Gravel Calculator
Home & EnergyChoose the shape of the area, enter its size and the depth, and pick the material. You get cubic yards, cubic feet, tons and pounds, a chart for other depths and an optional cost.
Step by step
10 × 10 × 3 / 12 × (1 + 0 / 100) = 25 cubic feet
- Area: 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 square feet.
- Volume: 100 × 3 / 12, plus any extra for settling, is 25 cubic feet.
- Cubic yards: 25 / 27 = 0.93.
- Weight: the volume times the weight per cubic foot of the material is 2,500 lb, which is 1.25 tons.
Once every entry is valid, you’ll see each step of the calculation here.
Formula
- area
- length × width for a rectangle, π × radius² for a circle, or the area you typed, in square feet
- depth
- the thickness of the layer in inches; dividing by 12 gives feet
- extra
- the percentage added for settling and waste, 0 if you leave it at zero
- weight per cubic foot
- the unit weight of the material, for example 100 lb/ft³ for dry gravel (EPA)
- 27
- cubic feet in one cubic yard
How it works
The amount of gravel is a volume: the area you cover times the depth. For a rectangle, multiply the length by the width in feet. For a circle, use π times the radius squared. Then turn the depth from inches into feet by dividing by 12 and multiply: a 10 by 10 foot area at 3 inches deep is 100 × 3 / 12 = 25 cubic feet. Suppliers sell by the cubic yard, which is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet, so 25 cubic feet is 0.93 cubic yards. If you expect the stone to settle, add a percentage in the extra field.
Many suppliers sell by weight instead, so the calculator also gives tons. A US ton here is the short ton of 2,000 pounds. To get the weight it multiplies the volume by the weight of a cubic foot of the material. The Environmental Protection Agency lists dry gravel at 100 pounds per cubic foot, which is 2,700 pounds or 1.35 tons per cubic yard. It gives 100 to 120 for wet gravel, 100 for crushed stone, 85 to 90 for crushed limestone, 90 to 100 for pebbles and 90 to 110 for dry sand (110 to 130 wet). The calculator uses the middle of each range. Real loads vary with the type and size of the stone, its moisture and how it is packed, so ask your supplier for their weight per yard and use the "Other" option if it differs.
The chart under the calculator repeats the result for the same area at other depths, and the line "square feet that one ton covers" shows how far a ton goes at your depth. For slabs and footings use the concrete calculator; to find the area of a yard or a driveway, the square footage calculator helps, and for large lots the acres to square feet converter. This page covers volume and weight only. It does not tell you how deep a layer should be for your project or how well your base is prepared.
The formula
A cubic yard is exactly 27 cubic feet, because a yard is 3 feet and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. A short ton is 2,000 pounds. The area that one ton covers is 2,000 divided by the weight of the layer per square foot, that is 2,000 / (unit weight × depth in feet): at 100 lb/ft³ and 3 inches it is 2,000 / 25 = 80 square feet.
The unit weights are averages for loose material. Compaction raises the weight per cubic foot of a finished layer, and moisture raises it as well, which is why wet gravel is listed higher than dry. The estimate is for ordering and budgeting, not for engineering a road base.
Example
A driveway turnaround is 20 ft long and 12 ft wide. How much crushed stone does it need at a depth of 4 inches?
- Area: 20 ft × 12 ft = 240 square feet.
- Volume: 240 × 4 / 12 = 80 cubic feet, which is 2.96 cubic yards.
- Weight: crushed stone is about 100 lb per cubic foot, so 8,000 lb or 4 tons. One ton covers 60 square feet at this depth.
An area of 240 square feet covered 4 in deep needs 2.96 cubic yards, which is 80 cubic feet or about 4 tons (8,000 lb).
Load this example into the calculatorFrequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need for an area?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, which is the depth in inches divided by 12. That gives cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards, or multiply by the weight per cubic foot (100 lb for dry gravel) and divide by 2,000 for tons. The calculator does these steps and lists them under the result.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10?
