Shed Foundation Gravel Calculator
A shed pad is a small, level, compacted gravel platform — sized bigger than the shed. Pre-set to crusher run at 4 inches; enter your pad dimensions (shed + 1 ft per side), not the shed's footprint.
Building the pad
Order of operations matters more than tonnage: strip topsoil (it's organic and compressible — it will settle), level the subgrade, lay geotextile fabric on soft ground, then stone in compacted lifts. Check level across the finished pad — a shed racks on an out-of-level base.
Worked example: a 10 × 12 shed wants a 12 × 14 pad (168 ft²). At 4 inches of crusher run: 168 × ⅓ ft = 56 ft³ = 2.07 yd³ ≈ 3.3 tons — one small truckload, or order 3.6–3.8 tons to cover compaction.
Shed pad FAQ
How big should a gravel pad be for a shed?
At least 1 foot larger than the shed on every side — a 10×12 shed wants a 12×14 pad — so the floor frame sits fully supported and splash-off lands on stone, not soil. Enter the pad dimensions, not the shed's.
How deep should a shed gravel pad be?
4–6 inches of compacted crushed stone after compaction. On soft or poorly draining ground, go thicker or add geotextile fabric so the pad doesn't slowly sink into the mud it was meant to avoid.
What's the best gravel for a shed base?
Crusher run or a compactable ¾-inch minus crushed stone — the same family as a driveway base. It compacts into a level, stable platform. Washed stone stays loose and is hard to level; pea gravel is not a foundation.