Gravel Calculator
A gravel calculator turns length × width × depth into cubic yards (cubic feet ÷ 27), then tons at ~1.4 t/yd³. 200 sq ft at 4 in needs 3.8 tons with 10% extra.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
2.72 yd³ · 3.8 tons
37 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
6 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
11 car trips for 153 bags (700 lb each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons. A car or SUV carries about 700 lb of bags per trip, with the driver aboard.
How much gravel do I need?
To find how much gravel you need, multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by the gravel’s weight per cubic yard (about 1.4 tons) to get tons. This gravel calculator does all three steps, adds a 10% allowance for settling and spillage, and prices the order per ton.
Enter the shape (rectangle, circle, or triangle), the dimensions in feet, the depth in inches, and the gravel type. You get tons to order, cubic yards, cubic feet, an estimated cost, the number of 50 lb bags if you are buying from a store, and the area covered.
The gravel formula
Gravel is measured by volume but usually sold by weight, so there are two conversions:
- Area (sq ft) = length × width for a rectangle, π × (diameter ÷ 2)² for a circle, or base × height ÷ 2 for a triangle.
- Cubic yards = area × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27.
- Order volume = cubic yards × (1 + waste % ÷ 100).
- Tons = order volume × tons per cubic yard.
- Cost = tons × price per ton. 50 lb bags = tons × 2,000 ÷ 50, rounded up.
The waste allowance is added to the volume first, so cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, bags, and cost all include it.
Worked examples
These match the calculator exactly at its 10% waste default.
- Rectangular parking pad: 20 ft × 10 ft, 4 in deep, standard gravel (1.4 t/yd³), $50/ton
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft
- Volume: 200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 ft³ ÷ 27 = 2.47 yd³
- With 10% extra: 2.47 × 1.10 = 2.72 yd³ (73.3 ft³)
- Tons: 2.716 × 1.4 = 3.80 tons
- Cost: 3.80 × $50 = $190
- Or 3.80 × 2,000 ÷ 50 = 152.1, rounded up to 153 bags of 50 lb
- Round fire-pit area: 12 ft diameter circle, 3 in deep, pea gravel (1.4 t/yd³), $50/ton
- Area: π × 6² = 113.1 sq ft
- Volume: 113.1 × 0.25 = 28.3 ft³ = 1.05 yd³
- With 10% extra: 1.15 yd³ (31.1 ft³)
- Tons: 1.15 × 1.4 = 1.61 tons, about $81, or 65 bags
- Gravel driveway: 60 ft × 12 ft, 6 in deep, crusher run (1.5 t/yd³), $40/ton
- Area: 60 × 12 = 720 sq ft
- Volume: 720 × 0.5 = 360 ft³ = 13.33 yd³
- With 10% extra: 14.67 yd³ (396 ft³)
- Tons: 14.67 × 1.5 = 22.00 tons, about $880 at $40/ton
A tandem dump truck typically carries 10–15 tons, so example 3 is a two-load job. Ask your supplier for their truck’s capacity before you schedule delivery.
Recommended gravel depth by project
| Project | Typical depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path or walkway | 2–3 in | Over landscape fabric; deeper if the soil is soft |
| Decorative bed / ground cover | 2–3 in | Enough to hide fabric; river rock may need 3–4 in |
| Patio or play area (pea gravel) | 3–4 in | Pea gravel rolls, so edging helps hold it |
| Paver or patio base | 4–6 in | Compacted crusher run under 1 in of sand |
| Shed base | 4–6 in | Compacted, extending about 1 ft past the shed |
| Driveway, top-up | 2–3 in | Over an existing compacted base |
| Driveway, new build | 8–12 in total | Usually 2–3 layers, each 4 in compacted |
| French drain | Fill the trench | Typically 2 in below the pipe and 2–3 in over it |
Tons per cubic yard by gravel type
| Gravel type | Tons per yd³ (calculator) | Lb per yd³ | Yd³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard gravel | 1.40 | 2,800 | 0.71 |
| Pea gravel | 1.40 | 2,800 | 0.71 |
| #57 crushed stone | 1.35 | 2,700 | 0.74 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.50 | 3,000 | 0.67 |
| River rock | 1.40 | 2,800 | 0.71 |
These are typical loose, dry figures. Real weights vary by quarry, rock type, and moisture, and wet gravel weighs more, so if your supplier quotes a different number, trust theirs. To convert between the two units on its own, use the cubic yards to tons calculator.
