The short version
1" crushed limestone is the standard North Texas driveway and base rock: angular, off-white, and it locks tight when compacted. A residential driveway needs 6" of compacted base, about 2.8 tons per 100 sq ft before you add 15% to 20% for compaction. A 12 × 60 ft driveway (720 sq ft) takes about 20 tons of base; order 22.
What it is
1-inch crushed limestone, sold by the ton. Sometimes called "white rock," "limestone base" or "road base." The crushed faces and fines are what make it compact into a hard, stable surface.
What it's for
The most-used aggregate in our yard:
- Driveway base course. Under a DG top course, or as the finish surface on rural driveways.
- Patio and paver base. 4" to 6" compacted under flagstone or pavers, with paver leveling sand on top.
- Path base. Under pea gravel or DG finishes.
It also works as a finish driveway surface on its own: the classic white-rock farmhouse driveway.
Not for drains. The fines that make it pack hard also clog drain pipe. For French drains, use washed drain rock (Lateral Rock).
How much do I need
Same math as our rock calculator: sq ft × depth (in) ÷ 324 = cubic yards, × 1.5 = tons.
| Project | Depth | Tons per 100 sq ft | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path base | 2" | 0.93 | ~108 sq ft |
| Rural driveway finish | 3" | 1.4 | ~72 sq ft |
| Patio base | 4" | 1.85 | ~54 sq ft |
| Driveway base | 6" | 2.8 | ~36 sq ft |
Those are loose numbers. Add 15% to 20% for the volume you lose when you compact it. Worked example: a 14 × 40 ft driveway is 560 sq ft. At 6": 560 × 6 ÷ 324 = 10.4 cu yd × 1.5 = 15.6 tons, + 15% = about 18 tons.
The rock calculator does this for any size, and the driveway wizard on the rock & gravel page adds the DG top course.
Crushed limestone driveways
Build sequence:
- Excavate 6" to 8" below final grade.
- Compact the subgrade.
- Lay woven fabric (the 6' × 300' contractor roll suits driveway widths) so the limestone doesn't sink into the clay below.
- Spread limestone in 2" lifts.
- Compact each lift with a plate compactor or vibratory roller.
- Crown the surface, about a 2% slope from center to edges, so water sheds.
- Finish with 1.5" of DG for the "DG over white rock" look, or leave the limestone as the finish.
On a budget, a 4" course of 3/4" utility rock under 2" of 1" limestone does the same structural job. Add steel edging or a curb so the rock doesn't spread into the lawn. The full walkthrough, with a width cheat sheet and common mistakes, is in how to size a gravel driveway.
Texas/DFW notes
- Fresh limestone reads bright white and weathers to a soft gray-white over the first year.
- It reflects heat, so it runs cooler underfoot than a dark surface in summer.
- Limestone is mildly alkaline. Keep it away from acid-loving plants like azaleas and hydrangeas.
Buying tips
- Tandem loads (20 to 22 tons) for whole driveways; single-axle (10 tons) for smaller jobs.
- Spread and compact soon after delivery; a pile left for weeks gets weedy at the edges.
- See the delivery policy for same-day cutoffs. Browse all base and finish rock in Rock & Gravel.
Contractor notes
Highest-volume aggregate in our yard. Volume pricing at 10+ tons, steeper break at 20+ tons. Same-day pickup if before noon.
