Gravel Calculator
Work out how much gravel or stone you need — enter the area and depth to get the volume in cubic yards and the weight in tons, with an optional cost per ton.
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or the ton, so you work out the volume of the area and convert. Multiply the length, width and depth to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply the yards by the density — about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for typical gravel — to get tons. Enter the area and depth above and the calculator returns the yards, tons and cost.
cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27
For example, a 30 × 12 ft driveway at 4 inches deep is 30 × 12 × (4 ÷ 12) = 120 cubic feet, ÷ 27 ≈ 4.4 cubic yards, or about 6.2 tons. Order a little extra for settling and spreading.
Recommended gravel depth
| Use | Depth |
|---|---|
| Walkway / decorative bed | 2–3 inches |
| Driveway (top layer) | 4 inches |
| Driveway (full build, layered) | 6–8 inches |
Density varies with stone size and moisture, so treat the tonnage as an estimate. Paving over the base with asphalt? Size that with the asphalt calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply the area by the depth to get the volume, then convert to cubic yards (divide cubic feet by 27). Gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so multiply the yards by 1.4 for the tonnage. Enter your area and depth above and the calculator does it.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard of typical gravel weighs about 1.4 tons (2,800 lb), though it ranges from roughly 1.2 to 1.7 tons depending on the stone and how wet or compacted it is. The calculator uses a standard density you can treat as an estimate.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A gravel driveway is usually 4–6 inches deep, often in layers of different stone sizes over a compacted base. Paths and decorative beds need less, around 2–3 inches. Set your depth above to match the job.