A 10 by 10 foot area needs 0.62 cubic yards (0.83 tons) at 2 inches deep, 0.93 cubic yards (1.25 tons) at 3 inches and 1.23 cubic yards (1.67 tons) at 4 inches, for dry gravel. The chart under the calculator shows more depths. Add 5 to 10% if the material will settle.
How many cubic feet does a 50 lb bag of gravel cover?
At 100 lb per cubic foot, a 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cubic feet. That covers 2 square feet at a depth of 3 inches, 3 square feet at 2 inches and 6 square feet at 1 inch. Bagged stone can be lighter or heavier, so check the bag for its stated volume.
How much is 1 cubic yard of gravel?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and holds about 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 tons, of dry gravel. What it costs depends on the stone, your region and delivery, so there is no single price. Choose "Per ton" or "Per cubic yard" in the cost option and enter your supplier's price to see the total.
How much gravel do I need?
It depends on the area and the depth. Measure the length and width in feet, choose how deep the layer should be in inches, and enter both. A 10 by 10 foot area at 3 inches needs about 1 cubic yard, and a 20 by 12 foot area at 4 inches needs about 3 cubic yards.
What is gravel used for?
People use gravel for driveways and paths, as a base under patios, pavers and sheds, for drainage around pipes and foundations, and as a decorative cover in garden beds. Smaller stone such as pea gravel suits paths and play areas, and larger crushed stone suits bases and driveways.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
A ton of dry gravel is about 0.74 cubic yards, since 2,000 pounds divided by 2,700 pounds per cubic yard is 0.74. Put the other way, a cubic yard is about 1.35 tons. The number is higher for lighter materials such as crushed limestone and lower for wet gravel or wet sand.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 tons, for dry gravel at the EPA figure of 100 pounds per cubic foot. The same table lists loose gravel at 2,565 pounds per cubic yard, and wet gravel at 100 to 120 pounds per cubic foot, which is up to 3,240 pounds per yard. Ask your supplier for the number they use.
Does the calculator work for rock, #57 stone or 3/4 inch gravel?
Yes. The cubic yards depend only on the area and the depth, so they are the same for river rock, #57 stone, 3/4 inch gravel or pea gravel. Only the weight changes with the kind of stone. For crushed #57 or 3/4 inch stone, choose "Crushed stone" (100 pounds per cubic foot in the EPA table). For other rock, enter its weight per cubic foot under "Other": divide a weight per cubic yard by 27, so the EPA figure of 2,570 pounds per cubic yard for loose rock is about 95.
How much gravel do I need to cover a 100 sq ft driveway?
For 100 square feet of dry gravel: 3 inches deep needs 0.93 cubic yards or 1.25 tons, 4 inches needs 1.23 cubic yards or 1.67 tons, and 6 inches needs 1.85 cubic yards or 2.5 tons. Choose "Known area", enter 100 and the depth, and the calculator gives the exact figures for your material.
What area will 1 ton of gravel cover?
One ton of dry gravel covers 120 square feet at 2 inches deep, 80 square feet at 3 inches, 60 square feet at 4 inches and 40 square feet at 6 inches. The calculator shows this for your depth and material under "square feet that one ton covers".
How much will the gravel cost?
Multiply the tons (or cubic yards) by your supplier's price. For 1.25 tons at $45 per ton the cost is $56.25. Pick a cost option, type the price and the calculator does it for you. Delivery, minimum order fees and taxes are not included, so ask for a total quote.
How do I estimate gravel for a landscape with an irregular shape?
Split the shape into rectangles and circles, work out each area, and add them. Choose "Known area" and enter the total in square feet, then set the depth and the material. Adding 5 to 10% for settling is common for an uneven base.
Is a ton of gravel the same as a metric ton?
No. In the US a ton of gravel is the short ton of 2,000 pounds, or 907 kg. A metric ton is 1,000 kg, or about 2,205 pounds, which is 10% more. If a quote comes in tonnes, convert it before you compare prices.
- Standard Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (last updated 2006): gravel, stone and sand (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically (cubic yard, cubic foot, short ton) (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
- Gravel (Wikipedia)