Enter the size and depth of your driveway, path or base to see how many cubic yards and tons of gravel to order, and what it will cost at your supplier’s price.
How to use the gravel calculator
- Choose a rectangle or a circle and enter the size of the area. Split L-shaped driveways and curved paths into simpler pieces and add them up.
- Enter the depth of gravel you want once it is spread. Depth is usually easiest in inches.
- Keep some extra for compaction and low spots, and check the weight per cubic yard against your supplier’s number.
- Enter the price per ton or per cubic yard to get a cost estimate.
Gravel formulas
Volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 Tons = cubic yards × weight per yd³ (lb) ÷ 2,000
Suppliers sell gravel by the ton or by the cubic yard, so the calculator gives both. Weight depends on the rock, its size and how wet
it is. North Bay Materials lists sand, gravel, crushed rock and river cobble at 2,500–2,900 lb per cubic yard, about 1.35 tons, and
notes that moisture, compaction and source all change it. This page uses 2,700 lb unless you change it.
Worked example: a 12 × 50 ft gravel driveway, 4 in deep
- Area: 12 ft × 50 ft = 600 ft².
- Volume: 600 ft² × (4 ÷ 12) ft = 200 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 200 ÷ 27 = 7.41 yd³.
- Tons: 7.407 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 10 tons.
- With 10% extra: 8.15 yd³, or 11 tons.
A 3 ft wide garden path, 40 ft long and 3 in deep, needs 1.11 yd³ (1.5 tons), a job for a pickup or a stack of bags rather than a dump truck.
How far does a yard or a ton of gravel go?
At 2,700 lb per cubic yard, one ton is 0.741 yd³. Coverage at common depths:
| Depth | Area per cubic yard | Area per ton | Tons per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 120 ft² | 0.83 |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 80 ft² | 1.25 |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 60 ft² | 1.67 |
| 6 in | 54 ft² | 40 ft² | 2.5 |
| 8 in | 41 ft² | 30 ft² | 3.33 |
Choosing gravel
- Crushed stone with fines (often sold as road base or crusher run) locks together when compacted, which makes it a firm base under driveways and pavers.
- Clean crushed stone has the fines washed out, so water drains through it. It is used for drainage trenches, behind retaining walls and as a top layer.
- Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they roll underfoot. They suit paths, play areas and decorative beds more than driveways.
Names and sizes vary between quarries, so ask your supplier what they stock and what their material weighs per yard.
Tips for ordering gravel
- Build driveways in layers. A coarser, compacted base under a finer top layer is common. Run the calculator once for each layer and add the tons.
- Check the minimum. Many yards have a delivery minimum or charge a short-load fee for small orders; compare that with bagged gravel for small jobs.
- Mark where the truck will dump. A full load is heavy; keep it off septic tanks, sprinkler lines and soft lawns.
- Paving over the base? Use the asphalt calculator for the hot mix on top.
Questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.35 tons per yard. A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 4 in deep is 7.41 yd³, about 10 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Typically 2,500 to 2,900 lb, or about 1.35 tons, according to North Bay Materials. Wet or very dense stone can weigh more.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
About 60 ft² at 4 in deep and 120 ft² at 2 in, using 2,700 lb per cubic yard.
Should I order by the ton or by the yard?
Order in the unit your supplier prices in. If they sell by the ton, ask what their gravel weighs per yard and enter that number above so the conversion matches.
Sources
- Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, sand, dirt and mulch. - NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot, cubic yard and gallon conversions.