Estimate gravel quantity in cubic yards, tons, and cost from dimensions, known square footage,
circular or triangular areas, or an existing volume. Aggregate coverage language matters, but most orders come
down to area, depth, density, overage, and supplier units.
Project inputs
Use this mode to convert cubic yards to tons, tons to yards, or an
existing bulk quantity into coverage and cost.
Typical gravel range: 1.25-1.60 tons per cubic
yard.
Overage / compaction allowance
Currency is not stored; enter the unit price from your local
supplier and read the estimate in the same currency.
Material estimate
Order volume-
Order weight-
Recommended order-
Estimated costAdd price
Area:-
Depth converted:-
Base volume:-
Extra allowance:-
Density used:-
Results update as you type.
Confirm exact density and delivery rounding with your supplier.
Calculation assumptions
Last reviewed
June 24, 2026 by the Starlight Tools editorial team.
Density source
Ranges are compiled from common landscape-supplier and construction estimating references for
loose bulk material. Local moisture, gradation, and compaction change the real weight.
Ordering note
The calculator estimates loose order quantity. For engineered bases, drainage work, or
vehicle loads, confirm material specification, compacted depth, and density with the supplier or project
professional.
Material density presets
The calculator uses the midpoint density for each preset. Replace it with your supplier's value
when the quote lists tons per cubic yard.
Material
Typical density range
Best use
Quick coverage table
Approximate square-foot coverage using average gravel density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, before
overage. Angular crushed stone, moisture, and supplier gradation can shift these numbers.
Material amount
2 inch depth
3 inch depth
4 inch depth
1 ton
193 sq ft
129 sq ft
96 sq ft
1.5 tons
289 sq ft
193 sq ft
145 sq ft
2 tons
386 sq ft
257 sq ft
193 sq ft
3 tons
579 sq ft
386 sq ft
289 sq ft
4 tons
771 sq ft
514 sq ft
386 sq ft
5 tons
964 sq ft
643 sq ft
482 sq ft
How to calculate gravel
Find area. Use length x width, enter known square footage, or choose the circle
or triangle mode.
Convert depth to feet. For example, 3 inches is 0.25 feet.
Multiply area by depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
Multiply cubic yards by tons per cubic yard to estimate weight.
Add overage for compaction, spreading loss, uneven subgrade, and order rounding.
Project depth and material guidance
Recommended depths
Walkways: 2-3 inches for light foot traffic.
Patios and fire pits: 2-4 inches over a prepared base.
Driveways: 3-4 inches for a top layer; 4-6 inches or more for a new base.
Drainage trenches: enough clean stone to surround pipe and maintain slope.
Paver bases: often 4-6 inches of compacted base plus bedding sand.
Decorative beds: 2-3 inches for weed suppression and visual coverage.
Angular vs. rounded
Use angular crushed stone, crusher run, or decomposed granite when you need interlock and
compaction. Use rounded pea gravel or river rock for drainage, decorative beds, dog runs, and areas where a
loose surface is acceptable.
When not to compact
Do not compact clean drainage stone around perforated pipe, decorative river rock, or rounded
pea gravel where the goal is water movement or a loose walking surface. Compact angular base materials in
lifts for driveways, slabs, and paver support.
Worked gravel examples
Driveway top layer
A 40 ft x 10 ft driveway at 3 in deep uses 400 sq ft x 0.25 ft = 100 ft3, or
3.70 yd3. At 1.4 tons/yd3 and 15% base overage: 5.96 tons. Recommended order:
about 6 tons.
Garden path
A 60 ft x 3 ft path at 2 in deep uses 180 sq ft x 0.167 ft = 30 ft3, or
1.11 yd3. Pea gravel at 1.3 tons/yd3 plus 10% overage is 1.59 tons. Recommended
order: about 1.75 tons or 1.25 yd3.
Circular fire pit area
A 14 ft diameter circle has pi x 7 x 7 = 154 sq ft. At 3 in deep, volume is
38.5 ft3, or 1.43 yd3. River rock at 1.5 tons/yd3 plus 10% overage is
2.36 tons. Recommended order: about 2.5 tons.
Irregular yard split into rectangles
Break an L-shaped area into 18 ft x 12 ft and 10 ft x 8 ft rectangles:
216 + 80 = 296 sq ft. At 2.5 in deep, volume is 61.7 ft3, or 2.29 yd3.
Crushed stone at 1.4 tons/yd3 plus 10% overage is 3.52 tons. Recommended order: about 3.75 tons.
Gravel calculator FAQ
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
A ton of typical gravel is about 0.65 to 0.75 cubic yards. The exact conversion depends on density,
moisture, and stone size, so use your supplier's tons-per-cubic-yard value when available.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Common gravel and crushed stone often weigh about 1.25 to 1.6 short tons per cubic yard, or roughly 2,500
to 3,200 pounds per cubic yard.
What area will 1 ton cover at 2 or 3 inches?
Using 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 1 ton covers about 193 square feet at 2 inches deep or 129 square feet at 3
inches deep before adding overage.
Should gravel be ordered by yard or ton?
Measure the project by volume, then order in the unit your supplier sells. Landscape yards may quote cubic
yards, while quarries and bulk delivery companies commonly quote tons.
How much extra gravel should I order?
Use 5 percent for light waste, 10 percent for typical spreading and minor unevenness, 15 percent for
driveway/base work, and up to 30 percent when heavy compaction or a rough subgrade is expected.
What depth is best for a driveway?
A resurfacing layer may use 3 to 4 inches. A new driveway base often needs 4 to 6 inches or more, placed
and compacted in lifts, depending on soil strength, drainage, and traffic.
Does pea gravel compact?
Pea gravel settles but does not lock together like angular crushed stone. It is better for decorative areas,
patios, and drainage than for structural driveway bases.
Is any calculator data uploaded?
No. The calculations run locally in your browser and do not upload or store your inputs.
