Gravel Calculator: Tons & Cubic Yards
Calculate how many tons and cubic yards of gravel you need for a driveway, walkway, patio base or drainage trench. Pick your stone type for accurate weight.
A 10 × 20 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs about 2.5 cubic yards of gravel, or roughly 3.5 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, before compaction. Formula: length × width × depth (inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons.
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How to calculate how much gravel you need
Gravel is ordered in cubic yards or tons. First find the volume of the area to fill, then convert to weight using the stone's density.
tons = cubic yards × density (1.3–1.5 tons per yd³)
Most crushed stone and gravel weighs 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard; rounded river rock is slightly lighter. Moisture adds weight, so a rain-soaked load weighs more than the same load dry.
Worked example: a 12 × 40 ft gravel driveway
Two compacted layers of 3 inches make 6 inches (0.5 ft) of stone. Volume = 12 × 40 × 0.5 = 240 cubic feet = 8.89 cubic yards. Adding 10% for compaction gives 9.78 cubic yards, and at 1.4 tons per yard that is 13.7 tons. At $35 per ton the stone costs about $480, before delivery. Order it as 13.7 tons or as roughly 10 cubic yards, whichever unit your supplier uses.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
| Depth | Sq ft per ton (1.4 t/yd³) | Cubic yards per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 116 | 0.62 |
| 3 in | 77 | 0.93 |
| 4 in | 58 | 1.23 |
| 6 in | 39 | 1.85 |
| 8 in | 29 | 2.47 |
Allow for compaction
Loose gravel compacts by roughly 10–15% once it is tamped, which is why we add 10% by default. Install driveways and paver bases in layers of 3–4 inches and compact each layer with a plate compactor.
How deep should gravel be?
| Project | Suggested depth | Stone |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway or garden path | 2–3 in | Pea gravel or 3/8 in crushed |
| Patio or paver base | 4–6 in | 3/4 in crushed, compacted |
| Residential driveway | 4–8 in (two layers) | Road base topped with 3/4 in |
| French drain trench | Fill per design | Washed 3/4–1.5 in stone |
| Under a concrete slab | 4 in | 3/4 in crushed |
Place landscape fabric under gravel on soft or clay soil so stone doesn't sink in. For a poured pad, pair this with the concrete calculator; for paver patios, the paver calculator includes base and sand.
Gravel quantity chart for common projects
Volumes include a 10% compaction allowance; weight uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard (crushed stone). Change the material above for your own stone.
| Project | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway, 3 × 30 ft, 3 in | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Patio base, 12 × 12 ft, 4 in | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| Shed pad, 10 × 12 ft, 6 in | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| Driveway, 12 × 40 ft, 6 in | 9.8 | 13.7 |
| Two-car pad, 20 × 24 ft, 6 in | 9.8 | 13.7 |
| French drain, 1.5 × 50 ft, 12 in | 3.1 | 4.3 |
Weight of common gravel types
| Stone | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone / 3/4 in gravel | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Road base / crusher run | 1.5 | 0.67 |
| River rock | 1.3 | 0.77 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.5 | 0.67 |
| Washed gravel | 1.35 | 0.74 |
These are planning values. Moisture, particle size and how tightly the load settles change real weight, so use your supplier's tons-per-yard figure when they quote one. To convert any other quantity, use the yards to tons calculator.
Bags, bulk or a truck?
Small jobs use bags, usually 0.5 cubic feet each: 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags per cubic yard. A 0.75 cubic foot bag takes 36 bags per yard. Past roughly a yard or two, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and far less work, but it needs a place to dump the pile. Ask suppliers whether they charge per ton or per yard and what their minimum delivery is.
Common gravel mistakes
- Ordering the wrong unit. Suppliers often quote per ton, while your measurements give cubic yards. Convert before you compare prices.
- Skipping the compaction allowance. A freshly spread 4-inch layer settles once it is tamped.
- Putting stone straight on soft soil. Landscape fabric stops it sinking into clay or loam.
- One thick layer. Spread and compact in 3–4 inch layers, not all at once.
- No edge restraint. Gravel migrates; an edging keeps depth where you measured it.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Most crushed stone and gravel weigh between 1.35 and 1.5 tons per cubic yard. This calculator uses 1.4 tons for crushed stone.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,700–3,000 pounds, or roughly 1.4 tons, depending on stone type and moisture.
How far will one ton of gravel go?
At 4 inches deep, one ton of crushed stone covers about 55–60 square feet; at 2 inches, about 110–115 square feet.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 6 inches deep needs about 11–12 cubic yards, or roughly 17 tons, including compaction.
What size gravel is best for a driveway?
Use compactable road base or crusher run for the bottom layers and 3/4 inch angular crushed stone on top. Round pea gravel shifts under tires.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
Fabric keeps gravel from mixing into soft soil and slows weed growth. It is recommended under driveways and paver bases on clay or loose soil.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or the yard?
It depends on the supplier. Ask for both prices. Heavy, dense stone costs more per yard, while tons make comparisons between materials easier.
Can I haul gravel in a pickup truck?
A full-size pickup safely carries about a half to one cubic yard of gravel. Check your payload rating — a cubic yard of stone weighs about 1.4 tons.
Sources and further reading
- Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute — ICPI: paver, base and bedding guidance
- NIST Special Publication 811: conversion factors — National Institute of Standards and Technology
These references support the general guidance on this page. The calculator applies the standard formulas shown above to the numbers you enter.
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Guides and how-tos
. Estimates only. Always confirm quantities with your supplier or a qualified contractor before ordering, and add extra for waste and site conditions.