How Much Gravel Do I Need?
Cubic yards of gravel = area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324. A cubic yard of loose gravel weighs about 2,700 lb (1.35 tons), so multiply the cubic yards by 1.35 to get tons. The table shows the weight range for each option in the calculator. Suppliers quote their own tons per cubic yard, so treat this as a planning figure and confirm it before you order.
| Material | lb per cu yd | Typical lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd | Typical tons per cu yd | Typical lb per cu ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loose gravel or stone | 2,400 to 2,900 | 2,700 | 1.20 to 1.45 | 1.35 | 100 |
| Compacted base (road base) | 3,560 to 3,960 | 3,760 | 1.78 to 1.98 | 1.88 | 139.3 |
The loose range, 2,400 to 2,900 lb per cubic yard, is the same planning range our Cubic Yard Calculator and Soil Weight Calculator use, so the three pages agree. A 50 lb bag sold as 0.5 cubic foot works out to 100 lb per cubic foot, or 2,700 lb per cubic yard, and Engineering Toolbox lists dry gravel at 105 lb per cubic foot. The compacted base row is the Wisconsin DOT measurement of 1.78 to 1.98 tons per cubic yard for dense-graded base, in place and compacted.
How to Calculate Gravel
- Find the area. Multiply length × width in feet for a rectangle. For a circle, use 3.14 × radius × radius. For a triangle, multiply base × height and halve it. Add up several shapes if the area is irregular, or use the Area setting if you already know the square footage.
- Choose a depth in inches. Depth depends on the job and on local requirements, so check what your site needs. Thin decorative layers and thick driveway bases are very different.
- Convert to cubic yards. Area × depth ÷ 324. The 324 comes from 27 cubic feet in a yard times 12 inches in a foot. In cubic feet, the formula is area × depth ÷ 12.
- Convert to tons. Cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000. Loose gravel at 2,700 lb per cubic yard is 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
The calculator above does all four steps and adds bags (50 lb, 0.5 cubic foot each) and an optional cost. If the numbers feel off, the Cubic Yard Calculator converts a supplier’s ticket weight back into yards.
Gravel Driveway Calculator
For a driveway, enter its length and width as a rectangle, then set the depth. Gravel driveway tons = length × width × depth in inches ÷ 324 × tons per cubic yard. Choose Loose gravel or stone for a surface layer and Compacted base for a dense-graded base, which weighs more per cubic yard once it is packed. The table shows a 12 ft wide example at 4 and 6 inches deep, in tons, for both options.
| Driveway length (12 ft wide) | 4 in: cu yd | 4 in: tons loose / base | 6 in: cu yd | 6 in: tons loose / base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 7.4 | 10.0 / 13.9 | 11.1 | 15.0 / 20.9 |
| 100 ft | 14.8 | 20.0 / 27.9 | 22.2 | 30.0 / 41.8 |
| 200 ft | 29.6 | 40.0 / 55.7 | 44.4 | 60.0 / 83.6 |
| 300 ft | 44.4 | 60.0 / 83.6 | 66.7 | 90.0 / 125.3 |
How deep to go depends on the soil, the traffic and your local requirements, so check them first. For reference, Penn State’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies puts an uncompacted 6 to 8 inch layer of driving surface aggregate on unpaved roads, and Unilock specifies about 10 inches of base under a residential paver driveway in established areas. Price the job by multiplying the tons by the per-ton quote from your supplier, and add delivery.
Gravel Coverage Chart
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, and the coverage falls in proportion as the depth grows. The table also shows what one US ton covers, for loose gravel at the typical weight and for compacted base.
| Depth | Sq ft per cu yd | Sq ft per ton (loose) | Sq ft per ton (compacted base) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 | 240 | 172 |
| 2 in | 162 | 120 | 86 |
| 3 in | 108 | 80 | 57 |
| 4 in | 81 | 60 | 43 |
| 6 in | 54 | 40 | 29 |
| 8 in | 41 | 30 | 22 |
Need a quick order size? This table gives cubic yards and tons for common areas at 2, 3 and 4 inches deep, for loose gravel at the typical weight.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 cu yd (0.42 tons) | 0.46 cu yd (0.63 tons) | 0.62 cu yd (0.83 tons) |
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 cu yd (0.83 tons) | 0.93 cu yd (1.25 tons) | 1.23 cu yd (1.67 tons) |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 cu yd (1.67 tons) | 1.85 cu yd (2.50 tons) | 2.47 cu yd (3.33 tons) |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 cu yd (4.17 tons) | 4.63 cu yd (6.25 tons) | 6.17 cu yd (8.33 tons) |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 cu yd (8.33 tons) | 9.26 cu yd (12.50 tons) | 12.35 cu yd (16.67 tons) |
How Many Yards Are in a Ton of Gravel?
