How the number is worked out
patio area = length × width + other areas
area to order for = patio area × (1 + extra ÷ 100)
tons, most = area to order for ÷ low coverage
tons, fewest = area to order for ÷ high coverage
The yards give coverage as a range because pieces on a pallet vary in thickness, so the answer is a range too: the high end is what you'd need if the stone runs thick. Tons are not rounded: Acme's sheet says its flagstone “is sold by the pound”, so ask your yard how it sells and rounds.
Every stone in the list, for your area
| Yard and stone | ft² per ton | Tons for your area |
|---|---|---|
| Acme Sand & Gravel — Select Thin, ¾ to 1¼ in | 140–160 | — |
| Acme Sand & Gravel — Select Regular, 1 to 1¾ in | 115–125 | — |
| Acme Sand & Gravel — Select 2" Heavy, 1½ to 2¼ in | 80–90 | — |
| Acme Sand & Gravel — 1¾" Patio, 1 to 3 in | 70–140 | — |
| Aguado Stone — 1¼" saw cut patio | 120–123 | — |
| Aguado Stone — 2¼" saw cut patio | 70–73 | — |
| Aguado Stone — natural patio, 1 to 3 in | 60–65 | — |
| Aguado Stone — Oklahoma 1" patio | 125 | — |
| Aguado Stone — Oklahoma 2" patio | 75–80 | — |
| Ironside Stoneworks — ¾ in thick | 200 | — |
| Ironside Stoneworks — 1 in irregular | 100–110 | — |
| Ironside Stoneworks — 1 to 2 in thick | 80 | — |
| Ironside Stoneworks — 1.5 in irregular | 75–80 | — |
| Ironside Stoneworks — 1.5 to 3 in thick | 65–75 | — |
The last column follows the area and extra you entered above. Where a yard gives one number, not a range, the row shows one figure. We don't average across yards or fill a gap from another yard: the same nominal thickness is cut and graded differently in each yard.
A few things we left out on purpose. Aguado Stone's page also lists “Flagstone 40 – 45 Sq. Ft Per Ton”, but that line sits with its wall veneer stones, not its patios. Ironside Stoneworks' page has a second set of flagstone figures that doesn't say whether they are per ton, so only the lines that say “Coverage per ton” (and the ¾ in line, which says “200 SF per ton”) are here. Acme Sand & Gravel's figures come from a PDF sheet whose web address dates it to August 2015; it was still online when we checked.
Worked example
Acme Sand & Gravel's own example, a 15 ft × 15 ft patio in Select Regular, which Acme works at 120 ft² per ton:
- Area: 15 × 15 = 225 ft²
- Acme: 225 ÷ 120 = 1.88 tons
- With the 115–125 ft² per ton range from the same sheet: 225 ÷ 125 = 1.8 to 225 ÷ 115 = 1.96 tons
The same patio in Aguado Stone's natural patio stone (60–65 ft² per ton) is 225 ÷ 65 = 3.46 to 225 ÷ 60 = 3.75 tons, about twice as much, because that stone runs 1 to 3 in thick.
What this calculator is not for
It weighs the stone, not what goes under it: for a gravel base and sand bed, see the paver base calculator. It assumes flat ground; split odd shapes into rectangles and add them up. It doesn't allow for the gaps between stones, since the yards don't say whether their figures do. The figures above are what each yard published on the day we checked; yards change suppliers and grading, so confirm coverage with whoever you buy from.
Sources
- Acme Sand & Gravel, Flagstone Thickness - Coverage - Delivery (PDF). Checked 2026-09-29.
“Select Thin 1¼" Minus … The average thickness variance on a pallet is ¾" to 1¼" and an average pallet weighs about 3,500 pounds. The approximate coverage per ton is 140 - 160 sq. ft. … Select Regular 1¾" Minus … The average thickness variance on a pallet is 1" to 1¾" and an average pallet weighs about 3,500 pounds. The approximate coverage per ton is 115 - 125 sq. ft. … Select 2" Heavy … The average thickness variance on a pallet is 1½" to 2¼" and an average pallet weighs about 3,500 pounds. The approximate coverage per ton is 80 - 90 sq. ft. … 1¾" Patio Patio Stone is palletized lying down. The average thickness variance on a pallet is 1" to 3" and an average pallet weighs about 4,000 pounds. The approximate coverage per ton is 70 - 140 sq. ft. … Example: Multiply 15 ft. x 15 ft. = 225 sq. ft. Divide 225 by 120 = Equals 1.88 tons of Select Regular flagstone needed. … There is usually 1.5 to 2 tons on a pallet and it is sold by the pound.”
- Aguado Stone, Coverage. Checked 2026-09-29.
“Flagstone 40 – 45 Sq. Ft Per Ton Ledge stone 35 – 40 Sq. Ft Per Ton Patios 2 1/4" Saw Cut Patio 70 - 73 Sq. Ft Per Ton 1 1/4" Saw Cut Patio 120 - 123 Sq. Ft Per Ton Natural Patio 1" to 3" 60 - 65 Sq. Ft Per Ton Oklahoma 1" Patio 125 Sq. Ft Per Ton Oklahoma 2" Patio 75 – 80 Sq. Ft per Ton”
- Ironside Stoneworks, Estimating. Checked 2026-09-29.
“Flagstone – (irregularly shaped) Square Feet (SF) = Length (L) x Width (W), The thicker the stone, the less coverage per ton. Coverage per ton for 1.5” to 3” thick stone approximately 65 to 75 SF Coverage per ton for 1” to 2” thick stone approximately 80 SF Weight for ¾” thick stone approximately 10 lbs per SF or 200 SF per ton Coverage per ton for 1” Irregular Flagstone approximately 100 to 110 SF Coverage per ton for 1.5” Irregular Flagstone approximately 75 to 80 SF”