Gravel Calculator
Estimate volume, weight & cost
Use this gravel calculator to calculate how much gravel you need in seconds. Enter your area, depth, and gravel type, and it returns cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, pounds, bags, and estimated cost. Add a waste allowance, enter your supplier's price per ton, and order the right amount the first time.
Gravel weighs roughly 2,500–3,100 pounds per cubic yard depending on stone type, particle size, and moisture. Densities in this tool are planning defaults — confirm final quantities with your material supplier before ordering.
Gravel Estimator
Area, depth, weight, bags & cost
Estimated material needed
Area
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Cubic feet
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Cubic yards
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Pounds
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Tons
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Bags
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Estimated cost
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Recommended order
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Estimates are approximate and include your waste allowance. Confirm final quantities with your material supplier before ordering. Standard density: ~1.4 tons/yd³.
How Much Gravel Do I Need?
You need the volume of the space, not just its footprint. Gravel is sold by volume (cubic yards) or by weight (tons), so area alone will not tell you what to order — depth is what turns square footage into a truckload.
To calculate gravel, multiply the area by the gravel depth to find volume, then convert the volume into cubic yards or weight using the selected material density.
Same formula as a calculator, just written out:
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = Cubic yards × Density (tons per cubic yard)
Run those three lines on a 500 sq ft driveway at 4 inches deep with #57 stone and you get 166.7 cubic feet, 6.17 cubic yards, and about 8.6 tons before waste.
How to Use the Gravel Calculator
Enter the Area Dimensions
Choose rectangle, circle, triangle, or custom area, then enter the numbers you can actually measure. A rectangle needs length and width. A circle needs its diameter. A triangle needs its base and its height. If you already know the total square footage, switch "Calculate using" to Square feet and skip the shape math.
Choose the Gravel Depth
Enter depth in inches, feet, or centimeters, or tap a quick preset. Depth is the single input that changes your order the most — doubling depth doubles the gravel. Two inches is typical for a decorative layer, four inches for a driveway surface, and six to twelve inches for a load-bearing base.
Select the Gravel Type
The material you pick sets the density behind the tonnage number. Pea gravel and river rock are lighter per yard because rounded stone leaves more open space; crusher run and dense crushed stone pack tighter and weigh more. If your supplier publishes a density, choose Custom and type it in.
Add Waste or Compaction Allowance
Add 5% for a clean, measured, flat area and 10% for irregular edges, hand-dug trenches, or a first-time DIY job. Bump it to 15–20% when you spread gravel on soft ground. Dense-graded material like crusher run also settles after compaction, so the loose layer you order should be deeper than the finished layer you want.
Review Cubic Yards, Tons and Bags
Read the result in the unit your supplier quotes. Landscape yards price by the cubic yard; quarries and stone yards often quote by the ton; hardware stores sell by the bag. The recommended order rounds up to a standard increment so you can actually place it.
Gravel Calculator Formula
Every gravel calculation is these five steps. Nothing else changes.
Calculate Square Feet
Length × Width = AreaFor a circle, use π × radius². For a triangle, use base × height ÷ 2. For an L-shaped bed, split it into rectangles, calculate each, and add them.
Calculate Cubic Feet
Area × Depth in feet = Cubic FeetConvert inches to feet first: 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.33 feet. Skipping that conversion is the most common gravel calculation error, and it inflates an order by a factor of twelve.
Calculate Cubic Yards
Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards27 is the number of cubic feet in one cubic yard. Suppliers sell bulk gravel in this unit because a dump truck bed and a front-end loader bucket are both measured by volume.
Calculate Gravel Weight
Cubic Yards × Density = WeightDensity is expressed as tons per cubic yard (commonly 1.25 to 1.55) or pounds per cubic foot (commonly 95 to 115). Use the density of the exact material you are buying.
Convert Pounds to Tons
Pounds ÷ 2,000 = US TonsThe US short ton is 2,000 pounds. A "ton" at a quarry in the United States means the short ton unless the ticket says metric tonne (2,204.6 lb).
Gravel Calculator in Cubic Yards
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side — 3 × 3 × 3, or 27 cubic feet. Picture a box waist-high and a little wider than a wheelbarrow run: one cubic yard fills about 4.5 wheelbarrow loads at six cubic feet per load.
Suppliers sell gravel by the cubic yard because volume is what a loader and a truck actually move. The weight changes with the rock; the space it takes up does not. That is why a landscape yard quotes you "three yards of #57" and converts to tons only for the delivery ticket.
To convert: divide cubic feet by 27. A 12 × 20 driveway at 6 inches deep is 120 cubic feet, which is 4.44 cubic yards.
Gravel Calculator in Cubic YardsGravel Calculator in Tons
Tonnage depends on density, and density depends on the rock, its gradation, and how much moisture it is carrying. One cubic yard of river rock weighs roughly 2,565 pounds. One cubic yard of crusher run weighs closer to 2,970 pounds. Same yard, about 400 pounds apart.