About 0.74 cubic yards of loose gravel make a ton, because 2,000 lb ÷ 2,700 lb per cubic yard = 0.74. At the light end of the range (2,400 lb per cubic yard) a ton is 0.83 cubic yards, and at the heavy end (2,900 lb) it is 0.69. Going the other way, a cubic yard is about 1.35 tons. Compacted dense-graded base is heavier, so a ton of it fills only about 0.53 cubic yards once it is packed.
This is why quotes in tons and quotes in yards do not match one for one. When a supplier says a truck holds 10 yards, ask how many tons that is for the stone you are buying, then compare the tons to your calculator result.
Stone Calculator: Pea Gravel, Crushed Stone and #57
The volume math is the same for every stone: area × depth. The weight is what differs. Pea gravel is rounded stone sold loose and in bags, and crushed stone such as #57 is angular and locks together. #57 stone is a size: ASTM D448 defines No. 57 as 1 inch to No. 4 sieve (about 25 mm down to 4.75 mm), usually crushed. The published sources we checked do not give a separate density for each, so the calculator uses one loose range for both and for river rock, and a separate compacted base option for dense-graded road base. Always confirm the tons per cubic yard with the supplier you are buying from.
Use Loose gravel or stone for decorative beds, paths, drainage stone and the top layer of a driveway, where the figure is the weight as delivered. Use Compacted base when the layer is dense-graded stone that will be packed with a plate compactor, because the Wisconsin DOT figure describes the stone in place, and it already includes the compaction.
Gravel Cost per Ton
Prices change with the stone, the region and the delivery distance, so this page does not publish one. To estimate your cost, get a per-ton or per-yard quote, then enter it under Optional: price and extra. The calculator multiplies the price by your tons or cubic yards. To compare a per-yard quote with a per-ton one, divide the per-yard price by the tons per yard: at 1.35 tons per cubic yard, $45 per cubic yard is about $33 per ton. That is only an illustration of the arithmetic, not a price. Delivery is often charged separately, and bagged gravel costs more per ton than bulk.
Worked Example
Say you are covering a 20 × 10 ft path area with 3 inches of loose pea gravel.
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft.
- Cubic feet: 200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feet.
- Cubic yards: 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards (or 200 × 3 ÷ 324).
- Tons: 1.85 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 2.5 US tons. The range is 2.2 to 2.7 tons.
- Bags: 50 ÷ 0.5 = 100 bags of 50 lb each, which is the same 5,000 lb.
So you would order about 2.5 tons in bulk, or ask the supplier for 2 to 2.5 yards. If you are also edging the path with mulch, the Mulch Calculator works out that volume, and the Topsoil Calculator covers any bed fill you need first.
Laying pavers or filling a sandbox as well? The Sand Calculator gives cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags of sand, with a 1 inch paver bedding setting for the layer that sits on top of the stone base. The Paver Calculator counts the pavers themselves and sizes the compacted base and bedding sand in one pass. Building a block wall or planter on the base? The Concrete Block Calculator counts the blocks and mortar bags.
Setting fence posts as well? Millard Lumber’s fence guide puts a large stone or two shovels of gravel in the bottom of each post hole. The Fence Calculator counts the posts, sizes the holes and estimates the bags of concrete.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing up depth units. Depth is in inches for the 324 formula. Entering 0.25 for a 3 inch layer under-orders by a factor of 12.
- Ordering in yards and paying in tons. Check which unit the supplier quotes. A cubic yard of loose gravel is about 1.35 tons, so a 10-ton order is roughly 7.4 yards, not 10.
- Using loose weight for compacted base. Compacted dense-graded base weighs about 1.78 to 1.98 tons per cubic yard in place, so loose figures under-count the tons.
- Forgetting wet gravel weighs more. Engineering Toolbox lists wet gravel at 125 lb per cubic foot against 105 dry. Use the heavy-end setting for stockpiles that have been rained on.
- Skipping the base depth. A thin decorative layer on bare soil mixes into the soil. Depth for driveways and walks depends on the soil and the use, so check local requirements.
Gravel Calculator FAQ
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 to get cubic yards. A 20 by 10 ft area (200 sq ft) at 3 inches deep is 200 x 3 / 324 = 1.85 cubic yards. Multiply by about 1.35 tons per cubic yard for loose gravel and you get 2.5 tons. The calculator above does this and shows a range, because suppliers quote their own weight per yard.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.74 cubic yards of loose gravel make a ton, at 2,700 lb per cubic yard. The range is about 0.69 to 0.83 cubic yards per ton, from 2,900 down to 2,400 lb per cubic yard. Compacted dense-graded base is heavier, so a ton fills only about 0.53 cubic yards once it is packed in place.
What is the gravel cost per ton?
It depends on the stone, the region and the delivery distance, so this page does not quote a price. Get the per-ton or per-yard price from your supplier, enter it under Optional: price and extra, and the calculator multiplies it by your tons or yards. To compare quotes, divide a per-yard price by the tons per yard: $45 per cubic yard at 1.35 tons per yard is about $33 per ton.
