Gravel Calculator
Calculate gravel in tons, cubic yards, and cubic feet for driveways, paths, and drainage projects.
Your Gravel Estimate
- 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 - 2-4" for decorative, 4-6" for paths, 6-12" for structural base.
- Add price (optional) - enter your supplier's price per ton for an estimated total cost.
- Add waste - 10% standard. Use 15% for areas without hard borders.
Measure the area in square feet, pick a depth, and the rest is conversion: cubic feet = area × (depth ÷ 12), then divide by 27 for cubic yards or multiply by the gravel's density for weight. The quick guides worth remembering: a ton of gravel covers about 100 sq ft at 2 inches or 50 sq ft at 4 inches, and a cubic yard spreads over roughly 160 sq ft at 2 inches. So a 10 × 10 ft area at 4 inches comes to about 1.7 tons. The calculator above handles the math for any shape.
How Much Gravel Do I Need?
Suppliers sell gravel by weight or by volume, and the two don't line up evenly: a cubic yard of standard gravel runs about 1.35 to 1.5 tons, heavier when wet. That's why ordering goes wrong when people guess - you measure in feet but buy in tons.
The driveway case is the one most people land here for. A 10 × 20 ft drive at 4 inches deep works out to roughly 4 tons before waste. Below the calculator you'll find the depth a driveway actually needs, the layered base-and-surface build contractors use, and how the common gravel types differ in weight and price.
How a Gravel Driveway Is Layered
How Much Gravel for a Driveway
Driveways are the most common gravel project, and the right depth depends on traffic. These are the depths contractors use:
| Use | Total compacted depth | How it is built |
|---|---|---|
| Residential, cars only | 4 in | Single layer, or a 3 in base + 1 in surface |
| Daily heavy vehicles / RV | 6 in | 4 in crusher-run base + 2 in #57 surface |
| Soft or clay soil | 6-8 in | Add depth and lay geotextile fabric under the base |
New driveways hold up best built in two layers - a 4-inch compacted crusher-run base for strength, topped with 2 inches of #57 stone or pea gravel as the finished surface. Always excavate the full depth plus 1-2 inches so the gravel compacts flush with grade. Worked examples at 4 inches: a two-car driveway (20 × 40 ft) needs roughly 14-17 tons, and a single-car drive (10 × 40 ft) about 7-8 tons. Going to 6 inches for heavy vehicles adds about 50% more material.
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% waste. Area = 40 × 12 = 480 sq ft. Volume = 480 × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 cu ft, plus 10% = 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% waste. Area = π × (20 ÷ 2)² = 314 sq ft. Volume = 314 × (3 ÷ 12) = 78.5 cu ft, plus 10% = 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% waste. Area = (16 × 24) ÷ 2 = 192 sq ft. Volume = 192 × (2 ÷ 12) = 32 cu ft, plus 10% = 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 |
Density varies with moisture content. Wet gravel weighs 10-15% more than dry. Ask your supplier for their specific bulk density.
What Is #57 Gravel?
#57 stone is one of the most-requested driveway and drainage aggregates, and the number is a size, not a brand. Under ASTM D448 - the standard that defines aggregate size numbers - #57 is a clean, open-graded crushed stone with particles roughly 3/4 inch to 1 inch: nearly all of it passes a 1-inch sieve, and it contains almost no fines (dust). That lack of fines is the whole point - the uniform stones stack with consistent gaps between them, so water drains straight through.
That makes #57 the standard choice for driveway surface layers, French drains, under-slab base, and behind retaining walls. It does not compact into a hard surface the way crusher run does, so on a driveway it is usually laid over a compacted crusher-run base rather than on its own. #57 vs #67: #67 is slightly smaller (about 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch) and packs a bit tighter and smoother, while #57 drains a touch faster - both are clean, no-fines stone. When ordering, ask the supplier for the size by number ("#57" or "#67") so you get the right gradation.
Gravel Coverage Quick Reference
| Area | Depth 2" | Depth 4" | Depth 6" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ft² | 0.62 yd³ (0.8 tons) | 1.23 yd³ (1.7 tons) | 1.85 yd³ (2.5 tons) |
| 200 ft² | 1.23 yd³ (1.7 tons) | 2.47 yd³ (3.3 tons) | 3.70 yd³ (5.0 tons) |
| 400 ft² (20×20) | 2.47 yd³ (3.3 tons) | 4.94 yd³ (6.7 tons) | 7.41 yd³ (10.0 tons) |
| 500 ft² | 3.09 yd³ (4.2 tons) | 6.17 yd³ (8.3 tons) | 9.26 yd³ (12.5 tons) |
| 1,000 ft² | 6.17 yd³ (8.3 tons) | 12.35 yd³ (16.7 tons) | 18.52 yd³ (25.0 tons) |
Based on bank-run gravel at 130 lb/ft³. These are base quantities before waste - add about 10% for spillage and compaction when ordering. A 10×10 area (100 ft²) at 4 inches is about 1.7 tons before waste.
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 | Compacted in place |
| River rock | 0.71 yd³ | 1.42 tons | Decorative, drainage |
| Decomposed granite | 0.59 yd³ | 1.69 tons | Paths, patios |
Suppliers quote in tons or yards - use this table to convert between the two. Wet material weighs 10-15% more than dry.
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 the standard gradation (sieve sizes) for each number. Ordering by the number - not by a description like "3/4 inch" - gets you a consistent product from any supplier.ASTM D448 - Standard Sizes of Aggregate
- For gravel used as aggregate in concrete, the size and quality requirements are set by ASTM C33, which adds durability and cleanliness limits on top of the D448 size ranges.ASTM C33 - Concrete Aggregates
Gravel delivered cost by type (2026 US)
| Gravel type | Per ton delivered | Per cubic yard | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone #57 | $30-$60 | $45-$90 | Driveways, under-slab, drainage |
| Crusher run / road base | $20-$45 | $30-$65 | Compacted driveways, parking areas |
| Pea gravel | $35-$70 | $50-$100 | Paths, playgrounds, decorative beds |
| River rock | $45-$90 | $65-$130 | Landscaping, dry creek beds, drainage |
| Decomposed granite | $30-$55 | $45-$80 | Paths, patios, xeriscaping |
| Recycled concrete | $15-$35 | $22-$52 | Base layers, non-visible applications |
Delivery typically included within 20-30 miles. Western states average 10-25% above these prices. Orders over 10 tons often qualify for 10-20% contractor pricing. Spring and summer demand pushes prices 10-20% higher than winter quotes.
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