That is why a "yard of gravel" does not have one fixed weight, and why two suppliers can quote very different tonnage for the same job. The rock is the same size; the voids and the water in it are not.
The conversion stays simple: 1 US short ton = 2,000 pounds, and tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard.
Use our defaults to plan, then re-run the numbers with your supplier's published density before you finalize the order. Their number beats ours every time.
Gravel Calculator in TonsGravel Calculator by Square Feet
If you already measured the space, you only need two numbers: total square footage and depth. Multiply square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Small example: a 10 ft × 12 ft seating area is 120 square feet. At 3 inches deep (0.25 ft), that is 30 cubic feet, or 1.11 cubic yards. With #57 gravel at 1.40 tons per yard, order about 1.55 tons — round to 1.5 or 2 tons depending on your supplier's increments.
Gravel Calculator in Cubic Feet
Cubic feet is the working unit behind every gravel calculation:
Length × Width × Depth = Cubic FeetThen convert to the unit you are ordering in:
Cubic feet ÷ 27 = Cubic yardsA 6 ft × 6 ft sandbox filled 1 foot deep needs 36 cubic feet, or 1.33 cubic yards. Cubic feet is also how bagged gravel is labeled, which makes it the bridge between a bulk order and a store run.
How Much Area Does Gravel Cover?
Coverage depends on four things: how much material you have, how deep you spread it, the material itself, and its density. Volume sets coverage; density only changes what that volume weighs.
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so coverage is 27 divided by the depth in feet.
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Coverage per ton | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | ~324 sq ft | ~220–240 sq ft | Dressing a bed, topping an existing layer |
| 2 inches | ~162 sq ft | ~110–120 sq ft | Walkways, patios, decorative finishes |
| 3 inches | ~108 sq ft | ~74–80 sq ft | Play areas, garden paths |
| 4 inches | ~81 sq ft | ~56–60 sq ft | Residential driveways, shed pads |
| 6 inches | ~54 sq ft | ~37–40 sq ft | Driveway base, drainage beds |
| 8 inches | ~40 sq ft | ~28–30 sq ft | Heavy-load base, deep backfill |
Two shortcuts worth memorizing: one cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches, and one ton covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches for dense crushed stone. Suppliers quote that second one all the time because it is conservative and easy to remember.
How Much Does Gravel Weigh?
Gravel weight varies by material, particle size, moisture, and density. Rounded river rock leaves bigger voids and weighs less per yard. Dense graded crusher run packs fines between the stones and weighs more. Wet gravel can add 10–15% to the same dry volume.
| Material | Pounds per cubic foot | Pounds per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel | ~100 lb | ~2,700 lb | ~1.35 |
| #57 Gravel | ~104 lb | ~2,800 lb | ~1.40 |
| 3/4" Gravel | ~105 lb | ~2,835 lb | ~1.42 |
| Crushed Stone | ~105 lb | ~2,835 lb | ~1.42 |
| Crusher Run | ~110 lb | ~2,970 lb | ~1.49 |
| River Rock | ~95 lb | ~2,565 lb | ~1.28 |
| Limestone | ~104 lb | ~2,800 lb | ~1.40 |
We built the calculator defaults from those figures, and we keep them in ranges on purpose. A loader bucket heaped with wet limestone can weigh 8% more than the same bucket straight out of a dry pile. If your quote has to be exact, ask for the density on the supplier's spec sheet — that number is the one their scale will agree with.
Gravel Coverage by Depth
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Example footprint |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 10 ft × 32 ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 10 ft × 16 ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 10 ft × 11 ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 9 ft × 9 ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 7 ft × 8 ft |
| 8 inches | 40 sq ft | 6 ft × 7 ft |
Read it the other way for quick estimating: a 20 × 20 driveway is 400 square feet, and at 4 inches deep that is about 5 cubic yards before waste.
Gravel Types and Density
| Gravel Type | Typical Use | Density |
|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel | Patios, walkways, playgrounds | ~1.35 tons/yd³ |
| #57 Gravel | Driveways, drainage, base | ~1.40 tons/yd³ |
| 3/4" Crushed Stone | Bases, paths | ~1.42 tons/yd³ |
| Crusher Run | Base layers, driveway sub-base | ~1.49 tons/yd³ |
| River Rock | Landscaping, dry creek beds | ~1.28 tons/yd³ |
| Limestone | Driveways, construction | ~1.40 tons/yd³ |
Need a specific calculation?
- Pea Gravel Calculator — rounded stone, lighter per yard, best for patios and play areas.
- 57 Gravel Calculator — the driveway and drainage workhorse.
- Crushed Gravel Calculator — angular stone that locks together under load.
- Landscape Gravel Calculator — beds, borders, and decorative coverage.
Gravel Calculator for Different Projects
Gravel Calculator by Bags
Bagged gravel costs more per ton than bulk, but it solves small jobs, tight access, and single-day projects. A bulk delivery needs a driveway wide enough for a dump truck and often carries a minimum order of 5 to 10 cubic yards. Bags need neither.