How do I use a pea gravel calculator?
Choose Loose gravel or stone, enter the area and the depth, and read the cubic yards, tons and bags. Pea gravel is sold loose by the ton or yard and in 50 lb bags of about 0.5 cubic foot, so 10 cubic feet needs 20 bags. Published sources do not give a separate density for pea gravel, so the calculator uses the same 2,400 to 2,900 lb per cubic yard range and you should confirm the figure with your supplier.
Does a crushed stone calculator work differently?
The volume math is identical. What changes is the weight: loose crushed stone such as #57 sits in the same 2,400 to 2,900 lb per cubic yard range, while dense-graded base that is compacted in place weighs about 1.78 to 1.98 tons per cubic yard, according to Wisconsin DOT. Pick Compacted base for a driveway or paver base, and Loose gravel for decorative stone and top layers.
How many bags of gravel do I need?
Divide the cubic feet you need by the bag size and round up. A 50 lb bag of gravel is usually sold as 0.5 cubic foot, so a 4 by 10 ft strip at 3 inches deep is 10 cubic feet, or 20 bags. Bags cost more per ton than bulk, so for anything over about a cubic yard (54 bags) ask for a bulk quote.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Loose gravel weighs about 2,400 to 2,900 lb per cubic yard, with 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) as a typical figure. Wet gravel weighs more: Engineering Toolbox lists dry gravel at 105 lb per cubic foot and wet gravel at 125, which is about 2,835 and 3,375 lb per cubic yard.
How deep should gravel be?
It depends on the job, so check the local requirement for your site. For reference, Penn State puts an uncompacted 6 to 8 inch layer of driving surface aggregate on unpaved roads, and Unilock specifies about 6 to 8 inches of base under patio pavers in established areas and about 10 inches under residential driveways. Thin decorative layers are a different case, so use the depth buttons for 2 to 4 inches and set your own.
Should I order extra gravel?
A little extra is common, because gravel settles, spills and spreads thinner over uneven ground. Use the Extra percentage under Optional: price and extra to add your own allowance. It is left at 0 so that the default figure is the plain volume, and compacted base already uses its in-place weight.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 area?
A 10 by 10 ft area is 100 sq ft. At 2 inches deep that is 0.62 cubic yards (0.83 tons), at 3 inches 0.93 cubic yards (1.25 tons) and at 4 inches 1.23 cubic yards (1.67 tons), using loose gravel at 2,700 lb per cubic yard. Type 10 and 10 into the calculator to see the range.
How many 50 lb bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 54. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and a bag is sold as 0.5 cubic foot, so 27 / 0.5 = 54 bags. By weight it is the same: 2,700 lb / 50 lb = 54 bags, with a range of about 48 to 58 bags across 2,400 to 2,900 lb per cubic yard.
How much will 1 ton of gravel cover?
At the typical loose weight, one ton covers about 120 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 80 sq ft at 3 inches and 60 sq ft at 4 inches. The coverage chart above lists more depths, for loose gravel and for compacted base.
How much gravel do I need for a 300 foot driveway?
A 300 ft driveway that is 12 ft wide and 4 inches deep is 3,600 sq ft, or 44.4 cubic yards. That is about 60.0 tons of loose gravel, or 83.6 tons if it is compacted dense-graded base. Multiply the tons by the per-ton price from your supplier for the material cost. Width and depth are yours to set, so enter your own.
What size is #57 stone?
#57 is a size, not a type of rock. ASTM D448 classifies No. 57 aggregate as 1 inch to No. 4 sieve, about 25 mm down to 4.75 mm, so it is crushed stone from roughly a quarter inch to an inch across. It sits in the loose gravel range in this calculator, and suppliers quote their own tons per cubic yard.
Does the calculator work in metric?
Yes. Switch Units to Metric to enter meters and centimeters and read cubic meters and metric tonnes. One US ton is 0.907 metric tonnes, and one cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters.
Sources & further reading
The compacted base weight, 1.78 to 1.98 tons per cubic yard, comes from the Wisconsin DOT research report Weight-Volume Relationships and Conversion Factors for Soils and Aggregates of Wisconsin (WHRP G22-05, 2023), Table E2. The dry and wet gravel densities (105 and 125 lb per cubic foot) are from the Engineering Toolbox page Dirt and Mud: Densities. The 50 lb bag at 0.5 cubic foot is the size retailers list for QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel. Depth examples come from Penn State’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, Driving Surface Aggregate, and from Unilock’s paver base guide. The #57 size definition (1 inch to No. 4 sieve) is from ASTM D448-03a, Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction. For how we source and check the numbers on every calculator, see our methodology page, and for the full topic see the complete guide to lawn and landscaping.
