Gravel Calculator
Calculate gravel in tons, cubic yards, and cubic feet for driveways, paths, and drainage projects.
Advanced options Quantity, custom density, and price
How to Use
- Pick a shape - rectangle, round (enter diameter), or triangle (base and height).
- Choose your gravel - select the material and the density sets itself - or enter a custom density.
- Enter dimensions - plus quantity if you have several same-size areas.
- Set depth - enter the finished depth for the layer you are calculating; use the project guidance below and confirm structural depths locally.
- Add price (optional) - enter your supplier's price per ton for an estimated total cost.
- Add overage - Use 5-15% for handling loss and uneven grade. Compacted base may need a separate supplier-provided factor.
Measure the area in square feet, pick a finished depth, and the rest is conversion: cubic feet = area × (depth ÷ 12), then divide by 27 for cubic yards or multiply by the selected bulk density for weight. Using the page's #57 crushed-stone estimate of 105 lb/ft³, 1 US ton covers about 114 sq ft at 2 inches or 57 sq ft at 4 inches. A 10 × 10 ft area at 4 inches is about 1.75 tons before overage. The calculator above handles the math for any shape and material.
How Much Gravel Do I Need?
Suppliers sell gravel by weight or by volume, and the two do not line up evenly. Many loose decorative and clean crushed-stone products are around 1.3 to 1.5 US tons per cubic yard, while dense graded base products can be heavier. Gradation, rock type, moisture, and whether the quoted density is loose or compacted all matter, so use the supplier's value when available.
The driveway case is the one most people land here for. A 10 × 20 ft area at 4 inches deep is 2.47 cubic yards and about 3.5 US tons when calculated as #57 stone at 105 lb/ft³, before overage. Below the calculator you will find an example layered build, planning depth ranges, and guidance for keeping loose delivery volume separate from finished compacted depth.
Example Two-Layer Gravel Driveway
How Much Gravel for a Driveway
Driveway thickness is site-specific. Use these as planning ranges only, then confirm the section with a local supplier or contractor for the actual soil, drainage, frost conditions, and vehicle loads:
| Use | Total compacted depth | How it is built |
|---|---|---|
| Light-duty residential, firm drained subgrade | 4-6 in | One or more compacted lifts; confirm the locally available base and surface products |
| Regular heavy vehicles / RV | 6-8+ in | A thicker dense-graded base may be needed; obtain site-specific guidance |
| Soft, wet, clay, or frost-susceptible soil | Site-specific | Drainage, separation fabric, sub-base, or greater depth may be required |
A two-layer section can separate a dense-graded structural base from an angular surface course, but the exact products and thicknesses vary by location and site. Do not treat a decorative rounded gravel such as pea gravel as a universal vehicle surface. At 4 inches, a 20 × 40 ft area is 9.88 cubic yards and about 14.0 US tons using #57 stone at 105 lb/ft³, or about 17.3 tons using the page's 130 lb/ft³ bank-run estimate. A 10 × 40 ft area is half those quantities. Increasing finished depth from 4 to 6 inches increases volume and weight by 50%.
Loose Delivery Volume vs Compacted Depth
Worked Examples: Three Shapes
Three real projects, three different area shapes - the volume-to-weight step is identical each time; only the way you measure the area changes. Follow the arithmetic and you can sanity-check whatever the calculator returns.
1. Rectangular driveway. 40 ft long, 12 ft wide, 4 in deep, #57 crushed stone (105 lb/ft³), 10% overage. Area = 40 × 12 = 480 sq ft. Volume = 480 × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 cu ft, with 10% overage = 176 cu ft. That is 176 ÷ 27 = 6.5 cubic yards, or 176 × 105 ÷ 2,000 = about 9.2 tons of #57 stone.
2. Round fire-pit pad. 20 ft diameter, 3 in deep, pea gravel (96 lb/ft³), 10% overage. Area = π × (20 ÷ 2)² = 314 sq ft. Volume = 314 × (3 ÷ 12) = 78.5 cu ft, with 10% overage = 86.4 cu ft - about 3.2 cubic yards, or roughly 4.1 tons of pea gravel. Pick the round shape in the calculator and enter the diameter.
3. Triangular garden bed. 16 ft base, 24 ft height, 2 in deep, river rock (105 lb/ft³), 10% overage. Area = (16 × 24) ÷ 2 = 192 sq ft. Volume = 192 × (2 ÷ 12) = 32 cu ft, with 10% overage = 35.2 cu ft - about 1.3 cubic yards, or roughly 1.8 tons of river rock. Use the triangle shape and enter base and height.
