Gravel Calculator
Enter the size and depth of your driveway, path or base to find how many cubic yards and tons of gravel to order, and what it will cost.
- Area
- Cubic feet
- Cubic meters
- Weight
- Bags
- Cost
- Add a price to estimate
Project Areas
Areas you add are saved in this browser.
| Area | Size | Depth | Cubic Yards | Tons | Cost | Remove |
|---|
How to Calculate Gravel
Gravel is sold by volume (cubic yards) or by weight (tons). Find the volume first: multiply the length and width in feet by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12), then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply by the weight per cubic yard to get tons.
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard (3 × 3 × 3). For a circle, the area is 3.1416 × diameter² ÷ 4; for a triangle, base × height ÷ 2.
Worked Example
Gravel Weights
| Name | Lb. per Cubic Yard | Tons per Cubic Yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, ¾″ | 2,800 | 1.40 | Common for driveways and bases |
| Pea gravel | 2,700 | 1.35 | Rounded ⅜″ stones for paths and play areas |
| River rock | 2,700 | 1.35 | Larger rounded stone for landscaping |
| Gravel, wet | 3,400 | 1.70 | Wet or heavily compacted gravel |
How Far a Cubic Yard Goes
| Depth | One Cubic Yard Covers | Needed per 100 Sq. Ft. |
|---|
Tips for Ordering Gravel
Order 10% to 15% extra to cover compaction and uneven ground. For driveways, build in layers: a base of larger crushed stone, then a top layer of smaller gravel, compacting each layer as you go.
Suppliers price gravel by the ton or the yard. If you have a price per ton, the calculator uses the weight per yard to convert; ask your supplier what their gravel weighs, since it varies with the stone and how wet it is.