How much does 1 ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is 0.71 yd³, or about 19.3 cubic feet.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 ton | Tons per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | ~116 sq ft | 0.86 |
| 3 in | ~77 sq ft | 1.30 |
| 4 in | ~58 sq ft | 1.73 |
| 6 in | ~39 sq ft | 2.59 |
Figures are net, before the 10% allowance. For heavier crusher run, coverage drops.
Gravel sizes and what they are used for
| Gravel | Size and shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| #57 stone | Angular, about ½–1 in, no fines | Drainage, French drains, driveway top layer, under sheds |
| #411 | #4 stone (1½–2½ in) mixed with stone dust | Driveway surfaces that lock together and stay put |
| Pea gravel | Rounded, about ⅜ in | Paths, patios, play areas, dog runs (does not compact) |
| Crusher run | ¾ in angular stone with fines | Compacted base for pavers, slabs, sheds, and driveways |
| River rock | Smooth, about 1–3 in | Decorative beds, dry creek beds, downspout splash areas |
| #3 stone | Angular, about 1–2 in | Bottom layer of new driveways |
Angular stone with fines (crusher run, #411) compacts into a firm surface. Clean angular stone (#57) drains well but stays a bit loose. Rounded stone (pea gravel, river rock) is comfortable underfoot but shifts under car tires, so it is a poor choice for driveways.
Gravel calculator in tons vs cubic yards
Quarries and landscape yards often sell by the ton, while some sell by the cubic yard or “scoop.” If your supplier prices by the yard, use the cubic yards result and ignore the tons line; if they price by the ton, order the tons figure. This gravel calculator shows both, so you can compare a per-ton quote against a per-yard quote without redoing the math. For full project pricing, including delivery, see the gravel cost calculator.
How to measure irregular areas
- Split it up. Break an L-shaped or odd area into rectangles, circles, and triangles. Run each piece through the calculator and add the tons together.
- Curved beds. Measure the longest length and the average width (take three widths and average them), then treat it as a rectangle.
- Circles. Measure straight across the middle for the diameter. The calculator’s circle option uses diameter, not radius.
- Triangles and corners. Enter the base as length and the height (measured square to the base) as width; the calculator halves it.
- Driveways that widen. Average the width at each end, or split the flare into a rectangle plus a triangle.
Common gravel-ordering mistakes
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. 4 inches is 0.333 ft, not 4. Entering 4 ft by mistake gives an answer 12 times too big, which is why this calculator takes depth in inches.
- Ordering the net amount. Gravel settles and spreads thinner at the edges. Without an allowance you often end up a few wheelbarrow loads short, and a second small delivery can cost as much as the first.
- Using one density for everything. Crusher run is heavier than river rock. Pick the matching gravel type so the tons are right.
- Skipping the base layer. A 2-inch layer of pea gravel straight on soil will sink and mix into the dirt. Lay landscape fabric or a compacted gravel base first.
- Measuring compacted depth as loose depth. If you plan to run a plate compactor, raise the waste % to 15–20%, since loose gravel loses height as it compacts.
Related calculators
The gravel driveway calculator handles layered driveways, the French drain gravel calculator sizes trench fill, and the mulch calculator covers planting beds next to your gravel areas.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width in feet, multiply by depth in inches ÷ 12, and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by about 1.4 to get tons, then add 10% for settling and spillage. A 20 × 10 ft area at 4 inches is 2.47 yd³, or 2.72 yd³ and 3.80 tons after 10% extra.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Most gravel weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard (2,600 to 3,000 lb). This calculator uses 1.4 tons for standard gravel, pea gravel and river rock, 1.35 for #57 crushed stone, and 1.5 for crusher run. Moisture and fines push real weights up, so ask your supplier for their figure.
How much area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 1 ton is about 19.3 cubic feet of gravel. That covers roughly 116 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 77 sq ft at 3 inches, 58 sq ft at 4 inches, and 39 sq ft at 6 inches, before any allowance for waste or compaction.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Plan on 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel for a driveway that sits on firm soil, with 6 inches or more where trucks park or the ground is soft. New driveways are usually built in layers: a coarse base such as #3 stone, then a middle layer, then a top layer of crusher run or #57 stone.
Should I add extra gravel for waste?
Yes. This calculator adds 10% by default, applied to the volume before it converts to tons. That covers spillage, uneven ground, and settling. Raise it to 15–20% for loose gravel that will be compacted with a plate compactor, or set it to 0 to see the exact net amount.
How many 50 lb bags of gravel equal a ton?
40 bags, because a ton is 2,000 lb and 2,000 ÷ 50 = 40. A cubic yard of standard gravel at 1.4 tons is 2,800 lb, or 56 bags. Bags make sense for jobs under about half a ton; beyond that, bulk delivery is usually far cheaper per ton.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.