How deep to go
| Use | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Type II road base or white chat | 3 to 4 in | starnursery.com |
| Base material under turf | 3 to 4 in | megagrass.com |
Star Nursery's turf guide says to remove 3 to 4 inches of sod and soil, then lay 3 to 4 inches of Type II road base or white chat and compact it to 90% with a plate compactor. MegaGrass gives the same 3 to 4 inches for drainage and to keep the turf from slumping.
Working it out
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × weight per cubic yard.
Example: 20 × 15 ft at 3 inches with 10% extra is 3.06 cubic yards of crusher run, about 4.58 tons at 1.50 tons per cubic yard.
Rochester Concrete Products' install guide adds 10% for compaction and uneven ground.
Common questions
How much gravel do I need for a artificial turf base?
Measure the area, choose a depth from the table above and enter both in the calculator. It gives cubic yards, tons and bags.
Should I order extra?
Rochester Concrete Products' install guide adds 10% for compaction and uneven ground. Loose stone also compacts, so a compacted layer needs more loose material than its finished depth suggests.
Related calculators
Sources
- https://www.starnursery.com/syntheticTurf/turfInstallationGuide.pdf
- https://megagrass.com/blogs/guide/installing-the-base-for-artificial-grass
- https://selectsg.com/how-much-does-a-yard-of-crushed-stone-weigh/