Gravel Calculator
Cubic yards & tons of gravel for driveways and paths
Building a gravel driveway, path or drain? Enter your dimensions to get the volume in cubic yards and the weight in tons, the two ways gravel is sold. Below the calculator you'll find a coverage chart, a worked driveway example, what each gravel type is for, and the mistakes that send people back for a second load.
How much gravel do I need?
The math is area × depth. Measure your length and width in feet, multiply them for the area, then multiply by the depth in feet (divide inches by 12). That gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
This calculator adds 10% on top for compaction, spreading and the uneven ground underneath. Gravel settles as it is driven on and raked out, so ordering the exact theoretical volume reliably leaves you short on the last stretch.
Rule of thumb: one ton of crushed stone covers about 100 ft² at 2 inches deep, or roughly 70 ft² at 3 inches. Double the depth and you halve the coverage.
Gravel coverage chart: how far a ton goes
This doubles as a gravel weight calculator: read gravel coverage per ton across, or work back from a delivery you have already ordered. Tons of gravel per square foot is simply the middle column divided by 100. Figures assume typical crushed stone at about 105 lb/ft³ and include the 10% compaction allowance.
| Depth | One ton covers | Tons per 100 ft² | Cubic yards per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 208 ft² | 0.48 | 0.34 |
| 2 inches | 104 ft² | 0.96 | 0.68 |
| 3 inches | 69 ft² | 1.44 | 1.02 |
| 4 inches | 52 ft² | 1.93 | 1.36 |
| 6 inches | 35 ft² | 2.89 | 2.04 |
Working across several materials on one job? The printable material coverage chart carries this gravel table alongside the same depth-and-coverage figures for topsoil, mulch, sand and concrete, on a single page you can take to the yard.
Gravel: tons vs. cubic yards
Gravel is sold two ways, and mixing them up is the most expensive mistake on this page. Cubic yards measure volume, the way bulk material is quoted and delivered. Tons measure weight, the way quarries and many landscape yards price it.
To convert, you need the density. Most crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (roughly 105 lb/ft³ × 27 ft³). Lighter rounded stone like pea gravel is closer to 1.3 tons; dense crusher run with a lot of fines can reach 1.5 tons. Moisture pushes it higher still, which is why a rained-on load weighs more than the same volume dry.
Which should you order in?
If the yard quotes by the ton, order by the ton and let them convert. Asking for "5 yards" of a material priced per ton invites a rounding error in someone else's favour. Always confirm which unit the price refers to before you agree to a delivery.
Worked example: gravel for a 12 × 20 ft driveway
A single-car driveway 12 ft wide and 20 ft long is 240 ft². A driveway that survives winter is built in two layers, so calculate each separately.
| Layer | Material | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-base | Crusher run | 4 in | 3.3 | 4.6 |
| Surface | #57 stone | 2 in | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| Total | — | 6 in | 4.9 | 6.9 |
So you'd order roughly 7 tons, or just under 5 cubic yards. Most single-axle dump trucks carry 5 to 7 tons, so that is about one full load. If your yard has a minimum delivery charge, it is often cheaper to round up to a full truck than to pay two delivery fees.
Which type of gravel should you buy?
"Gravel" covers a dozen products that behave very differently. Picking the wrong one is why some driveways lock up hard and others turn into a rut factory.
| Grade | Typical size | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher run (ABC, QP) | Dust to 3/4 in | Compacted sub-base | Sheds water rather than draining it |
| #57 stone | 3/4 in, washed | Driveway surface, French drains | Stays loose, never packs hard |
| #411 | Dust to 3/4 in | Top layer that locks together | Goes muddy over a weak base |
| Pea gravel | 3/8 in, rounded | Paths, patios, play areas | Rolls underfoot and migrates on slopes |
| #2 / #3 stone | 1.5 to 2.5 in | Deep base on soft, wet ground | Too coarse to walk or drive on bare |
| Decomposed granite | Fines | Garden paths and patios | Erodes in heavy rain without a binder |
For a driveway, angular crushed stone is the right answer almost every time. The broken faces wedge against each other and lock; rounded pea gravel simply rolls, which is why it creeps to the edges and why it is a poor choice on any slope.
How much gravel costs
Bulk gravel commonly runs $15 to $75 per cubic yard, or roughly $10 to $50 per ton, before delivery. Plain crusher run sits at the bottom of that range; washed and decorative stone sits at the top. Delivery typically adds $50 to $150 depending on distance and load size.
Bagged gravel is far more expensive per unit volume and only makes sense for small repairs. A 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 ft³, so it takes roughly 54 bags to equal one cubic yard. Past about 15 bags, a bulk delivery is almost always cheaper and much less work.
