Gravel Calculator
Find out exactly how much gravel you need — in tons and cubic yards — for a driveway, path, base layer or drainage bed.
Your area
Measure straight across the widest point.
Sets a typical depth of 2 in — adjust below if needed.
Covers spillage and compaction. 5–10% is normal.
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or stored.
Bags or bulk delivery?
Order bulk by the ton
Coverage & weight
Material profile
The short answer
Multiply your area by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the material’s density — typically 2,700 lb per cubic yard for crushed stone — and divide by 2,000 for tons. A 10 × 50 ft driveway base at 4 inches deep needs about 6.2 cubic yards, or roughly 8.4 tons.
Gravel needed for common driveway and path sizes
Figures below use crushed stone at roughly 2,700 lb per cubic yard, before waste.
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 30 ft path | 2″ | 0.56 yd³ | 0.75 t |
| 4 × 40 ft path | 2″ | 0.99 yd³ | 1.33 t |
| 10 × 20 ft driveway | 4″ | 2.47 yd³ | 3.34 t |
| 10 × 50 ft driveway | 4″ | 6.17 yd³ | 8.33 t |
| 12 × 60 ft driveway | 4″ | 8.89 yd³ | 12.00 t |
| 12 × 12 ft patio base | 4″ | 1.78 yd³ | 2.40 t |
Gravel types, density and typical use
| Type | Weight per yd³ | Best for | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lava rock | 1,500 lb | Decorative beds, mulch alternative | Excellent |
| Clean drainage gravel | 2,500 lb | French drains, leach fields | Excellent |
| Pea gravel | 2,700 lb | Paths, playgrounds, patios | Good |
| Decomposed granite | 2,700 lb | Paths, patios, firm surfaces | Moderate |
| River rock | 2,700 lb | Decorative borders, drainage beds | Good |
| Marble chips | 2,800 lb | Decorative landscaping | Good |
| Crushed stone / crusher run | 2,700 lb | Driveway and paver base | Moderate |
| Road base (Type 1 / MOT) | 2,900 lb | Driveway sub-base, heavy compaction | Low |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered gravel can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate how much gravel you need
- Measure the area. Length × width for a rectangle, or use the shape tools above for circles, triangles and borders.
- Decide the depth. 4–6 inches for a driveway base, 2 inches for a path, 3 inches for drainage.
- Find the volume. Area × depth (in feet) gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Add waste. 5–10% covers spillage and compaction settling.
- Convert to weight. Multiply cubic yards by the material’s density, then divide by 2,000 for tons — since gravel is almost always sold and delivered by the ton.
Worked example
A 10 × 50 ft driveway base, 4 inches deep, in crushed stone:
- Area10 × 50 = 500 sq ft
- Depth in feet4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- Cubic feet500 × 0.333 = 166.7 cu ft
- Cubic yards166.7 ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³
- Plus 10% waste6.79 yd³
- Weight6.79 × 2,700 = 18,330 lb
- Order9.25 tons ≈ 9.25 t
Recommended depth by project
| Project | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway / garden path | 2″ | Landscape fabric underneath recommended |
| Decorative bed / mulch alternative | 2–3″ | Fabric strongly recommended to limit weed growth |
| Drainage bed / French drain | 3–4″ around pipe | Use clean, angular stone with no fines |
| Patio or paver base | 4″ compacted | Compact in 2 inch lifts |
| Driveway base (light vehicles) | 4″ | Add a topping layer if desired |
| Driveway base (heavy use) | 6″ or two layers | Coarse base layer plus a finer top layer |
Bags or bulk delivery?
The crossover sits around half a ton. Below that, bagged gravel from a hardware store is more convenient and the price difference is small. Above it, bulk delivery by the ton is dramatically cheaper per unit, and a dump truck load saves hours of carrying bags.
- Small jobs — use bagsPotted plants, a small path patch, or topping up an existing bed.
- Medium jobs — price bothHalf a ton to two tons. Ask about a delivery minimum before deciding.
- Large jobs — always bulkDriveways and anything over a couple of tons. Bagged gravel at this scale costs several times more.
Common mistakes
- Confusing volume with weightA cubic yard is a fixed volume, but its weight changes by material — lava rock is barely half the weight of road base. Always check density before ordering by the ton.
- Skipping landscape fabricWithout it, gravel gradually sinks into the soil and needs topping up every year or two.
- Using the wrong type for a base layerRounded, smooth gravel like pea gravel or river rock does not compact or lock together — it shifts underfoot. Use angular crushed stone for anything load-bearing.
- Not compacting in layersDumping 6 inches at once and compacting it in one pass leaves the bottom loose. Compact in 2–4 inch lifts.
- Ordering by cubic yard from a supplier that prices by the tonConvert to tons before calling for a quote — most trucks are weight-limited, not volume-limited.
- Forgetting delivery minimumsSmall orders can carry a flat delivery fee that makes bagged gravel cheaper even above the usual crossover point. Always check.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Uniform depth across the whole area
- Standard dry densities per material, as listed in the type table above
- A gravel bag size of 0.5 cubic feet, a common hardware-store size
- No compaction factor beyond the waste allowance — compacted gravel settles further over time
- Bulk orders rounded up to the nearest quarter ton
- Prices are whatever you enter; they are not live market rates
Common questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A typical 10 × 50 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 6.2 cubic yards, or roughly 8.4 tons of crushed stone. Depth and driveway length change this significantly.
How many tons of gravel do I need per cubic yard?
About 1.4 tons per cubic yard for most crushed stone and gravel, since a cubic yard weighs roughly 2,800 lb. Lighter materials like lava rock weigh less, and dense-graded road base weighs more.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
4 to 6 inches of compacted base, sometimes in two layers — a coarser base and a finer top layer. Walkways and paths only need 2 to 3 inches.
What is the cheapest way to buy gravel?
Bulk delivery by the ton is far cheaper per unit than bagged gravel once you need more than about half a ton. Bags make sense only for very small jobs.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
About 80–100 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or 40–50 sq ft at 4 inches deep, for typical crushed stone. Coverage changes with both depth and the specific material’s density.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
Usually yes, for paths and decorative beds — it slows weed growth and stops the gravel sinking into the soil. It’s normally skipped under compacted driveway base layers.
What is the difference between gravel and crushed stone?
Gravel is naturally weathered and rounded, while crushed stone is mechanically crushed with angular edges. Angular stone locks together and compacts far better, which is why it’s preferred for driveway and paver base.
How many bags of gravel equal a ton?
About 40 bags of a standard 0.5 cu ft gravel bag make roughly one ton, though this varies by the specific product’s density.
Does gravel need to be compacted?
Yes, for any load-bearing use like a driveway or patio base. Compacting in layers of 2 to 4 inches with a plate compactor prevents settling and ruts later.
How much gravel for a French drain?
A typical trench, 12 inches wide by 18 inches deep, needs about 0.44 cubic yards of clean drainage gravel per 10 feet of trench, before accounting for the pipe.
Should I order gravel by the yard or by the ton?
Most suppliers price and deliver by the ton, since trucks are weight-limited. Cubic yards are useful for working out volume, but convert to tons before you call for a quote.
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materialcalculate.com/gravel-calculator/
Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Area | — |
| Gravel type | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons (rounded up) | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.5 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard dry material densities. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.