Gravel Pad for Shed Calculator — How Much Crusher Run?
Pre-set for a 4-inch crusher-run pad (≈1.6 tons/yd³). Make the pad 1–2 feet larger than your shed on every side — a 10×12 shed wants a 12×14 or 14×16 pad.
Gravel calculator
Density shown is an industry-typical value and varies by supplier — confirm before ordering.
You need
Includes +10% extra
36.0
cubic feet
1.33
cubic yards
1.87
tons (2,000 lb)
72
bags (0.5 cu ft)
≈ 0.76 m³
Estimated cost: $0.00 (at $0/ton)
Order 5–10% extra for compaction and settling — loose gravel always settles to less volume after compaction.
How much gravel for a shed pad? A 12 ft × 14 ft pad at 4 inches of compacted crusher run takes 2.59 cubic yards — about 4.1 tons. Go to 6 inches (6.2 tons) on soft or wet ground, and size the pad 1–2 feet larger than the shed on all sides. Enter your pad dimensions above for exact tonnage.
Why a gravel pad, and how thick
A gravel pad is the standard shed foundation: 4–6 inches of compacted crusher run that drains, never heaves like a slab, and can be built in a weekend. The stone sits on geotextile, sheds rain past the shed floor, and locks hard enough to carry everything from garden tools to a small workshop. Depth by situation:
- 4 inches — firm, well-draining subgrade; the default for sheds to about 12 × 16.
- 6 inches — clay, loam or wet sites; heavier buildings.
- 6+ inches or two-layer — genuinely soft ground: larger #3/#4 sub-base first, then crusher run (same approach as a gravel driveway).
Sizing rule: pad = shed footprint + 1–2 feet per side. The overhang supports the walls, sheds drip-line water, and gives a dry apron. For a 10 × 12 shed: 12 × 14 or 14 × 16.
Material: crusher run is the answer
Use crusher run, #411 or QP — angular stone with fines that compacts into a floor-like surface — inside a timber or block perimeter. Clean #57 stays loose and ruts under a shed's point loads; pea gravel and river rock are worse.
- Crusher run / #411 (≈1.5–1.6 t/yd³) — compacts near-solid; the one right answer for the pad body.
- Geotextile fabric — under the stone on anything but pure sand/gravel subgrade.
- Perimeter — pressure-treated 6×6 timbers or solid concrete block, set level.
Building the pad: the short version
Set a level timber perimeter on compacted ground, fill it with geotextile and crusher run in lifts, and compact until the surface stops moving.
- Strip sod and topsoil; the pad bears on subgrade, not organic matter.
- Set the timber frame, square it by measuring diagonals (equal diagonals = square), and level it.
- Lay geotextile inside, up the inner walls.
- Fill 2–3 inches of crusher run at a time; compact each lift with a rented plate compactor.
- Finish flush with the timber tops; the shed sill rests on stone and timber.
A correctly compacted pad doesn't pump or soften in rain — re-check level after the first season and top-dress any settled corner.
Frequently asked questions
How thick should a gravel pad be for a shed?
A 4–6 inch compacted gravel pad suits most residential sheds up to about 12×16 feet. On soft or poorly draining soil, use 6+ inches, or start with larger sub-base stone topped by crusher run.
What is the best gravel for a shed pad?
Crusher run (#411/QP) is the standard shed-pad material — angular stone with fines that compacts into a firm, level surface. Add a perimeter of pressure-treated timber to keep the pad square and contained.
How much bigger should the pad be than the shed?
Make the gravel pad 1–2 feet larger than the shed on every side — a 10×12 shed wants roughly a 12×14 or 14×16 pad. The extra footprint supports the walls, improves drainage, and reduces splash-back.