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Gravel Calculator

Use this gravel calculator to find how many cubic yards and tons of gravel your driveway, path or garden bed needs.

  • Instant answer as you type
  • Nothing you type is sent anywhere
  • Worked example with clear steps

Your measurements

Area 1
ft
ft
in
Fractions are fine, e.g. 3 1/2
%
Typical value, not a standard
Bags and prices (optional)

Your supplier's quote and the bag size on the label. We store and show no prices.

ft³
$ per yd³
$ per ton

Result

Calculated live
Area 18.58 m²
200 ft²
Volume, no extra 50.00 ft³
1.85 yd³
Volume to order 10% extra
2.04 cubic yards
Weight to order 1.4 tons per yd³, 10% extra
2.85 tons
Weight, no extra
2.59 tons

Based on NIST SP 811 USDA NRCS Engineering ToolBox Full list of sources

Assumptions and constants

You can change

The limits on the other boxes, such as the largest size you can enter, are ours, not from a source.

Weight of gravel per cubic yard Typical value

tons per yd³

Typical value, not a standard. Dry gravel is about 1.42 and compacted base about 1.69 to 1.82 (see the table on the page). Ask your supplier for their figure.

Allowed range: 0.5 to 2.5 US tons per yd³. The limits are ours.

Extra for waste, settling and uneven ground Typical value

%
Same as the box in the form above

Typical value, not a standard. Use more if you will compact a base.

Allowed range: 0 to 100 %.

Fixed values (exact definitions and references)

These are exact definitions and cannot be edited.

Cubic feet in a cubic yard Reference [1]

27 ft³ per yd³

3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft.

Inches in a foot Reference [1]

12 in per ft

The foot is 0.3048 m and the inch is 0.0254 m, both exact, so 12 inches make a foot.

Metres in a foot Reference [1]

0.3048 m per ft

Exact by definition.

Metres in an inch Reference [1]

0.0254 m per in

Exact by definition.

Metres in a yard Reference [1]

0.9144 m per yd

Exact by definition. Cubic yards to cubic metres is this value cubed.

Pounds in a US ton Reference [1]

2,000 lb per ton

The short ton of 2,000 lb, used by US suppliers.

Kilograms in a pound Reference [1]

0.45359237 kg per lb

Exact by definition: 1 lb is 0.45359237 kg.

Kilograms in a metric tonne Reference [1]

1,000 kg per tonne

Definition of the metric tonne.

How to use the gravel calculator

  1. Choose Imperial (ft, in) or Metric (m, cm), then pick a shape: Rectangle, Circle or Triangle.
  2. Enter the measurements: Length and Width, or Diameter for a circle, or Base and Height for a triangle. For an L-shape, use Add another area.
  3. Enter the Depth of the gravel layer.
  4. Set Extra for waste. Add more for soft or uneven ground, where gravel settles.
  5. Read Volume to order and Weight to order. Open Assumptions and constants to enter your supplier's Weight of gravel per cubic yard.
  6. Use Copy result or Print, and confirm the amount with your supplier before you order.

How the gravel calculator works

Volume in cubic feet = length x width x depth, with all three in feet (divide inches by 12). Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27, because a cubic yard is 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft. [1] Tons = cubic yards x the weight of one cubic yard. The extra for waste multiplies the volume and the weight.

This calculator starts at 1.4 US tons per cubic yard and lets you change it. The table below shows the range in two sources.

Worked example

A 20 ft x 10 ft area, 3 in deep: 20 x 10 x 0.25 = 50 cubic feet. 50 / 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 2.59 tons. Adding 10% extra for waste brings the order to 2.04 cubic yards, about 2.85 tons.

Gravel bed: length 20 ft, width 10 ft, depth 3 in The left drawing is the bed seen from above, a rectangle twice as long as it is wide. Its length, 20 ft, is marked along the long side and its width, 10 ft, along the short side. The right drawing is a side view of the same bed: a thin block resting on the ground line, with a bar to its right marking its depth, 3 in. From above Length 20 ft Width 10 ft From the side Depth 3 in
Not to scale: the depth is drawn much thicker than 3 in against 20 ft. Measure the length and width in feet and the depth in inches. The calculator turns all three into cubic feet, cubic yards and tons.

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.42 to 1.82 US tons, depending on how wet it is and how tightly it is packed. That is the range of the figures below, which come from two different sources and describe different conditions. [3] [2]

Weight of gravel by condition
Condition lb per ft³ Tons per yd³ Reference
Dry gravel 105 1.42 [3]
Wet gravel 125 1.69 [3]
Compacted base, NRCS heavy-use pad 125 to 135 1.69 to 1.82 [2]

The starting value of 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a typical value, not a standard. Ask your supplier for the weight of the stone you are buying and type it into the assumptions box above. Weights in the table are converted at 2,000 pounds per US ton.

Measuring common jobs

Each job is a shape and a depth. Pick the shape in the calculator, or add another area when one shape is not enough.

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

Measure the length and the average width, then enter the depth you plan to lay. If the width changes along the way, add one area for each stretch. A strip 50 ft long and 10 ft wide holds 6.17 cubic yards at 4 in deep, or about 8.64 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard. We found no government source for a recommended driveway depth, so ask your supplier or your local road authority.

French drain trench

A trench is a long, narrow rectangle: enter its length, its width and the depth of stone you will put in. The calculator does not subtract the space taken by a pipe, so the result is the most stone the trench can hold.

Round bed

Choose Circle and enter the diameter, the distance straight across. For a half circle or a wedge, use Triangle for the straight-sided part and Circle for the rest.

