Calculators · Gravel Calculator
LandscapingGravel Calculator
Enter your area and depth to get the cubic yards, tons and pounds of gravel to order. Pick a material or type your own density.
Gravel needed
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How to calculate how much gravel you need
Gravel is sold by volume (cubic yards) and by weight (tons). Start with the volume of the space, then turn it into weight with the density of your material.
| Step | Formula |
|---|---|
| 1. Cubic feet | length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) |
| 2. Cubic yards | cubic feet ÷ 27 |
| 3. Pounds | cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard |
| 4. Short tons | pounds ÷ 2,000 |
Depth is the step that trips people up. A depth in inches must be divided by 12 before you multiply, because 3 inches is 0.25 feet. This calculator does it for you, and it also reads measurements typed like 10'6" or 10 ft 6 in. For a round area, pick “Circle” and type the diameter. Add one area for each separate piece and the total updates as you type.
Example: a driveway strip
A strip measures 10 ft by 40 ft and you want 4 inches of crushed stone, with 10% extra. The crushed stone figure used here is 2,900 lb per cubic yard, the midpoint of the 2,700 to 3,100 range in the table below.
| Step | Operation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 10 × 40 × (4 ÷ 12) | 133.33 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | (10 × 40 × 4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 | 4.9383 yd³ |
| With 10% extra | 4.9383 × 1.10 | 5.4321 yd³ |
| Pounds | 5.4321 × 2,900 | 15,753 lb |
| Short tons | 15,753 ÷ 2,000 | 7.88 tons |
Using the whole 2,700 to 3,100 range instead of the midpoint, the same job weighs between 7.33 and 8.42 tons. That spread is why the density matters, and it is the reason the result shows the range next to the single figure.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
The table lists the weight of one cubic yard by material. The first column of figures comes from GoodGravel, an information site on gravel types, and the last column is a cross-check from the weight list of Stone Centers, a stone supplier in Ohio. Both were checked in October 2026. Tons are the pounds divided by 2,000.
| Material | Pounds per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | Cross-check (lb per yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,600 to 2,900 | 1.30 to 1.45 | 2,800 to 3,200 |
| Crushed stone (general) | 2,700 to 3,100 | 1.35 to 1.55 | 2,700 to 3,400 |
| #57 stone and #4 stone | 2,700 to 3,100 | 1.35 to 1.55 | — |
| #8 stone and #89 stone | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.30 to 1.50 | — |
| Crusher run, road base (3/4 in minus) | 3,000 to 3,400 | 1.50 to 1.70 | — |
| #411 gravel | 2,900 to 3,300 | 1.45 to 1.65 | — |
| Washed gravel | 2,700 to 3,100 | 1.35 to 1.55 | 2,800 to 3,200 |
| River rock | 2,700 to 3,200 | 1.35 to 1.60 | 2,800 to 3,500 |
| Bank run gravel | 2,800 to 3,300 | 1.40 to 1.65 | — |
| Decomposed granite | 2,600 to 3,000 | 1.30 to 1.50 | — |
These are ranges, not exact values. The two sources overlap but do not match, which is normal. Stone Centers warns that its weights are approximate and vary with moisture and compaction. Two public tables from California agencies that estimate loose stone and gravel (Los Angeles County and the City of Lemon Grove) give a single figure of about 2,600 pounds per cubic yard, and the Lemon Grove table says its values are rough estimates. If you know the density of your product, choose “Custom density” and type it.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Spread over a surface, it covers 27 ÷ depth in feet, which simplifies to 324 ÷ depth in inches. This is geometry, so it is the same for every material. At 4 inches deep a cubic yard covers 81 square feet, and at 6 inches it covers 54. For other depths, see the coverage table in the mulch calculator.
Cubic yards for common sizes
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 12 ft × 12 ft | 0.89 | 1.33 | 1.78 | 2.67 |
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 20 ft × 20 ft | 2.47 | 3.70 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
Tips for ordering
- Ask the supplier how they sell the material. Some suppliers quote by the ton, so the tons in the result are the number to compare.
- Ask for the density of the exact product. Pick “Custom density” and type it for the closest match.
- Measure irregular areas as several rectangles and circles and add them with “Add another area”.
- Use the extra box for the allowance your supplier or contractor recommends. It raises the volume and the weight together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Turn inches of depth into feet by dividing by 12. A 10 ft by 10 ft area filled to 3 inches is 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet, and 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the material. The sources we checked in October 2026 give about 1.3 to 1.75 short tons per cubic yard, from #8 stone and pea gravel at the light end to crusher run and river rock at the heavy end. Moisture and compaction move the number too, so ask your supplier for the figure of the product you are buying.
How many square feet does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it covers 324 ÷ depth in inches square feet. That is 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches and 54 at 6 inches.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
Divide 2,000 pounds by the weight of one cubic yard of your material. At 2,700 pounds per cubic yard a ton fills 0.74 cubic yards, and at 3,100 pounds it fills 0.65 cubic yards. For other materials, see the tons to cubic yards converter.
How deep should gravel be?
It depends on what the gravel is for and on the material, so follow the recommendation of your supplier, your contractor or the local specification. Type that depth into the calculator in inches, or in any other unit from the menu.
How much extra gravel should I order?
It depends on the base underneath, how much the material settles and how it is delivered, so ask your supplier. Enter that percentage in the extra box and the calculator adds it to the volume and the weight. Leave it empty to add nothing.
How much does gravel cost per ton or per yard?
Prices change by region, material and delivery distance, so this calculator does not show them. Take the cubic yards and tons from the result and ask local suppliers for a quote in the same unit.
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