Gravel Calculator
Estimate cubic yards and tons of gravel for driveways and paths.
Assumes about 1.4 tons per cubic yard \u2014 typical for crushed stone. Dense materials like limestone can run heavier.
Gravel is ordered in cubic yards but priced and delivered by the ton — and the conversion between the two is where driveway budgets go sideways. Our gravel calculator above takes your area and depth, returns the volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, and converts it to tons using the standard density for crushed stone.
The Calculation
Volume (cu ft) = Length × Width × Depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
Tons ≈ Cubic yards × 1.4
That 1.4 tons-per-yard figure is the workhorse average for crushed stone and gravel. Actual density varies by material: pea gravel runs about 1.3–1.4, crushed limestone 1.4–1.5, and wet or fine materials can push higher. Your supplier can give the exact density for what’s in their yard — but 1.4 will land you within a wheelbarrow or two on most orders.
How Deep Should Gravel Be?
Depth depends entirely on the job:
Decorative ground cover and beds: 2 inches. Enough to hide the fabric underneath and suppress weeds.
Walking paths: 3 inches, ideally over compacted base.
Driveways: 12 inches total, built in layers. A proper gravel driveway isn’t one material — it’s three lifts of roughly 4 inches each: large base stone (#3 or #1), a middle layer of #57 stone, and a surface layer of crusher run or #411 that packs tight. Calculate each layer separately with its own depth.
Patio and paver base: 4–6 inches of compacted crusher run under the sand bed.
Skimping on depth is the classic gravel mistake — a 2-inch driveway surface disappears into the mud in one wet season.
Picking the Right Stone
Crusher run / road base (#411, “crush and run”) — angular stone mixed with fines that compacts into a nearly solid surface. The right choice for driveway top layers and base under pavers.
#57 stone (~3/4 inch) — the all-purpose middle child: drainage, driveway middle layers, French drains, concrete base.
Pea gravel (3/8 inch, rounded) — comfortable underfoot and pretty, but it migrates; use edging to contain it. Not for driveways: rounded stones never lock together.
River rock (1–3 inch) — decorative beds and drainage swales; too coarse for surfaces you walk on.
Ordering and Delivery Tips
- A full-size pickup safely hauls about half a ton to one ton of gravel — roughly half a cubic yard. For anything over 2–3 yards, delivery is worth the fee.
- A dump truck load is typically 10–14 tons; suppliers often price better per ton at full loads.
- Put down landscape fabric first on paths and beds — it stops gravel from sinking into soil and doubles the life of the layer.
- Order 5–10% extra for compaction settling and edge losses; our calculator’s output is the geometric volume, so add your margin at order time or bump the depth slightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of gravel for a 20×10 area at 3 inches? 50 cu ft = 1.85 cubic yards ≈ 2.6 tons.
How much area does one ton cover? At 2 inches deep, roughly 100 sq ft; at 3 inches, about 70 sq ft; at 4 inches, about 55 sq ft.
Cubic yards or tons — which should I order in? Ask how your supplier sells it and quote them the other number too. Giving both (“I need about 2 cubic yards — around 2.8 tons”) lets them catch any conversion mismatch before the truck arrives.
Will gravel wash out on a slope? Rounded gravels will. On grades, use angular crushed stone with fines, install water bars or grid stabilizers, and crown the surface so water sheds sideways.
Estimates are for planning purposes. Densities vary by material and moisture — confirm with your supplier.