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CalcTheBuild

Gravel Calculator

Gravel is sold by weight but measured by volume, which is why so many people order too much or too little. Enter the size of the area, how deep you want the stone and which material you are buying, and get the tons to order, the cubic yards, the number of bags and the delivered cost.

ft
ft
in

2–3″ (50–75 mm) for paths, 4–6″ (100–150 mm) for driveways.

%

Use 15–25% for road base that will be compacted.

$
$

Your estimate

Gravel to order
2.75 tons
Estimated total cost
$198.61
Volume to order
2.04 cu yd
Area covered
200 sq ft
Or 0.5 cu ft bags
110 bags
Material cost
$123.61

Tons are US short tons (2,000 lb). Ask your supplier for their weight per cubic yard, as it varies by quarry.

How to use this calculator

  1. Measure the length and width of the area. For an L-shaped or irregular area, split it into rectangles, calculate each one and add them up.
  2. Enter the depth: 2–3″ (50–75 mm) for a path or a decorative layer, 4–6″ (100–150 mm) for a driveway or a base under pavers.
  3. Pick the material. Each one weighs a different amount per cubic yard, and that changes the tonnage.
  4. Keep 10% extra for settling and uneven ground, or 15–25% for road base you will compact with a plate compactor.
  5. Enter your supplier's price per ton and delivery fee to see the total cost.

How the gravel calculation works

First we work out the volume: length × width × depth. In imperial units that means feet × feet × (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, then ÷ 27 to get cubic yards. A 20 × 10 ft path at 3″ deep is 50 cu ft, or 1.85 cu yd.

Then we convert volume to weight using the loose density of the material. Crushed stone weighs about 1,600 kg/m³, which is roughly 1.35 US tons per cubic yard or 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre. So the same 20 × 10 ft path needs about 2.5 tons of crushed stone before the allowance for settling. Road base packs tighter and is heavier, at about 1.6 tons per cubic yard; lava rock is very light, at about half a ton.

The table under the calculator flips the question round: it shows how many square feet (or square metres) a single ton covers at common depths. That is handy when the yard sells in whole-ton loads.

Pro tips

  • Ask the yard for its own weight per cubic yard. Density changes with the quarry, the stone size and how wet the pile is.
  • Lay landscape fabric under decorative gravel to keep weeds down and stop the stone sinking into the soil.
  • For a driveway, build in layers: a compacted base of crusher run or MOT Type 1, then 2–3″ (50 mm) of clean stone on top. Clean, rounded stone such as pea gravel rolls under tyres and does not make a good base.
  • Bagged gravel usually costs several times more per ton than bulk. Above roughly half a cubic yard, a bulk delivery or a 850 kg bulk bag is normally cheaper.
  • Check that the delivery truck can reach the spot where you want the pile, and put down a tarp if you are tipping onto a lawn.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

About 1.3–1.4 US tons for most crushed stone and pea gravel, around 1.6 tons for road base and crusher run, and roughly 0.5 tons for lava rock. In metric, one cubic metre of crushed stone weighs about 1.6 tonnes.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

One ton of crushed stone covers about 120 sq ft at 2″ deep, 80 sq ft at 3″ and 60 sq ft at 4″. In metric, a tonne covers about 12.5 m² at 50 mm and 8 m² at 75 mm.

How much gravel do I need for a 10 × 10 area?

At 3″ deep, a 10 × 10 ft area is 25 cu ft, or 0.93 cu yd. In crushed stone that is about 1.25 tons, or about 1.4 tons with 10% extra for settling.

How deep should gravel be?

2–3″ (50–75 mm) for walkways and decorative beds, 3–4″ (75–100 mm) for a pea gravel patio, and 4–6″ (100–150 mm) of compacted base plus a 2–3″ top layer for a driveway that takes cars.

How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?

It takes 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft to make one cubic yard. For anything bigger than a small flower bed, bulk delivery is usually cheaper.

What is the difference between crushed stone and pea gravel?

Crushed stone is broken by machine, so it has sharp edges that lock together and stay put, which makes it good for driveways and bases. Pea gravel is small and rounded by water, so it is comfortable underfoot and looks softer, but it shifts and needs edging to keep it in place.

These results are estimates for planning and budgeting. Actual quantities depend on site conditions, products and workmanship. Check structural and code requirements with a licensed professional before you build.