snowplow shoes so the blade rides above the stone.
Upgrades
Crusher run is a great base for a later upgrade. You can top it with a chip seal for a stone look without loose material, or pave over it with asphalt. For a cheaper recycled alternative, see crushed concrete driveway.