Free Landscape Calculator
Gravel Calculator
Calculate exactly how many cubic yards, tons and cost of gravel you need — for driveways, paths, drainage and landscaping. Enter your dimensions and get instant results.
👤 Who is this for: driveway builders, landscapers, drainage contractors & patio builders.
📊 Understanding Your Results
Cubic Yards — This is the standard unit suppliers use when selling bulk gravel. Always order in cubic yards for accurate pricing.
Cubic Feet — Useful if buying bagged gravel. One 50-pound bag = approx 0.5 cubic feet.
Tons — Weight measurement used by some suppliers. Most gravel weighs 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard.
How the Gravel Calculator Works
Our gravel calculator uses the industry-standard volumetric formula to calculate how much gravel you need. Simply enter your project's length, width, and depth — the calculator does the rest instantly.
The Gravel Formula
Step 2: Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
Step 3: Tons = Cubic Yards × 1.4 (avg gravel density)
Step 4: Add 10–15% for waste, compaction and spillage
Example: A 20×10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep = 200 × (4÷12) = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cubic yards ≈ 3.46 tons.
Step-by-Step: How to Calculate Gravel for Any Project
Follow these steps to get an accurate gravel estimate for your driveway, pathway, garden bed or drainage project.
Use a tape measure to find the length and width of the area you want to cover with gravel. Measure in feet for easiest calculation.
Depth depends on the application. Use our quick presets: 2–3 inches for decorative ground cover, 4 inches for walkways and patios, 6 inches for driveways and base layers.
Type in your measurements above and click Calculate. You get cubic yards, cubic feet, tons and an estimated cost based on current US market prices.
Gravel compacts and some material is always lost during delivery and spreading. Always order at least 10% more than calculated. For irregular areas, add 15%.
Use your cubic yard estimate to call local landscape suppliers for current pricing. Bulk gravel prices vary by region and gravel type — always confirm before ordering.
Recommended Gravel Depths by Application
The right depth of gravel depends on your specific project. Using too little leads to weed breakthrough and instability. Too much wastes money. Use this guide:
| Application | Recommended Depth | Best Gravel Type |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway base layer | 4–6 inches | #3 or #4 crushed stone |
| Driveway top layer | 2–3 inches | Pea gravel or #57 stone |
| Walkway / garden path | 2–3 inches | Pea gravel or crushed stone |
| Patio base | 4 inches | #57 crushed stone |
| Decorative ground cover | 2–3 inches | River rock or pea gravel |
| French drain | 6–12 inches | #57 or washed stone |
| Around trees / shrubs | 3–4 inches | River rock or pebbles |
📝 Real Project Example
12×50 ft driveway, 4 inches of crushed gravel:
- Area: 600 sq ft
- Volume: 600 × 0.333 = 200 cu ft
- Cubic yards: 200 ÷ 27 = 7.4 → order 8 cubic yards
- Tons: 7.4 × 1.4 = ~10.4 tons → order 11 tons (+5–10% for compaction)
- Bags alternative: 7.4 × 54 = 400 bags — this is why driveways are never a bagged project
- Cost check: 11 tons at ~$35/ton = ~$385 + delivery; a single-axle dump truck carries 5–8 tons, so plan two loads or one tandem
Compact in layers with a plate compactor — gravel shrinks 10–15% under compaction, which is exactly what the extra covers.
📚 Sources & Methodology
How we calculate. Step 1: volume in cubic feet = length × width × depth (all in feet). Step 2: cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Step 3: tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel ≈ 2,800 lbs per cubic yard; pea gravel is lighter at ~1.3). Step 4: 50-lb bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5. We recommend adding 10–15% extra for compaction.
Cross-checked. Our 1.35–1.5 tons/yd³ range matches published gravel density references; decorative rounded stone compacts less than crushed angular stone, so go lighter on the extra for paths and heavier for driveways.
Sources:
- Ergeon — Gravel Calculator (gravel density 1.28–1.42 tons per cubic yard)
- The Calculator Site — How Much Does a Cubic Yard Weigh? (gravel 2,300–2,900 lbs per cubic yard)
Last updated: October 2026.
Gravel Conversion Chart: Cubic Yards to Tons & Bags
Based on average crushed gravel density of 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard (the table uses 1.4). Pea gravel runs slightly lighter.
| Cubic Yards | Tons (approx) | 50-lb Bags |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.4 | 54 |
| 2 | 2.8 | 108 |
| 3 | 4.2 | 162 |
| 4 | 5.6 | 216 |
| 5 | 7.0 | 270 |
| 6 | 8.4 | 324 |
| 7 | 9.8 | 378 |
| 8 | 11.2 | 432 |
| 9 | 12.6 | 486 |
| 10 | 14.0 | 540 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about calculating gravel for driveways, paths and landscaping projects.
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Always order 10–15% extra gravel to account for compaction and waste.
Use landscape fabric beneath gravel to suppress weeds and reduce maintenance.
For driveways, compact each layer with a plate compactor before adding the next layer.