How to use the gravel calculator
Choose the shape of the area, enter its size and how deep you want the gravel, then pick the stone. The calculator gives tons first, because quarries and most landscape suppliers price gravel by weight. Cubic yards are listed underneath for suppliers that sell by volume.
The extra percentage covers stone that disappears into soft ground, gets lost at the edges or compacts down. 10% suits most jobs. Raise it to 15 or 20% for a driveway you'll compact with a plate compactor, because compacted gravel takes up less space than loose gravel in a truck.
The formula
cubic feet = area (ft²) × depth (ft)
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × density (tons per yd³)
Worked example: a garden path 50 ft long and 3 ft wide, 3 inches deep
- Area: 50 × 3 = 150 ft².
- Volume: 150 × (3 ÷ 12) = 37.5 ft³.
- Add 10%: 37.5 × 1.10 = 41.25 ft³, which is 41.25 ÷ 27 = 1.53 yd³.
- Weight of #57 stone at 1.35 tons per yard: 1.53 × 1.35 = 2.06 tons.
Order 2 tons and you'll likely be fine, or 2.5 if the path runs over soft soil. If you'd rather carry bags home, 2.06 tons is about 83 bags of 50 lb, which is why most people pay for delivery at this size.
Which gravel, and how deep?
| Job | Gravel | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path | Pea gravel or ⅜ in chip over fabric | 2-3 in |
| Patio or shed base | Crusher run, compacted | 4 in |
| Driveway base | #3 or #2 stone | 4-6 in |
| Driveway middle layer | Crusher run (#411, dense grade) | 4 in |
| Driveway surface | #57 stone or crushed surface gravel | 2-3 in |
| Drainage trench, French drain | #57 clean stone | Fill the trench |
Run the calculator once per layer for a driveway, since each layer is a different stone with a different price. Clean stone (no fines) drains well but shifts underfoot. Crusher run has stone dust mixed in, so it packs hard and is the usual choice under pavers, sheds and concrete.
Measuring tips
- Curved paths: measure the length along the middle of the path, not along an edge.
- Odd-shaped areas: break them into rectangles, circles and triangles, run each one, and add the tons together. The square footage calculator lets you add several shapes in one go if you'd rather get one total area first.
- Depth: push a stake into the ground at a few spots and measure how much you need to fill. Use the average.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the weed fabric. Without landscape fabric, stone slowly works down into the soil and you'll top it up every year.
- Laying it too thick. More than 3 in of pea gravel on a path is like walking on a beach. Thicker isn't better for surface layers.
- Using the wrong density. Lava rock and other lightweight stone weigh roughly half as much as gravel. Use the stone and landscape rock calculator for decorative rock.
Questions people ask
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Usually about 1.3 to 1.5 tons (2,600 to 3,000 lb). Clean stone like #57 or pea gravel sits near 1.35 tons per yard; crusher run with fines packs tighter and is closer to 1.45. Wet gravel weighs more.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one ton of #57 stone covers about 120 square feet. At 3 inches it covers about 80, and at 4 inches about 60. Divide 240 by the depth in inches for a quick estimate.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Most gravel driveways are built in layers: 4 to 6 inches of larger base stone, then 4 inches of crusher run, then 2 to 3 inches of surface gravel. On soft clay, add more base or lay a geotextile fabric first.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 area?
At 3 inches deep a 10 × 10 ft area is 25 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards. That's about 1.25 tons of #57 stone before any extra. Order 1.5 tons to allow for compaction and an uneven base.
Should I buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Use whichever unit your supplier quotes. Quarries usually sell by the ton because they weigh trucks; landscape yards often sell by the scoop or cubic yard. This calculator shows both so you can compare prices.
Sources and assumptions
- Vulcan Materials product calculators (aggregate bulk densities)
- Luck Stone product calculator
- Densities are typical loose values for dry stone (1.35-1.45 tons/yd³). Your quarry's figure can differ by 10% or more; enter it if you have it.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026. Every formula on this page is checked against the worked example above in our automated tests. Found a problem? Tell us.