Gravel Calculator

Calculate how much gravel, crushed stone or road base to order for a driveway, path, patio base or drainage trench, by volume and by weight.

Updated November 9, 2026 · Imperial & metric · Free, runs in your browser

Units

Imperial Metric

Currency

Area

Shape

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (in)

Material

Gravel type (sets a typical density)

Density (tons/yd³)

tons/yd³

Typical loose values; moisture and grading change them. Use your supplier's figure if they give one.

Extra for compaction and waste (%)

Crushed stone that will be compacted often needs more.

Cost (optional)

Price (per ton)

per ton

Example price only. Use your supplier's delivered price.

Results

Area covered: 500 sq ft
Volume (cubic yards): 6.79 yd³
Volume (cubic feet): 183.3 cu ft
Weight (US tons): 9.51 tons
Weight (pounds): 19,012 lb
Bulk cost (by weight): $427.78

Estimates only. Prices are editable examples, not quotes. See the formula.

How to measure for gravel

Measure the length and width of the area in feet or metres. For a driveway, measure its full length and its average width; for a path, follow the centre line. Break odd shapes into rectangles and circles, calculate each one, and add the totals. The circle option is useful for turning circles, fire-pit pads and round seating areas.

Then decide on the depth. Gravel projects are often built in layers: a coarse, compacted base for strength and drainage, and a finer or decorative top layer. Calculate each layer separately, with its own depth and gravel type, because their densities and prices differ. As a starting point, paths and patios commonly use a few inches of gravel, while driveways use a deeper, compacted base. Local soil, drainage and traffic all matter, so ask your supplier or contractor what they recommend for your site.

The gravel formula

Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 × (1 + extra %)
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)

For a circle, the area is π × (diameter ÷ 2)². In metric, multiply metres by metres by the depth in metres, then multiply cubic metres by the density in tonnes per cubic metre.

Suppliers sell gravel by volume (cubic yards or cubic metres) or by weight (tons or tonnes), so the calculator gives both. Converting between them requires a density, and that is where most estimates go wrong. Density depends on the type of stone, its size and grading, and how wet it is.

Typical gravel densities

The gravel type menu fills in a typical loose density, which you can overwrite:

Material	US tons per yd³	Tonnes per m³
Crushed stone (e.g. #57)	1.40	1.66
Pea gravel	1.40	1.66
Crusher run / road base	1.50	1.78
River rock	1.35	1.60
Decomposed granite	1.40	1.66
Sand (dry)	1.35	1.60

These are rounded planning figures, not specifications. The metric column is a straight unit conversion of the imperial figure. If your supplier quotes a weight per cubic yard or cubic metre for their material, use that instead.

Worked example

A gravel driveway is 50 ft long and 10 ft wide, with a 4 inch layer of crushed stone and 10% extra for compaction.

Area: 50 × 10 = 500 sq ft.
Volume: 500 × (4 ÷ 12) = 166.7 cu ft, plus 10% = 183.3 cu ft.
Cubic yards: 183.3 ÷ 27 = 6.79 yd³.
Weight at 1.4 tons per cubic yard: 6.79 × 1.4 = 9.51 tons.
At an example price of $45 per ton, the stone costs about $428 before delivery.

In metric, a 15 × 3 m driveway with a 10 cm layer and 10% extra needs 4.95 m³, or about 8.22 tonnes at 1.66 t/m³. A round 12 ft fire-pit pad at 3 inches needs about 1.15 yd³ (1.61 tons).

Compaction and waste

Angular crushed stone and road base lock together when compacted, so the finished layer holds less volume than the loose material you ordered. Adding extra covers that compaction plus spreading losses and uneven ground. A 10% to 20% allowance is a common planning range for compacted base layers; rounded decorative gravel that is only raked into place needs less. Moisture also matters: wet gravel weighs more per cubic yard, which affects orders placed by weight.

A quick coverage check: one cubic yard of gravel covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, so divide 324 by your depth in inches to see roughly how far each yard goes. At 4 inches, a yard covers about 81 sq ft.

Estimating gravel cost

Gravel prices vary widely by region, stone type, and distance from the quarry, and delivery can be a large share of the total for small loads. Enter your supplier's price per ton (or tonne) to estimate the material cost. The default is an example only. If your supplier prices by the cubic yard instead, multiply the cubic yards result by their price.

When you ask for quotes, mention the total weight and volume from this calculator, the type of material, and where the truck can tip. Also budget for landscape fabric, edging, a plate compactor rental for base layers, and any excavation or disposal of soil you dig out.

Choosing a gravel type

Crusher run / road base: a mix of crushed stone and fines that compacts firmly; widely used as a base under pavers, slabs and driveways.
Crushed stone: angular, clean stone in graded sizes; drains well and is used for driveway surfaces and drainage.
Pea gravel and river rock: rounded and decorative, comfortable underfoot, but they shift under vehicles. See the pea gravel calculator for bag estimates.
Decomposed granite: fine, natural-looking surface for paths and patios that firms up when compacted.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert cubic yards of gravel to tons?

Multiply cubic yards by the density in tons per cubic yard. Many gravels are around 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so 5 cubic yards weighs roughly 7 tons. Densities vary by stone, size and moisture, so use your supplier's figure when you can.

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches with 10% extra needs about 6.8 cubic yards, or roughly 9.5 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. Driveways are often built in layers, so run the calculator once for each layer.

How many square feet does a cubic yard of gravel cover?

One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches (324 divided by the depth in inches).

Why add extra for compaction?

Crushed stone and road base settle when they are compacted with a plate compactor or roller, so you need more loose material than the finished volume. Ask your supplier how much their material compacts; 10% to 20% extra is a common planning range.

What is the difference between a ton and a tonne?

A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb, or about 907 kg. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, or about 2,205 lb. This calculator shows US tons in imperial mode and tonnes in metric mode.