Road base calculator for Wyoming

For a 100-foot lane measuring 10 feet wide and compacted to 6 inches, plan on about 31 tons of road base. Lane material totals can grow quickly, and free delivery matters here because hauling 30 tons can rival the stone cost. Road base is a graded mix of crushed stone and fines that weighs about 3,000 lb per cubic yard. It compacts into a dense support layer for roads, driveways, and equipment yards. Where specifications permit, recycled crushed concrete base uses the same calculation.

Lane calculations

1. Use the lane centerline for length, then apply its average width. For pads, multiply the length by the width.
2. Choose 4 inches compacted for lightly used residential areas, 6 for regular vehicles and delivery trucks, or 8-12 over weak subgrade and beneath equipment.
3. To find yards, divide cubic feet by 27; multiply yards by 1.5 for tons; retain +10% for compaction.

Lane coverage and tonnage

Building a lane for another winter

• Remove organic material before any base goes down. Stone placed over topsoil will still allow mud to rise through it, regardless of pour depth.
• Lay woven geotextile before the stone where the subgrade is wet or soft. It helps reinforce a lane without adding another stone layer.
• Place material in lifts no more than 4 inches deep, rolling each layer before adding another.
• Shape a 2-3% crown from the centerline to the edges, directing rain away rather than letting it enter the base.
• For a tidy, low-dust driving surface, finish with #57 or driveway gravel.
• Budget for a skid steer, or a tractor with a box blade. Manual spreading of 20-plus tons takes a week, but machine work fits into an afternoon.

Example: a 100-foot farm lane

For one hundred by ten feet at 6 inches, calculate 1,000 x 0.5 = 500 cubic feet = 18.5 cubic yards, or about 28 tons. With the allowance included, that becomes 30-31. Expect two tandem loads, and set up two drop points along the run instead of making one pile at the gate. Separate piles reduce the material that must be moved uphill while spreading.

Pads for RVs, containers and equipment

Use the same calculation for pads, but select depth based on axle load rather than the calendar. At 6 inches compacted, a 12 x 40 RV pad needs about 12 tons. A 20 x 40 equipment yard at 8 inches requires 27. Because shipping containers place weight on four corners, build their pads with a full 8 inches plus fabric even on sound ground, or spring settling can leave corner impressions.

Using crushed concrete for road base

Recycled concrete base can compact and support loads much like virgin road base, and it often costs less. Review county specifications before making the change, since virgin aggregate is required in some cases. It is a practical option for private lanes and pads. Use the same calculation: 1.5 tons per yard, the same lifts, and the same crown.

Road base by ton and lane

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