Gravel Calculator
Quickly calculate gravel volume, weight, and total cost based on your project dimensions and selected units..
Dimensions
Cost
Gravel Calculator — How Much Gravel Do You Need?
Gravel and crushed stone are bulk landscape and construction building materials sold by the cubic yard and by the ton at landscape supply yards, quarries, and home improvement stores. Under-ordering stops a driveway or path installation halfway. Over-ordering leaves excess material with no disposal option.
This free gravel calculator tool gives you an instant material estimate for any project. Enter your area dimensions and depth above and the tool calculates cubic yards needed, tons to order, number of bulk bags or truck loads, and total material cost.
Add 10–15% extra to all gravel orders. Compaction reduces loose volume by 10–15%, and spill and spread losses are unavoidable during installation. |
How to Use the Gravel Calculator
To get your gravel estimate, enter 3 values: area length, area width, and gravel depth. The calculator returns cubic yards, tons, and material cost.
- Measure area length and width in feet — for driveways, measure the full length and widest point
- Enter gravel depth in inches — typical depths are 2–3″ for paths, 4″ for driveways, 6″ for new driveway base
- Select gravel type to apply the correct weight factor (dry density varies from 90–105 lbs per cubic foot by stone type)
- Add a price per ton or per cubic yard from your local landscape supplier to get a total cost estimate
- Read your results: cubic yards needed, tons to order, delivery loads, and purchase cost
For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles. Calculate each section separately and add the results. Do not average irregular depths — calculate the thickest section at its actual depth and the thinner sections separately.
Gravel Volume and Weight Formula
Multiply area in square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by material weight factor to get tons.
Formula: Cubic feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) | Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27 | Tons = Cubic yards × weight factor |
Example: Driveway 50 ft × 12 ft × 0.33 ft (4″ depth) = 198 cubic feet. Cubic yards = 198 ÷ 27 = 7.3 cubic yards. For crushed limestone (weight factor 1.35 tons/yd³): 7.3 × 1.35 = 9.9 tons. At $35/ton: total material cost = $346.
Order 10–15% more than calculated to account for compaction. A 4″ loose gravel layer compacts to approximately 3.5″ — you need more material than the finished depth implies. The calculator adds this buffer automatically when you select a compacted depth option.
Gravel Types and Weight Reference Table
17 gravel and crushed stone types are stocked by landscape suppliers and quarries. Each has a different dry density, drainage rate, compaction behavior, and best-use application. Selecting the wrong aggregate type increases long-term maintenance costs.
Gravel / Aggregate Type | Dry Density (lbs/cu ft) | Weight Factor (tons/yd³) | Best Use | Typical Cost/ton |
Pea gravel (3/8″ round) | 90–95 | 1.25 | Walkways, playgrounds, drainage beds | $25–$45 |
Crushed limestone (#57) | 90–100 | 1.35 | Driveways, road base, backfill | $20–$35 |
Crushed granite (3/4″) | 95–105 | 1.40 | Driveways, high-traffic paths | $30–$50 |
River rock (1″–3″) | 80–95 | 1.25 | Landscaping, dry creek beds | $35–$65 |
Decomposed granite (DG) | 95–105 | 1.35 | Paths, patios, low-traffic drives | $30–$55 |
Road base / crusher run | 100–110 | 1.50 | Driveway sub-base, compacted base | $18–$30 |
#4 crushed stone (1.5″) | 90–100 | 1.35 | French drains, drainage fill | $22–$38 |
#57 stone (3/4″–1″) | 90–100 | 1.35 | Drainage, concrete aggregate, paths | $22–$38 |
#411 (crushed stone + fines) | 100–110 | 1.50 | Driveway topping, self-compacting | $20–$35 |
White marble chips | 85–95 | 1.25 | Decorative landscaping | $45–$120 |
Lava rock (lightweight) | 50–60 | 0.75 | Mulch substitute, landscaping | $60–$120 |
Concrete recycled aggregate | 85–100 | 1.25 | Sub-base, non-structural fill | $10–$20 |
Road base (crusher run) is the highest density aggregate and the best choice for load-bearing driveway base layers. Pea gravel has the lowest compaction rate and is unsuitable for driveways — it shifts under tire loads and requires edging on all sides to contain it.
Gravel Depth Reference by Project Type
Gravel depth is the single biggest variable in a material estimate. Using the wrong depth is the most common cause of under-ordering. The table below shows minimum and recommended depths for common projects.
Project Type | Min. Depth | Recommended Depth | Gravel Type | Notes |
Decorative garden path | 2″ | 2–3″ | Pea gravel or river rock | Edge restraints required |
Pedestrian walkway | 3″ | 3–4″ | Crushed stone #57 or DG | Compact base layer first |
Residential driveway (new) | 4″ | 4–6″ | Road base + #57 topping | 2 layers: base + topping |
Residential driveway (resurface) | 2″ | 2–3″ | #411 or crusher run | Scarify existing surface first |
Commercial driveway | 6″ | 6–8″ | Road base compacted | Engineer spec required |
Patio base layer | 4″ | 4–6″ | Crusher run or road base | Compact to 95% Proctor |
French drain trench fill | Full trench depth | Per drain design | #4 or #57 washed stone | Wrap in filter fabric |
Retaining wall backfill | Full void depth | Per wall design | #57 or clean gravel | Drainage critical behind wall |
Playground safety surface | 6″ | 9–12″ | Pea gravel or engineered wood | ASTM F1292 fall height rating |
Septic leach field | 12″ | Per engineer spec | Clean washed gravel | Engineer design required |
Two-layer driveway construction — 4″ compacted road base plus 2″ crushed stone topping — outperforms a single 6″ layer of the same material. The base layer provides load distribution; the topping layer provides drainage and surface stability. Total material cost increases by 15–20% but maintenance cost drops significantly.
