How to use the gravel calculator
- Choose the shape. Rectangle for driveways, paths and pads; circle for fire-pit areas and round patios; or type a known area in square feet if you’ve measured an irregular space in sections.
- Enter the depth. Depth is the number that changes the answer most. Use the chips for common depths or type your own.
- Pick the material. Each stone has a different weight per cubic yard. The density field fills in automatically; if your quarry quotes its own figure, type it in.
- Add compaction for base material. Crusher run and road base lose volume when you compact them with a plate compactor. Choosing crusher run sets a 15% allowance automatically.
The result shows tons (how most US quarries sell stone), cubic yards (how many landscape yards sell it), 0.5 cu ft bags and how many truckloads that is.
Gravel calculator formula: cubic yards to tons
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)
Density is what turns volume into weight. Stone varies by rock type, size and moisture, so the figures below are typical bulk densities for loose, dry material — use them as a starting point and ask your supplier for theirs.
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone (#57, ¾ in) | ≈ 1.40 | Drainage, driveway top layer, under pavers |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 1.50 | Compacted base for driveways and patios |
| Pea gravel | ≈ 1.35 | Paths, play areas, between stepping stones |
| River rock | ≈ 1.30 | Decorative beds, dry creek beds |
| Decomposed granite | ≈ 1.40 | Paths and patios with a natural look |
| Sand | ≈ 1.35 | Paver bedding, leveling |
Worked examples
How much gravel do I need for a 20×20 area?
A 20 × 20 ft pad is 400 sq ft. At 4 in deep: 400 × 4 ÷ 12 = 133.3 cu ft = 4.94 cubic yards. In #57 crushed stone at 1.4 tons per yard, that’s 6.9 tons — one tandem truckload, or a painful 267 half-cubic-foot bags.
How much gravel do I need for my driveway?
Take a 60 × 10 ft driveway with a 6 in compacted base of crusher run. 600 sq ft × 6 ÷ 12 = 300 cu ft. Add 15% for compaction: 345 cu ft = 12.8 cubic yards. At 1.5 tons per yard, order about 19.2 tons — two loads in a typical 13-ton tandem dump truck. Most driveways then get a 2–3 in top layer of clean stone; run the calculator again for that layer.
New driveways on soft soil are usually built in layers: larger stone (or a stabilization fabric) at the bottom, compacted crusher run in the middle and a decorative top coat. Total depth of 8–12 in is common.
Buying tips and waste factor
- Order 5–10% extra for loose stone — it spreads thinner than you expect at the edges and some always ends up in the lawn.
- Compaction is separate from waste. Road base and crusher run can lose 10–20% of their loose volume under a plate compactor. Clean, washed stone like #57 barely compacts.
- Bulk beats bags fast. Bagged gravel is usually sold in 0.5 cu ft bags; one cubic yard is 54 of them. Above about 1–2 yards, delivery is almost always cheaper.
- Check the truck size. Small dump trucks carry roughly 5–7 tons; tandem axles about 13–15 tons. Ask whether the driver can spread (“tailgate”) the load as it’s dumped.
- Protect your driveway. A loaded dump truck is far heavier than a car. Have it dump at the end of an existing concrete or asphalt drive rather than drive over it.
- Edge it. Steel, aluminum or paver edging keeps gravel where you put it and stops the depth thinning over time.
Building a drain? The French drain gravel calculator subtracts the pipe volume and sizes the filter fabric. Topping a bed with organic material instead? Try the mulch calculator.
How deep should gravel be?
| Project | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative ground cover | 2 in |
| Walking path | 2–3 in over landscape fabric |
| Patio or shed base | 4 in compacted |
| Base under pavers | 4–6 in (walkways), 8–12 in (driveways) |
| New gravel driveway | 8–12 in total, in layers |
| Refreshing an existing driveway | 2–3 in top layer |
Sources & assumptions
How this calculator gets its numbers. Full method: our methodology.
- Tons = cubic yards × density. Default densities are loose, as-delivered planning figures of about 1.3–1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on material; your supplier's number is better, so the tool lets you change it.
- Moisture and gradation move real weights by roughly 10–15%. Dense-graded base compacts, so add a compaction allowance when you are building a compacted base.
- Bags (0.5 cu ft) and truck loads are rounded up.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Transportation, Engineering Policy Guide 450, Estimate Factors (archived PDF). Gravel, crushed stone and chat estimated at 1.40 tons per cubic yard of loose aggregate.
- Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (Vermont), Material Weight: Pounds per Cubic Yard. Reference weights, e.g. crushed stone 2,700 lb/yd³, dry ¾ in gravel 2,565, pea gravel 2,700, dry sand 2,750.
Last reviewed . Product figures vary by brand; the label on what you buy wins.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Typically 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on the stone. Crushed stone like #57 is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, crusher run about 1.5 and pea gravel about 1.35. Your quarry can give you the exact figure for its material.
How much gravel do I need for a 20x20 area?
At 4 inches deep a 20 × 20 ft area needs 133 cubic feet, which is 4.94 cubic yards or roughly 6.9 tons of crushed stone. At 2 inches deep you need half that: about 2.5 cubic yards.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
One ton of crushed stone (about 0.71 cubic yards) covers roughly 58 square feet at 4 inches deep, 77 square feet at 3 inches, or 116 square feet at 2 inches.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × depth, add 10 to 20 percent for compaction if you are using road base, and convert to tons. A 60 × 10 ft driveway with a 6-inch compacted crusher-run base needs about 12.8 cubic yards, or 19 tons.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or in bags?
By the ton, for anything bigger than a small path. A cubic yard is 54 half-cubic-foot bags, and bulk stone typically costs a fraction of the bagged price per cubic foot even after a delivery fee.
How many cubic yards fit in a dump truck?
Small single-axle dump trucks carry around 5 to 7 tons (3.5 to 5 cubic yards of stone). Tandem-axle trucks carry about 13 to 15 tons (9 to 11 cubic yards). Legal limits and truck sizes vary, so ask the supplier.