Gravel Calculator
Find out how much gravel to order for a path, patio, play area or driveway. Enter the size and depth, pick the stone, and get cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags. Suppliers sell by the yard or by the ton, so you get both.
How to use the gravel calculator
- Choose the shape of the area and enter its size. Use Add another area for an L-shaped path or several beds; the areas are added together.
- Enter the depth in inches. Decorative beds and paths are usually 2–3 in; a driveway top layer is often about 4 in over a compacted base.
- Pick the material. This fills in a typical density (tons per cubic yard); replace it with your supplier's figure if you have it.
- Leave compaction at 0% for loose gravel, or add an allowance for a base you will compact with a plate compactor.
- Read the cubic yards and tons, and enter your local prices under Cost estimate to compare bulk and bagged.
The gravel formula
Gravel is ordered by volume (cubic yards) or by weight (tons), so the calculator works out both:
- Area (ft²): length × width for a rectangle, π × radius² for a circle, ½ × base × height for a triangle
- Volume (ft³) = area × depth in inches ÷ 12 × (1 + waste) × (1 + compaction)
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per yd³)
- Bags = cubic feet ÷ bag size, rounded up
The density is the step that varies most. Gorham Sand & Gravel lists about 1.4 tons per yd³ for gravel and 1.5 for stone; Stone Center gives 1.4–1.6 for washed and pea gravel and 1.35–1.7 for crushed stone. Moisture and stone type explain the spread, which is why the density stays editable.
Worked example: a 20 ft × 10 ft path, 3 in deep
This is the example loaded above, using general gravel at 1.4 tons/yd³.
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 ft².
- Volume: 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 ft³. Add 10% waste: 55 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 55 ÷ 27 = 2.04 yd³.
- Weight: 2.04 × 1.4 = 2.85 tons.
- Bagged: 55 ÷ 0.5 = 110 bags of 0.5 ft³ (about 50 lb each).
At this size, bulk delivery is usually the way to go: 110 bags is a lot to carry. For a small bed of a few square feet, bags are handier.
Cubic yards vs tons
A yard of gravel is a volume; a ton is a weight. To convert, multiply cubic yards by the density, or divide tons by it. At 1.4 tons per yd³, 1 ton is about 0.71 yd³. One cubic yard spread 1 in deep covers 324 ft², so it covers 162 ft² at 2 in, 108 ft² at 3 in and 81 ft² at 4 in, whatever the stone.
Gravel weight and coverage by material
| Material | Tons per yd³ | Yd³ per ton | Area 1 yd³ covers at 2 in | At 3 in | At 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (general / washed) | 1.4 | 0.71 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
| Pea gravel | 1.4 | 0.71 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 1.5 | 0.67 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.5 | 0.67 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
| Decorative landscape rock | 1.3 | 0.77 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
| Sand | 1.3 | 0.77 | 162 ft² | 108 ft² | 81 ft² |
Typical figures from supplier sources (see Sources). Suppliers quote ranges, e.g. 1.35–1.7 tons per yd³ for crushed stone, so use your supplier's number when you have it. One cubic yard covers 324 ft² at 1 in deep.
Getting the order right
- Ask your supplier for their density. The calculator's figures are typical; the quarry's own number is better, and some yards quote yards while others quote tons.
- Compaction is for bases, not decorative stone. Crusher run and road base pack down when compacted, so you order more loose material to reach the finished depth. Ask your supplier how much extra they recommend for their material; 0% is right for loose pea gravel or river rock.
- Use landscape fabric under decorative gravel so it doesn't sink into the soil over time.
- Driveways need layers. A typical gravel driveway has a compacted base of larger crushed stone with a finer top layer. Run the calculator once per layer with each layer's depth and material.
- Edges keep gravel in place. Plan steel, plastic or paver edging along paths and beds.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Usually about 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) per cubic yard, with a typical range of roughly 1.25 to 1.7 tons depending on the stone and how wet it is. Crushed stone is often a little heavier than rounded pea gravel.
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Work out the cubic yards (area × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27) and multiply by the density. A 20 × 10 ft area 3 in deep is 1.85 yd³; at 1.4 tons per yd³ that is about 2.6 tons before waste.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per yd³, one ton is about 0.71 yd³. Spread 2 in deep that covers about 116 ft²; at 3 in, about 77 ft²; at 4 in, about 58 ft².
How deep should gravel be?
About 2–3 in for decorative beds and walking paths, and about 4 in for a driveway top layer laid over a compacted base. Deeper loose gravel is hard to walk on and drive through.
How many bags of gravel make a yard?
A 50 lb bag usually holds about 0.5 ft³, so a cubic yard (27 ft³) is 54 bags. For more than about a cubic yard, compare the bag total with a bulk delivery quote.
More gravel calculators
- Pea Gravel CalculatorPea gravel for paths, patios, fire pits and play areas, in yards, tons and bags.
- Driveway Gravel CalculatorTons of base and top-layer gravel for a new or resurfaced driveway.
- Gravel Yards to Tons ConverterConvert cubic yards of gravel, stone or sand to tons, and back, by material.
Related calculators
- Paver CalculatorPavers for a patio or path, plus gravel base, bedding sand and edging length.
- Concrete CalculatorSlabs, footings, sonotubes, walls, steps and post holes: cubic yards, 40/60/80 lb bags and cost.
- Mulch CalculatorCubic yards and bags of mulch for one or several beds, at the depth you choose.
- Topsoil CalculatorCubic yards, tons and 40 lb bags of topsoil for lawns, beds and low spots.