The math is a division: bags = cubic feet (after waste) ÷ bag volume. A 50-pound bag is usually 0.5 cubic feet. Our 200 sq ft example at 4 inches deep comes to 66.7 cubic feet, or 73.3 cubic feet with 10% waste — about 147 bags. Round up, and keep one spare bag per ten.
Bag counts also reveal the break-even: past roughly 100 bags, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper per ton even with the delivery fee.
Gravel Calculator by BagsGravel Cost Calculator
Material cost is one multiplication:
Quantity × Price per ton = Material CostThen add the numbers that catch people out:
- Delivery — often $50 to $150 per load, and more for a short-bed truck or a long drive.
- Minimum order — many yards will not load less than 5 cubic yards at bulk pricing.
- Fuel and environmental surcharges — common on quarry pickups and usually quoted per load.
- Taxes — applied on material and sometimes on delivery, so budget the full invoice.
- Supplier pricing — the same #57 stone can swing 30% between two yards 20 miles apart. Two quotes take ten minutes and pay for themselves.
Worked Gravel Calculation Example
Example: a 20 ft × 10 ft driveway apron, 4 inches deep, #57 gravel, 10% waste allowance.
- Area: 20 ft × 10 ft = 200 square feet.
- Depth conversion: 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.33 feet.
- Cubic feet: 200 × 0.33 = 66.7 cubic feet.
- Cubic yards: 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards.
- Tons: 2.47 × 1.40 = 3.47 tons (about 6,930 pounds).
- Waste allowance: add 10% → 2.72 cubic yards and 3.81 tons.
- Recommended order: 3 cubic yards (about 4.2 tons), or 147 bags of 0.5 cubic feet if you are buying bagged.
Notice what did the work: the inches-to-feet conversion, and the density. Skip the first and you order twelve times too much. Skip the second and you order by volume when your supplier bills by weight.
Related Gravel Calculators
Quantity Calculators
Material Calculators
Conversion Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply your area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the material's density to get tons. Add 5–10% for waste and compaction before you order.
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Use three steps: area × depth = volume, volume ÷ 27 = cubic yards, cubic yards × density = tons. A 300 sq ft patio at 3 inches deep works out to 75 cubic feet, 2.78 cubic yards, and about 3.9 tons of #57 stone.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Cubic yards = (square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27. A 200 sq ft driveway at 4 inches needs 2.47 cubic yards before waste, or about 2.72 cubic yards once you add a 10% allowance.
How do I calculate gravel in tons?
Convert your volume to cubic yards, then multiply by tons per cubic yard for that material. #57 stone is about 1.40 tons per yard, river rock about 1.28, and crusher run about 1.49. Ask your supplier which figure they use.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
Most materials land between 1.25 and 1.55 tons per cubic yard. River rock runs about 1.28, pea gravel 1.35, #57 stone 1.40, and crusher run 1.49. Moisture and gradation move those numbers, so density is the variable, not the volume.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 2,500 to 3,100 pounds, depending on material and moisture. Pea gravel sits near 2,700 pounds, #57 stone near 2,800, and dense crusher run near 2,970. Wet gravel weighs more than the same pile dry.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
About 110–120 square feet at 2 inches deep and 56–60 square feet at 4 inches, assuming 2,700–2,900 pounds per cubic yard. A ton is 2,000 pounds, so coverage shrinks as depth grows.
How deep should gravel be?
Walkways: 2 inches. Patios: 2–3 inches. Decorative beds: 2–3 inches. Residential driveways: 4 inches minimum. Driveway base and drainage beds: 4–6 inches, or 6–12 inches for heavy loads. Compact thick base layers in lifts.
Should I add extra gravel for waste or compaction?
Yes. Add 5% for clean, flat, measured areas and 10% for irregular or hand-dug sites. Dense-graded material like crusher run settles as much as 15–20% under compaction, so order the loose layer deeper than the finished thickness you want.
Can I calculate gravel for a circular area?
Yes. Area = π × radius². A 12-foot circle has a 6-foot radius, so the area is about 113 square feet. Multiply by depth for cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then apply density for tons.
How many bags of gravel do I need?
Divide cubic feet after waste by the bag volume. A 200 sq ft area at 4 inches needs 66.7 cubic feet, which is about 147 bags at 0.5 cubic feet each. Round up and keep one spare per ten.
Does gravel type affect the calculation?
Yes, for weight only. Volume stays the same no matter which stone you pick, but density changes the tonnage. A cubic yard of river rock weighs about 2,565 pounds while crusher run weighs about 2,970 — roughly a third of a ton apart.
About This Calculator
We have ordered gravel for driveways, retaining wall backfill, drainage beds, and paver bases, and the two mistakes we see most often are skipping the inches-to-feet conversion and buying by volume when the supplier invoices by weight. The calculator handles both. Where we are honest about limits: density is an estimate, moisture moves it, and your supplier's scale is the final word. Use our number to plan, their number to pay. Density defaults are planning values for dry, loose aggregate and are checked against supplier measurement sheets.