Gravel calculator
Gravel calculator: how much gravel, stone or rock do you need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 12 for cubic feet, then by 27 for cubic yards: a 50 by 12 foot driveway 4 inches deep takes 7.41 cubic yards of gravel. Gravel is usually sold by the ton, and a yard’s weight depends on the stone, its size and moisture, so enter your supplier’s weight per yard and the calculator converts to tons, the area a ton covers, and cost. It works the same for crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, landscape rock and sand.
How much gravel you need
Top layer
Base layer
600 sq ft. Tons, coverage and cost appear when you enter your supplier’s weight and price.
How to work out gravel for a driveway or path
- Measure the area. Length times width; split curves and odd shapes into rectangles and circles and add them up.
- Choose the depth of each layer. Your supplier or contractor can say what suits your ground, traffic and stone.
- Work out the volume. Square feet × inches ÷ 12 = cubic feet; ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
- Add extra for compaction. Loose stone settles once it is driven or walked on.
- Convert to tons with your supplier’s figure. Yards × tons per yard for that product.
Converting units or working in meters? Use the cubic yard calculator. Sand for paver bedding or joints? The sand calculator. Pouring a slab on the base? The concrete calculator. Laying pavers? The paver calculator works out the base too. Ordering soil? The topsoil calculator counts bags too. Pricing a landscaping job? Use the landscaping pricing calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
- Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 50 by 12 foot driveway 4 inches deep is 600 × 4 ÷ 12 = 200 cubic feet, or 7.41 cubic yards. Add a little extra for spreading and compaction.
- How many tons of gravel do I need?
- Multiply the cubic yards by the weight of one cubic yard of that gravel, in tons. Weight per yard depends on the kind of stone, its size and how wet it is, so use your supplier's figure for the product you are buying; enter it and the calculator converts yards to tons.
- How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
- It varies with the type of stone, the size of the pieces and moisture, so there is no single number. Your supplier can tell you what a yard of their product weighs, and that is the figure to order by.
- How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
- It depends on the weight per yard and the depth. One ton is 1 ÷ (tons per cubic yard) cubic yards; multiply by 27 for cubic feet and divide by the depth in feet. Enter your supplier's weight and your depth and the calculator shows the square feet one ton covers.
- How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
- Work out the driveway's square feet, choose the depth of the top layer and, if your driveway needs one, a base layer of larger stone underneath. The calculator gives yards and tons for each layer separately, because the two are usually different products with different weights.
- Does this work for crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock or sand?
- Yes. The cubic yards are the same for any loose material; only the weight per yard and the price change, and those come from your supplier.
- Should I order extra gravel?
- Loose stone compacts once it is driven or walked on, and ground is rarely perfectly even, so most people order somewhat more than the exact volume. The calculator adds whatever percentage you choose.
- How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
- 27. A cubic yard is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. For other conversions, including cubic meters, use the cubic yard calculator.
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