Aggregates & landscaping · free tool
Gravel Calculator
How much gravel do you need? Enter your area and depth, pick your material, and get the exact cubic yards, the tons to order, bags and coverage — with waste built in.
Gravel Calculator
How much gravel you need — yards, tons & cost.
1 Your area
2 Your estimate
Order in bulk by the ton or yard.
Based on 0.5 cu ft bags (about 50 lb each). Bags suit small jobs; larger areas are cheaper in bulk.
Estimates only — density, moisture and compaction vary; confirm local tonnage before ordering. See how we calculate · Updated monthly
Method · how it works
How to calculate how much gravel you need
It comes down to volume and density. Here is exactly what the calculator does, so you can check it by hand.
Find the volume
Multiply area × depth (in feet), then divide by 27. Area is length × width, or π·r² for a circle.
Convert to tons
Multiply yards by density. Gravel is ~1.5 t/yd³; pea gravel ~1.35, crushed #57 ~1.4, sand ~1.35, topsoil ~1.15.
Add overage
Order ~10% extra for spillage and settling. For compacted base or driveway layers, add up to 30%.
Or count bags
Bagged stone comes in 0.5 cu ft bags. Divide cubic feet by 0.5. Bulk is cheaper for anything larger.
A 10 × 10 ft area, 3 in deep, gravel
25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³
0.93 × 1.5 = 1.4 tons (+10%)
or ~55 × 0.5 cu ft bags
Sources: Inch Calculator · supplier density tables · EPA/FHWA gravel-roads manual
Reviewed against supplier density tables · Updated monthly
Estimates only. Density, stone size, moisture, and compaction vary by supplier — confirm local tonnage before ordering, and add the overage shown.
Gravel depth · by use
How deep should gravel be?
Depth depends on the traffic it carries. Here are the standard depths — set yours in the calculator above.
Light foot traffic over a firm base.
Pea gravelGround cover and decorative fill.
River rockWearing layer over a compacted base.
#57 crushed stoneCompacted sub-base under pavers.
Road baseFill the trench around the pipe.
#57 or clean stoneThe common question
Gravel tons vs cubic yards (and coverage)
Suppliers price gravel both ways — here is the difference, and how far it goes.
Yards vs tons
| Depth | 1 yd³ covers | Per ton (~) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | ~108 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | ~72 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | ~54 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | ~36 sq ft |
The top use
How much gravel for a driveway?
A lasting gravel driveway is built in layers, 8–12 in total. Estimate each layer separately — and order extra for compaction.
Large stone or crusher run — the load-bearing foundation, compacted.
Crusher run with fines that locks together when compacted.
#57 crushed stone — the clean, drivable wearing surface.
Compacted layers settle — order about 30% extra for base and crusher-run layers (toggle Compaction in the calculator).
Pick the right stone
Types of gravel and when to use each
Density and use vary by material — tap one for its own calculator.
Angular, self-draining — driveways, drainage, paver base.
Crushed stone calculatorSmall, smooth, decorative — paths, patios, play areas.
Pea gravel calculatorRounded, decorative — borders, dry creeks, drainage.
River rock calculatorStone plus fines that compacts hard — driveway and paver base.
Road base calculatorFine, natural — pathways and xeriscape ground cover.
DG calculatorBedding under pavers and pipe, or fill.
Sand calculatorLawns, beds and grading — sold by the yard.
Topsoil calculatorBeds and borders — sold by the yard or 2 cu ft bag.
Mulch calculatorOrdering & budget
Gravel delivery and cost
Rough figures for planning — local prices and haul distance vary.
Plain gravel and crushed stone; decorative rock costs more.
A dump-truck load delivered, material plus haul.
About what a half-ton pickup can safely haul.
A single delivery covers most driveways.
Rule of thumb: order bulk by the ton for anything over about a cubic yard; grab bags for small patches and repairs.
Answers
Gravel calculator FAQs
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 to 1.7 tons — roughly 1.5 tons per cubic yard for typical gravel. Pea gravel is lighter (~1.35), riprap heavier (~1.85). Wet material weighs 10–15% more.
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 108 sq ft at 3 in, or 81 sq ft at 4 in. Deeper coverage means fewer square feet per yard.
Do you buy gravel by the yard or the ton?
Both — most suppliers sell bulk by the ton, and some by the cubic yard for smaller amounts. Tiny jobs come in 0.5 cu ft bags. The calculator gives you all three.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Build it in layers totaling 8–12 in: 4–6 in base, 4 in crusher run, 2–3 in #57 top. A 20 × 40 ft driveway needs about 7.4 yd³ (10 tons) for a 3 in top layer alone.
How deep should gravel be?
2 in for paths, 2–3 in for landscape beds, 3–4 in for a driveway top layer, and 4–6 in for a compacted paver base.
Does gravel need to be compacted?
Base and driveway layers do. Compaction removes voids, so order about 30% extra for those layers. Decorative surface gravel usually is not compacted.
How much is a truckload of gravel?
A full dump-truck load (13–25 tons) runs roughly $455–1,250 delivered, at about $35–50 per ton plus haul.
How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 54 bags, using standard 0.5 cu ft (~50 lb) bags — since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Bulk is far cheaper past a few bags.