How to use the gravel calculator
- Choose US (feet, inches and tons) or metric (meters, centimeters and tonnes).
- Pick the shape: a rectangle, a circle, or a known area.
- Enter the dimensions and the depth of material.
- Choose the material. Pick Other to enter a density from your supplier.
- Optionally add extra for compaction and waste, which matters for bases that will be compacted.
- To see the cost, say whether your price is per ton or per cubic yard and enter it.
How gravel volume and weight are calculated
Quarries and landscape yards sell by volume (cubic yards or cubic meters) or by weight (tons or tonnes), so the calculator gives both. Bulk density is the weight of a loose pile, air gaps included, which is why it's well below the density of solid rock. US results are in short tons of 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 2,205 lb.
Typical bulk densities
| Material | kg/m³ | lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel (pea or river, loose) | 1,680 | 2,832 | 1.42 |
| Crushed stone | 1,600 | 2,697 | 1.35 |
| Sand (dry) | 1,600 | 2,697 | 1.35 |
| Topsoil | 1,300 | 2,191 | 1.10 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1,780 | 3,000 | 1.50 |
These are typical values for dry, loose material, not exact figures for any supplier's product. Wet sand can weigh 20% or more above the dry figure, topsoil varies with its clay and moisture content, and the stone type matters too. If your supplier quotes a weight per cubic yard, choose Other and enter it.
Worked example
The defaults are a 20 × 10 ft area of gravel 4 inches deep, with no extra:
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft
- Volume: 200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.67 cu ft = 66.67 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards (1.89 m³)
- Weight: 1.89 m³ × 1,680 kg/m³ = 3,171 kg
- In US tons: 3,171 ÷ 907.2 = 3.50 tons (the same as 2.47 cu yd × 1.42 tons per cu yd)
The same area of topsoil weighs 1.89 × 1,300 = 2,454 kg, or 2.71 tons. If your supplier says their gravel weighs 3,000 lb per cubic yard, the order is 2.47 × 3,000 ÷ 2,000 = 3.70 tons. At $45 a ton, the default order costs about 3.50 × $45 = $157 before delivery.
How deep should gravel be?
| Project | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative gravel or a garden path | 2–3 in (5–8 cm) |
| Walkway on a stable base | 3–4 in (8–10 cm) |
| Base under pavers or a patio | 4–6 in (10–15 cm), compacted |
| Driveway | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) in layers, coarse stone below, finer on top |
Compaction squeezes out air, so a compacted base needs more material than its finished depth suggests. Adding 10% to 15% extra is a common allowance; your supplier or contractor can advise for their stone.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 tons for typical loose gravel, or roughly 2,800 lb. Crushed stone and dry sand are closer to 1.35 tons, and crusher run around 1.5 tons. Ask your supplier, since the figure depends on the stone and how wet it is.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 4 inches deep, one ton of gravel at 1.42 tons per cubic yard covers about 57 square feet. At 2 inches it covers about 114 sq ft. The shortcut is 324 ÷ (tons per cubic yard × depth in inches), so 324 ÷ (1.42 × 4) ≈ 57 sq ft per ton.
Should I buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Either works if you convert correctly; the calculator shows both. Compare prices on the same basis: a price per ton times 1.42 gives the rough price per cubic yard for gravel.
Can a pickup truck carry a cubic yard of gravel?
Check your truck's payload rating first. One cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,800 lb, which is more than many half-ton pickups can safely carry. Delivery is often the safer and cheaper choice for more than a yard or two.
Related calculators
- Concrete Calculator — Concrete for slabs, footings, round columns, circular pads and steps, in cubic yards or m³, plus bags needed.
- Mulch Calculator — Cubic yards, cubic feet or m³ of mulch for a garden bed, plus how many 2 or 3 cu ft bags to buy.
- Square Footage Calculator — Add up the area of up to six rectangles, circles, triangles, trapezoids or L-shapes in sq ft or m², with cost.
- Density Calculator — Solve ρ = m ÷ V for density, mass or volume in metric or US units, with common material densities.
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