Prices vary sharply by region and by how far you are from a quarry, so treat the calculator's cost line as a planning estimate and get a local quote before ordering.
Building a gravel driveway that lasts
Depth matters less than structure. A well-built driveway is layered:
- Strip the topsoil. Organic soil holds water and stays soft. Dig down to firm subgrade, usually 6 to 8 inches.
- Lay geotextile fabric. This keeps your stone from sinking into the soil below, which is the single biggest cause of gravel "disappearing" over a few winters.
- Add a coarse sub-base of 3 to 4 inches of crusher run or #2 stone, and compact it in passes.
- Top with 1 to 2 inches of angular driving surface.
- Crown the surface so the centre sits about an inch higher than the edges, letting water run off instead of pooling and washing ruts.
- Edge it. Steel, timber or a paver border stops gravel creeping into the lawn.
Mistakes that make people re-order gravel
- Confusing tons with yards. Ordering "5" of the wrong unit is off by about 40%.
- Ignoring compaction. Gravel settles 10 to 20% once it is driven on. Order the allowance in.
- Skipping the base layer. Surface stone spread straight onto soil will sink and rut within a season.
- Using rounded stone on a slope. Pea gravel migrates downhill, then needs raking back every spring.
- Measuring a curved or irregular drive as one rectangle. Split it into rectangles, run each through the calculator, and add the results.
- Forgetting turnarounds and parking aprons. They are often a third of the total area.
How this gravel calculator works out its numbers
Volume is area × depth, converted at 27 ft³ to the cubic yard. Weight uses a density of 105 lb/ft³, the mid-point for typical crushed stone; real material ranges roughly 100 to 110 lb/ft³ depending on grade, fines content and moisture, which is why quoted tonnages vary between suppliers for the same volume.
- Compaction allowance: 10% is added by default, because gravel settles as it is spread and driven on.
- Tons: cubic feet × 105 ÷ 2,000. This gives about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, consistent with the 1.2 to 1.5 range quarries quote.
- Where it will differ: rounded pea gravel runs lighter (nearer 1.3 tons/yd³), dense crusher run heavier, and rained-on stone heavier again.
Figures reviewed . Every worked example on this page is checked against the calculator above.
Gravel Calculator: frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.4 tons for typical crushed stone, ranging 1.2 to 1.5 tons depending on stone type, fines content and moisture. Dense crusher run sits at the top of that range; lighter rounded pea gravel sits near the bottom.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
About 104 ft² at 2 inches deep, 69 ft² at 3 inches, or 52 ft² at 4 inches for typical crushed stone. Coverage halves each time you double the depth, so depth drives the weight you need far more than area does.
How deep should driveway gravel be?
Usually 4 to 6 inches total, built up in layers: a 3 to 4 inch compacted sub-base of crusher run, topped with 1 to 2 inches of angular driving surface. On soft or boggy ground, go deeper and lay geotextile fabric underneath.
How much gravel do I need for a 12x20 driveway?
A 12 by 20 ft driveway is 240 ft². At 6 inches total depth you need about 4.9 cubic yards, or roughly 6.9 tons, split as about 4.6 tons of crusher run base and 2.3 tons of surface stone.
What size gravel is best for a driveway?
Angular crushed stone. Use crusher run or #2 stone for the base and #57 or #411 for the surface. Avoid rounded pea gravel on driveways: it never locks together and migrates under tyres, especially on any slope.
How much does a yard of gravel cost?
Bulk gravel commonly runs $15 to $75 per cubic yard plus delivery, depending on stone type and region. Plain crusher run is cheapest; washed and decorative stone costs the most. Delivery usually adds $50 to $150.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Neither unit is inherently cheaper, they are just different ways of measuring the same pile. What matters is comparing quotes in the same unit. Convert using about 1.4 tons per cubic yard before deciding which supplier is actually cheaper.
How many bags of gravel equal a cubic yard?
About 54 standard 50 lb bags, since each holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Past about 15 bags a bulk delivery is normally cheaper and far less work.
Is 2 inches of gravel enough for a driveway?
No. Two inches is a surface dressing, not a driveway. You need 4 to 6 inches total: a 3 to 4 inch compacted sub-base with 1 to 2 inches of angular driving surface on top. Two inches laid over bare soil will sink and rut within a season.
How much gravel for a large driveway like 20 by 400 feet?
That is 8,000 ft². At 4 inches deep you need roughly 109 cubic yards, or about 154 tons, once the 10% compaction allowance is included. At that scale ask for a bulk price per ton rather than the retail per-yard rate.