After You Estimate Your Gravel
Gravel rarely stands alone - it's usually the base or one course of a bigger surface. The usual sequence from here:
Gravel Types and Densities
Different gravel products have different weights - pick your material in the calculator (it sets the density) or enter a custom value to match your supplier:
| Gravel Type | Density (lb/ft³) | Tons/Yard | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 96 | 1.30 | Decorative, drainage, paths |
| Bank-run gravel | 130 | 1.76 | General fill, base courses |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 105 | 1.42 | Driveways, under-slab base |
| Crusher run (#21A) | 135 | 1.82 | Compacted road base, in place |
| River rock | 105 | 1.42 | Decorative, dry creek beds |
| Decomposed granite | 125 | 1.69 | Paths, patios, xeriscaping |
Bulk density varies with rock type, gradation, moisture, and whether the material is measured loose or compacted. Treat the values above as planning assumptions and use the supplier's product-specific bulk density when available.
What Is #57 Gravel?
#57 stone is an aggregate gradation designation, not a brand or a single particle diameter. Under ASTM D448 / AASHTO M 43, No. 57 aggregate is graded by sieve: 100% passes the 1½-inch sieve, 95-100% passes 1 inch, 25-60% passes ½ inch, 0-10% passes the No. 4 sieve, and 0-5% passes the No. 8 sieve. The exact rock type and bulk density still depend on the local quarry product.
Because No. 57 is open graded with limited fine material, it is commonly used where drainage and void space are useful, including drains, drainage layers, and some base applications. It does not bind like a dense-graded crusher-run material, so its suitability as a driveway wearing surface depends on the project and local product. No. 67 is a separate, generally smaller gradation. Confirm the applicable specification and supplier product sheet before ordering.
Gravel Coverage Quick Reference
| Area | Depth 2" | Depth 4" | Depth 6" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² | 0.62 yd³ (0.9 tons) | 1.23 yd³ (1.8 tons) | 1.85 yd³ (2.6 tons) |
| 200 ft² | 1.23 yd³ (1.8 tons) | 2.47 yd³ (3.5 tons) | 3.70 yd³ (5.3 tons) |
| 400 ft² (20×20) | 2.47 yd³ (3.5 tons) | 4.94 yd³ (7.0 tons) | 7.41 yd³ (10.5 tons) |
| 500 ft² | 3.09 yd³ (4.4 tons) | 6.17 yd³ (8.8 tons) | 9.26 yd³ (13.1 tons) |
| 1,000 ft² | 6.17 yd³ (8.8 tons) | 12.35 yd³ (17.5 tons) | 18.52 yd³ (26.3 tons) |
Volume is geometric and does not depend on material. Tonnage is based on the page's #57 crushed-stone planning density of 105 lb/ft³ and is shown before overage. Add 5-15% for handling loss and uneven grade; calculate loose-to-compacted adjustment separately using a supplier-provided factor. A 10×10 area at 4 inches is about 1.75 US tons before overage.
Tons to Cubic Yards Conversion by Gravel Type
| Gravel Type | 1 ton = | 1 cubic yard = | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 0.77 yd³ | 1.30 tons | Lightest common gravel |
| Bank-run gravel | 0.57 yd³ | 1.76 tons | General fill standard |
| Crushed stone #57 | 0.71 yd³ | 1.42 tons | Driveways, under-slab |
| Crusher run #21A | 0.55 yd³ | 1.82 tons | Planning estimate; verify supplier |
| River rock | 0.71 yd³ | 1.42 tons | Decorative, drainage |
| Decomposed granite | 0.59 yd³ | 1.69 tons | Paths, patios |
These conversions use the planning densities shown on this page. Actual loose bulk density varies by quarry product, gradation, moisture, and measurement method; use the supplier's value when available.
Formulas
Standard volume-to-weight:
Area - circle = π × (Diameter ÷ 2)²
Area - triangle = (Base × Height) ÷ 2
Volume (ft³) = Area × (Depth ÷ 12)
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
Weight (tons) = Volume × Density ÷ 2,000
With waste = All results × (1 + Waste %)
Adjust density for your specific gravel type. Crushed products are denser than rounded stone.
Sizing & Material Standards
- Aggregate size numbers like #57, #67, and #8 are defined by ASTM D448, which sets standard gradation ranges. Local departments of transportation and suppliers may use additional specifications, so confirm the product data sheet before ordering.ASTM D448 - Standard Sizes of Aggregate
- For gravel used as aggregate in concrete, ASTM C33/C33M adds grading, quality, and durability requirements. Concrete aggregate must be selected to the project specification rather than by calculator density alone.ASTM C33/C33M - Concrete Aggregates
How to Estimate Gravel Cost
Gravel pricing varies by product, quarry distance, order size, and delivery access, so a national delivered-price table becomes stale quickly. Use the calculator's optional price field with the quote from your supplier. Enter a price per US ton in imperial mode or per metric tonne in metric mode.
Material cost = recommended order weight × supplier price. The estimate excludes delivery fees, minimum-order charges, geotextile, excavation, grading, compaction, and labor. Ask whether the supplier bills by certified scale weight or by cubic yard, and confirm whether moisture is included in the quoted weight.
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