Gravel Calculator
Estimate how much gravel your project needs. Enter the area you're covering and the depth, pick your material, and get the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and an optional cost estimate.
Sets a typical depth — tweak anything below.
For a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 2 in deep, order about 1.36 cubic yards (1.92 US tons) of regular gravel.
Estimates only. Densities vary by moisture, compaction and supplier — confirm quantities before ordering.
How to calculate how much gravel you need
Gravel is estimated by volume. Multiply the area you're covering by the depth of the gravel layer to get the volume, then convert that volume to weight using the density of your chosen material. In formula form: Volume = Area × Depth, and Weight = Volume × Density. This calculator does all of that for you and converts between cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, US tons and metric tons automatically, so you can order in whatever unit your supplier quotes.
How deep should a gravel layer be?
For most landscaping and ground-cover uses, a gravel depth of 2 to 4 inches works well. Walkways and decorative beds are usually fine at 2 inches, while driveways that carry vehicle weight are typically built up in layers to a total of 4 to 6 inches or more over a compacted base. When in doubt, go a little deeper — a thin layer shifts and shows the ground beneath.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of typical dry gravel weighs roughly 1.4 to 1.5 US tons (about 2,800–3,000 lb), but the exact figure depends on the stone type, size and moisture. Wet gravel and gravel mixed with sand are heavier; loose decorative stone like pea gravel is a bit lighter. This calculator uses per-material densities so the tonnage reflects the specific product you pick.
Buy a little extra
Gravel settles and compacts once it's spread and walked or driven on, and some is always lost to spillage and uneven ground. Ordering about 5–10% more than the calculated amount avoids a second delivery fee for a small shortfall. Rounding up to the nearest half or full cubic yard is usually the practical move.
Gravel coverage by depth
| Depth | Coverage per ton | Coverage per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | ~230 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | ~115 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ~75 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | ~58 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | ~39 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Assumes typical gravel at about 1.4 US tons per cubic yard. Denser or wetter material covers slightly less.
Worked examples
- 40 ft × 12 ft = 480 sq ft
- 480 × 4 in (0.33 ft) = 160 cu ft
- 160 ÷ 27 = 5.9 cubic yards
- × ~1.35 ton/yd³ ≈ 8 tons
- 25 ft × 3 ft = 75 sq ft
- 75 × 2 in (0.17 ft) = 12.5 cu ft
- 12.5 ÷ 27 = 0.46 cubic yards
- or 12.5 ÷ 0.5 = 25 bags
- π × (10 ÷ 2)² = 78.5 sq ft
- 78.5 × 3 in (0.25 ft) = 19.6 cu ft
- 19.6 ÷ 27 = 0.73 cubic yards
- × ~1.3 ton/yd³ ≈ 0.9 tons
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing the depth. Too shallow and the gravel shifts and shows the ground beneath. Most projects want 2–4 inches; driveways are built up thicker over a base.
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Depth is quoted in inches but the volume math is in feet — 4 inches is 0.33 ft, not 4. The calculator handles this, but hand estimates often don't.
- Skipping the waste allowance. Ground is never perfectly flat and gravel settles once it's driven on. Order 5–10% extra so a small shortfall doesn't trigger a second delivery fee.
- Using a one-size-fits-all density. Pea gravel, crushed stone and wet gravel weigh differently. A generic weight can be off by 20%+ on tonnage — pick the actual material.
- Buying bags for a big job. Bagged gravel costs far more per cubic yard than bulk. Past roughly one cubic yard, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?+
Multiply the length by the width of your area (in feet) to get square feet, multiply that by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 2 inches deep that's 200 × 0.1667 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.23 cubic yards. Enter your own numbers above to get the exact figure.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?+
Roughly 1.4 to 1.5 US tons per cubic yard for standard gravel. Heavier materials such as gravel with sand or road base run closer to 1.6–1.8 tons per cubic yard. The calculator applies the density of the specific material you select.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?+
At a 2-inch depth, one US ton of gravel covers roughly 100 square feet. At 3 inches it covers about 70 square feet, and at 4 inches about 50 square feet. Deeper layers cover less area per ton.
Does this work for pea gravel, crushed stone and #57 gravel?+
Yes. Choose the material from the dropdown and the calculator uses the right density for pea gravel, crushed stone, #57 gravel, river rock, sand and road base — or enter a custom density if your supplier provides one.
How much does a yard of gravel cost?+
Common gravel runs about $40–$80 a cubic yard, or $30–$60 a ton, picked up at the yard. Decorative stone like river rock costs more — often $100+ a yard. Delivery is usually a flat $50–$150 per load, so the more you take in one trip the less each yard costs. The only number that's actually yours is a local quote: take the tonnage from the calculator, call two nearby suppliers, and ask for the delivered price.
How much gravel can a pickup truck hold?+
A half-ton pickup (F-150, Silverado 1500) safely carries about half a cubic yard — roughly 1,500 lb. A full yard weighs around 3,000 lb and overloads most half-tons, so don't fill the bed to the top. A 3/4-ton truck handles about 1 yard, a 1-ton about 1.5. Once you're past 2 yards, get it delivered — a dump truck brings 10–16 tons in a single drop.
How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?+
54 bags, when each bag holds 0.5 cubic foot — a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54. Smaller 0.4 cu ft bags work out to about 68. That's why bags only pay off for small jobs: 54 bags is a lot of lifting and costs two to three times more than the same yard delivered in bulk. Past roughly half a yard, order bulk.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?+
For gravel over soil, usually yes. Fabric keeps the stone from sinking into the dirt and stops weeds pushing up through it — the two things that make a gravel area look tired after a season. Use woven fabric for driveways and anywhere with traffic (the non-woven kind tears), and overlap the strips by about 6 inches. The exception is a drainage layer like a French drain, where you want water to move freely and wrap the pipe instead.