Gravel Path Calculator
A gravel path calculator turns length, width and depth into tons: a 40 × 3 ft path at 3 in deep needs 1.56 tons of pea gravel, about $93 at $60 a ton.
What your order looks like
A pickup or a small delivery will do it.
1.11 yd³ · 1.6 tons
15 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
3 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons 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.
Gravel path calculator
A gravel path calculator multiplies length, width and depth to get cubic feet, divides by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiplies by the weight of the stone to give tons. A 40 × 3 ft path at 3 inches deep in pea gravel needs 1.56 tons, which is about $93 at $60 a ton.
Pea gravel is the default because it is the usual choice for walkways. It weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard in this calculator.
The formula in plain words
- Cubic yards = length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27.
- Tons = cubic yards × 1.4.
- With the waste box checked, multiply by 1.10 before pricing.
- Cost = tons × price per ton.
The calculator rounds the display to two decimals. Tons are not rounded up to a whole number, because gravel is sold by weight off a scale.
Worked examples
A garden path, 40 ft long, 3 ft wide, 3 in deep, $60 a ton:
- Cubic feet: 40 × 3 × 0.25 = 30 ft³
- Cubic yards: 30 ÷ 27 = 1.11 yd³
- Tons: 1.11 × 1.4 = 1.56 tons
- Cost: 1.56 × $60 = $93.33
The same path with the waste box checked:
- Tons: 1.5556 × 1.10 = 1.71 tons
- Cost: 1.71 × $60 = $102.67
A side-yard walkway, 60 ft by 4 ft, 2 in deep, no waste:
- Cubic yards: 60 × 4 × (2 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³
- Tons: 1.48 × 1.4 = 2.07 tons
- Cost: 2.07 × $60 = $124.44
Path depth and what it covers
| Path use | Typical depth | Tons per 100 ft of 3 ft path |
|---|---|---|
| Light foot traffic over fabric | 2 in | 2.59 |
| Garden walkway | 3 in | 3.89 |
| Wheelbarrow route | 4 in | 5.19 |
| Soft ground | 4 in over a compacted base | 5.19 plus the base |
The right column comes from the same formula: 100 × 3 × (depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.4. Ask your supplier what stone they stock and what it weighs, since local pea gravel can differ from the figure used here.
How to build the path so it lasts
- Mark the route with a hose or string, then cut out the sod.
- Dig down to the depth of the gravel, plus the thickness of any base.
- Compact the soil with a hand tamper.
- Lay landscape fabric, overlapping seams by 6 inches or so.
- Set the edging.
- Spread the gravel and rake it level.
If the path will carry mowers or carts, a layer of crushed stone with fines beneath the pea gravel gives a firmer footing. Use the gravel base calculator for that layer.
How to measure
Run a tape or a garden hose along the center of the planned route to get length. Measure width at the narrowest point, the widest, and one spot in the middle, then average the three. For a bed that is wider at a turn, split the route into sections and add the tons together.
Common mistakes
- Leaving depth in feet. The depth box takes inches, so 3 inches is entered as 3.
- Forgetting the edging. Gravel will creep into the lawn within a season.
- Ordering exactly the net amount on an uneven site.
- Skipping fabric or a base, then watching the stone sink into clay.
- Having no place for the truck to tip. A dump truck leaves the whole load in one pile, so pick a spot close to the path.
Related calculators
The pea gravel calculator covers larger patios and play areas. If you want a firmer, tan surface, compare it with the decomposed granite calculator. Roll size for weed barrier is on the landscape fabric calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What should I enter for length and width on a winding path?
Walk the centerline with a tape or a hose laid out along the route and use that as the length. Measure the width in three spots, average them, and enter that number. A path that bends a lot is still just a long thin rectangle as far as the volume is concerned.
Why does this calculator default to pea gravel?
Pea gravel is the stone most people pick for garden walkways because it is small, rounded and easy on bare feet. The calculator uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard for it. If you choose another stone, ask the supplier for its weight per yard, since crushed stone and river rock differ.
What depth of gravel should a garden path use?
Two to three inches is typical for a foot path. Go to 3 or 4 inches if the soil is soft or the path gets wheelbarrow traffic. Thinner than 2 inches tends to show the fabric or soil through, and the stones get pushed aside by feet.
Do I need landscape fabric under a gravel path?
It helps. Fabric slows weeds and keeps the stone from sinking into the soil, which means the path holds its depth for longer. Cut it wider than the path and tuck it under the edging. A compacted base layer also works if the ground is soft.
How do I keep the gravel from spreading into beds?
Install edging first. Steel, aluminum, plastic or stone edging set a bit above the surface of the gravel works. Without an edge, stones migrate into the lawn and mower blades pick them up.
Should I turn on the 10 percent waste option?
Yes if the ground is uneven or you have never laid gravel before. A 40 × 3 ft path at 3 inches needs 1.56 tons with no allowance and 1.71 tons with it. Skip the allowance if you are topping up an existing path with a measured gap.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.