Aggregate Calculator
Work out how much gravel, crushed stone, sand, pea gravel, river rock, road base or fill you need. Enter any area and depth to get cubic yards, tons, bags, truckloads and cost, with a compaction allowance built in.
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Tons = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27 × weight per cubic yard ÷ 2,000. Gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per yard. A 20 × 10 ft area at 3 in deep is 50 ft³. With 10% for compaction that is 2.04 yd³, or about 2.85 tons, so order 3 tons.
How to use this aggregate calculator
- Choose the area shape: rectangle, circle, or a known area for irregular spaces.
- Enter length, width and depth. Depth goes in inches, and the calculator converts it.
- Pick the material. Suppliers sell by the ton, so the weight per yard changes how much you order.
- Set compaction and waste. 10% suits loose decorative stone. Use 15–20% for base layers you will compact.
- Read the order in tons (rounded to the half ton), bags, pickup loads and cost. The table shows what the same volume weighs in other materials.
Aggregate weight: tons per cubic yard
Volume is the same for any material, but weight is not. Suppliers price most aggregates by the ton, so this is the conversion that matters.
| Material | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | yd³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (general) | 2,800 | 1.40 | 0.71 |
| Crushed stone / limestone | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Pea gravel, river rock | 2,600 | 1.30 | 0.77 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,600 | 1.30 | 0.77 |
| Road base / crusher run | 2,900 | 1.45 | 0.69 |
| Decomposed granite | 2,800 | 1.40 | 0.71 |
| Riprap | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Fill dirt | 2,000 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
These are typical loose, dry weights. Wet sand and compacted road base can weigh 10–20% more, so ask your supplier for their figure if you are ordering a lot.
How much area does a ton cover?
| Depth | Gravel | Crushed stone | Sand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 116 sq ft | 120 sq ft | 125 sq ft |
| 3 in | 77 sq ft | 80 sq ft | 83 sq ft |
| 4 in | 58 sq ft | 60 sq ft | 62 sq ft |
| 6 in | 39 sq ft | 40 sq ft | 42 sq ft |
How deep should gravel be?
| Project | Depth | Typical material |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path, walkway | 2–3 in over fabric | Pea gravel, #8, decomposed granite |
| Decorative bed | 2–3 in | River rock, pea gravel |
| Patio or paver base | 4–6 in compacted + 1 in sand | Crusher run / #411, bedding sand |
| Gravel driveway | 4–6 in base + 2–3 in surface | #3 or road base, then #57 |
| Under a concrete slab | 4–6 in compacted | Crushed stone or road base |
| French drain / drainage | Fill the trench | Washed #57 clean stone |
Common gravel sizes
- #57 stone (about ¾–1 in)Washed, angular. Drainage, driveway surface, concrete aggregate.
- #8 stone (about 3/8 in)Small angular chips. Paths, between pavers, top dressing.
- #3 stone (about 1½–2½ in)Large base stone for new driveways on soft ground.
- Crusher run / #411 / road baseStone mixed with fines that locks tight when compacted. The standard base under pavers and slabs.
- Pea gravel (about 3/8 in, rounded)Comfortable underfoot. Play areas, dog runs, patios. It shifts, so edge it well.
Compaction, waste and bags vs bulk
Loose aggregate settles. A base specified as 4 in compacted needs roughly 5 in loose, which is why compactable base deserves 15–20% extra. Clean decorative stone needs only about 10%.
Bagged gravel and sand usually come in 0.5 ft³ bags, about 50 lb. A ton is roughly 39 bags of gravel. Beyond about half a ton, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper and saves dozens of trips. Remember that a half-ton pickup should carry well under a ton of stone.
Worked example
- Area: 20 × 10 ft at 3 in
- 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 ft³
- Add 10% compaction and waste
- 55 ft³ = 2.04 yd³
- Gravel at 1.4 tons per yd³
- 2.85 tons
- Order
- 3 tons (about $135 at $45/ton)
All 25 aggregates calculators
Material-specific calculators with the right weights, depths and defaults for each job.
Gravel & stone
Sand
Base & fill
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many tons of gravel I need?
Length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27 gives cubic yards. Multiply by about 1.4 tons per yard for gravel, then add about 10% for compaction and waste.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,800 lb (1.4 tons). Crushed stone is about 2,700 lb, sand about 2,600 lb and road base about 2,900 lb.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
About 116 sq ft at 2 in, 77 sq ft at 3 in and 58 sq ft at 4 in.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 yd³ for gravel, 0.74 for crushed stone and 0.77 for sand.
How many bags of gravel make a ton?
About 39 bags of 0.5 ft³. At that quantity, bulk delivery is usually cheaper.
How deep should gravel be?
2–3 in for paths and beds, 4–6 in compacted base under patios, and 4–6 in of base plus 2–3 in of surface stone for driveways.
Gravel and stone guides
What this calculator assumes
- Weights are typical loose, dry values. Actual weight varies with moisture, gradation and source.
- Compaction and waste are added to the volume before converting to tons.
- Orders are rounded up to the next half ton. Dump truck loads assume about 14 tons, pickup loads 1,500 lb.
- Bags are 0.5 ft³. Prices are your entry, before delivery and tax.