Gravel types and names

The USDA NRCS separates crushed rock from round gravel. Crushed rock is made by breaking up stone, and its angular faces lock together when it is compacted. Round gravel usually comes from natural deposits and does not lock together the same way. Round gravel of 1/8 to 3/8 inch is sometimes called pea gravel. [2]

We found no source for what supplier mix names such as crusher run or #57 mean. This calculator cannot tell which one you are buying, so ask your supplier and enter their weight per cubic yard in the assumptions box.

Pea gravel: how much do I need?

Round gravel of a small size, 1/8 to 3/8 inch, is sometimes called pea gravel. [2] To find how much pea gravel you need, use the calculator above: enter the area and the depth, and read the cubic yards and the tons. There is no separate weight for pea gravel here. The starting 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a typical value for gravel, so ask your supplier for the weight of their pea gravel and enter it under Assumptions and constants. To see how many tons of pea gravel you need, read Weight to order.

How much does a ton of pea gravel cover?

At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton fills 19.29 cubic feet. The area it covers depends on the depth:

Area one ton of gravel covers at the starting weight
Depth (in) Square feet per ton
1 231
2 116
3 77
4 58
6 39

Will pea gravel compact?

Not well. The NRCS calls round or pea gravels poor choices for trails, roads, parking areas and parking pads because they do not compact well, and their particles do not interlock like crushed rock. [2] Ask your supplier about your job.

Tons to cubic yards

A truck load is quoted in tons. At the starting weight:

Tons of gravel converted to cubic yards
Tons Cubic yards
1 0.71
2 1.43
4 2.86
5 3.57
10 7.14

Which gravel should I use?

The NRCS says crushed rock suits road subbases, parking areas and trails, and that round or pea gravel is a poor choice for them because it does not compact well and rolls underfoot and under tires. For heavy-use area pads, the NRCS describes a base course of well-graded hard rock between 2 1/2 and 3/4 inch. [2] For the stone to buy for your job, and whether you need any under concrete, ask your supplier or your local building department.

How much does a yard of gravel cost?

We state no price. Ask local suppliers for a price per cubic yard or per ton, and for any delivery fee. Type your price into the optional price boxes above to see the total, including your extra for waste. The site does not store the prices you type.

Common mistakes and limits

  • Forgetting to turn inches into feet. A depth of 3 in is 0.25 ft. The calculator does this for you, but a hand sum needs it.
  • Using the dry weight for wet gravel. The table above shows wet gravel weighing more than dry, so ask your supplier what the load will weigh.
  • Not ordering extra. This calculator starts with an extra for waste, a typical value, not a standard, so ask your supplier how much to add.
  • Treating the result as a quote. It is an estimate. Confirm quantities with your supplier before you order.
  • What this tool does not cover: pipe volume in a drain, geotextile fabric, edging, base design or load rating.

Cubic yards to cubic feet, cubic metres and tons

The tons column uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Bagged gravel and bulk bags: divide the cubic feet you need by the size printed on the bag, or enter the bag size in the calculator.

Cubic yards converted
Cubic yards Cubic feet Cubic metres Tons
1 27 0.76 1.40
2 54 1.53 2.80
3 81 2.29 4.20
5 135 3.82 7.00
10 270 7.65 14.00

Common sizes

Real jobs with no extra added. The depths are examples to show the sum, not recommendations. Add your own extra for waste.

Gravel for common jobs at 1.4 tons per cubic yard
Job Depth Cubic yards Tons
Small bed, 10 x 10 ft 2 in 0.62 0.86
Small bed, 10 x 10 ft 3 in 0.93 1.30
Patio base, 12 x 12 ft 4 in 1.78 2.49
Garden path, 3 x 40 ft 3 in 1.11 1.56
Parking pad, 10 x 20 ft 4 in 2.47 3.46
Driveway strip, 10 x 50 ft 4 in 6.17 8.64
Driveway strip, 10 x 100 ft 4 in 12.35 17.28

Frequently asked questions

How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?

Multiply length x width x depth (in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 20 ft x 10 ft area 3 in deep is 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards.

How do I convert square feet to cubic yards of gravel?

Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For 200 square feet at 3 inches deep: 200 x 0.25 = 50 cubic feet, which is 1.85 cubic yards.

Is gravel sold by the yard or the ton?

Ask your supplier which unit they quote. This calculator gives both: cubic yards from the size of the job, and tons from the weight per cubic yard. It starts at 1.4 tons per cubic yard; replace it with your supplier's figure.

Should gravel be compacted?

For a base that carries traffic, yes. For the aggregate base of a heavy-use area pad, the USDA NRCS asks for compaction to a CBR of 80 or about 125 to 135 pounds per cubic foot. Compacting packs the stone into less space, so add extra in the waste box and confirm the amount with your supplier. [2]

Is pea gravel 3/8 inch?

The USDA NRCS says round gravel of a small size, 1/8 to 3/8 inch, is sometimes called pea gravel. So 3/8 inch is the top of that range. Sizes vary by supplier, so ask yours. [2]

How much extra gravel should I order?

This calculator starts at 10% extra for waste, settling and uneven ground. That is a typical value, not a standard: we found no government or standards figure for it. Ask your supplier how much to add for your job.

Sources and references

  1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically (SP 811, accessed November 2026). Used for: conversions between foot, inch, yard, cubic yard, pound and short ton, and the acre in square meters.
  2. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Earth and Aggregate Surfacing Design Guide (Technical Note 210-AEN-04, August 2017, accessed November 2026). Used for: The compaction target for the aggregate base of a heavy-use area pad (CBR of 80 or about 125 to 135 lb/ft³) and how crushed stone and round gravel behave.
  3. The Engineering ToolBox. Dirt and Mud - Densities (accessed November 2026). Used for: Dry and wet gravel weight per cubic foot, and the weight of loam per cubic foot.

How we use sources: methodology.

Estimates only. Confirm quantities with your supplier. See the disclaimer. Found a wrong result? Report an error.