How to Order and Receive Bulk Gravel Delivery
Gravel is sold 3 ways: bulk by the ton (truck delivery), bulk by the cubic yard (landscape supplier delivery), and bagged (0.5 cu ft bags from home improvement stores). Bulk delivery is always cheaper per unit for orders over 1 cubic yard.
Order Method | Qty Range | Approx. Unit Cost | Delivery | Best For |
Bagged (0.5 cu ft bags) | 1–10 bags | $5–$8/bag ($270–$430/ton equivalent) | Self-haul | Small fill, patch jobs under 0.5 cu yd |
Bulk bag (“tote” 1 cu yd) | 1–4 bags | $120–$200/bag | Crane truck delivery | Jobs 1–4 cu yd, tight access |
Landscape supplier (by yd³) | 1–20 yd³ | $30–$60/cu yd | Dump truck, 3–6 yd³ per load | Residential driveways, landscaping |
Quarry bulk by ton | 5–50+ tons | $15–$40/ton | Dump truck, 10–14 tons per load | Large driveways, commercial jobs |
Delivery access planning: a standard 10-ton dump truck is 8 ft wide and 25 ft long. Confirm your driveway or access path can support the truck weight — a loaded gravel truck weighs 32,000–40,000 lbs (14,500–18,000 kg) and will crack an unprepared asphalt or concrete driveway. Request a tailgate dump for tight access — the driver dumps from the rear rather than raising the bed to full height.
On-site storage: gravel stockpiles on a hard surface drain correctly and do not compact the subsoil. Keep piles away from foundation walls, storm drains, and property lines. Cover decorative stone with a tarp if rain will stain the material before install.
How to Install Gravel — Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these 6 steps to install a gravel driveway or path correctly. This guide covers DIY residential driveway and landscape gravel installation — the most common home improvement gravel projects.
- Mark the area with stakes and string line — define exact edges before ordering material so your quantity estimate is accurate
- Excavate to the required total depth (gravel depth + 2″ for edging if used) — remove all grass, roots, and organic material from the base
- Install landscape fabric (geotextile weed barrier) on the compacted subgrade — overlap seams by 12″ and pin with landscape staples spaced 3 ft apart
- Spread the base layer (road base or crusher run) and compact with a plate compactor in 3″ lifts — do not compact more than 3″ at a time
- Spread the topping gravel to finished depth — rake to a consistent depth using a landscaping rake, feathering edges to the border
- Install edge restraints (plastic landscape edging, steel edging, or concrete curb) on all open edges to prevent gravel spread into lawn or garden beds
DIY difficulty: low to moderate. A first-time DIYer can complete a 200 sq ft garden path in one day. A residential driveway resurfacing (500–1,000 sq ft) takes a weekend with a rented plate compactor ($75–$150/day at home improvement equipment rental). New driveway base construction requires subgrade preparation — hire a grading contractor if the existing soil is soft or poorly drained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need for a 12 × 20 ft driveway at 4 inches deep?
3 cubic yards for a 12 × 20 ft driveway at 4″ depth. Calculation: 12 × 20 × 0.33 ft = 79.2 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 2.9 cubic yards. Round up to 3 cubic yards, then add 10–15% for compaction: order 3.3–3.5 cubic yards.
How many tons of gravel do I need per cubic yard?
1.25–1.50 tons per cubic yard depending on gravel type. Pea gravel = 1.25 tons/yd³. Crushed limestone = 1.35 tons/yd³. Road base (crusher run) = 1.50 tons/yd³. Multiply your cubic yard quantity by the weight factor for your material to get tons. Most landscape suppliers sell by the ton — weight factors matter when pricing
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
4–6 inches total depth for a residential driveway. New driveways need 4″ of compacted road base plus 2″ of crusher run or #411 topping = 6″ total. Resurface existing driveways with 2–3″ of #411 or crusher run. Less than 4″ total depth causes ruts under vehicle loads within the first year.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
1.25–1.50 tons (2,500–3,000 lbs / 1,130–1,360 kg) per cubic yard for most gravel types. Pea gravel is lighter at 2,500 lbs/yd³. Road base is heavier at 3,000 lbs/yd³. Lava rock is significantly lighter at 1,500 lbs/yd³. Weight determines delivery truck capacity — a standard dump truck carries 10–14 tons = 7–11 cubic yards of standard gravel.
How much does gravel cost per cubic yard?
$30–$60 per cubic yard delivered for standard crushed stone and gravel. Road base runs $20–$35/yd³. Pea gravel runs $35–$55/yd³. Decorative stone and river rock run $45–$80/yd³. Prices vary by region and delivery distance — quarries within 30 miles are significantly cheaper than those requiring long hauls.
How much gravel do I need for a French drain?
Calculate trench volume: length × width × depth in cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. A 50 ft French drain, 12″ wide × 24″ deep = 50 × 1 × 2 = 100 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards of washed #57 stone. Always use clean washed gravel for French drains — crusher run and road base contain fines that clog drainage fabric over time.
Can I install gravel myself or do I need a contractor?
Yes — decorative paths, garden beds, and driveway resurfacing are achievable DIY home improvement projects. You need a wheelbarrow, landscaping rake, tamper or plate compactor, and work gloves. Hire a contractor for new driveway base construction requiring subgrade grading, for gravel work on slopes steeper than 10%, and for any drainage project affecting neighboring properties.
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