Gravel is sold by the ton or the cubic yard. Estimate the volume first, then convert to tons for delivery.
The formula
Area (sq ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by about 1.4 to get tons for typical crushed stone.
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft driveway at 3 inches deep: 200 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = about 1.85 cubic yards, or roughly 2.6 tons.
Tons to cubic yards
One ton of gravel is roughly 0.7 cubic yards — loose, dry gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per yard. Damp or compacted stone weighs more, so adjust the density for your material.
Base layers
A new driveway usually wants 4–6 inches of compacted base plus a top course — estimate each layer separately.
Open the gravel calculator → for exact tons and yards, including base depth.