Gravel Calculator
Calculate how many cubic yards and tons of gravel you need for a driveway, path, or landscaping project.
How to use this tool
- Enter the length and width of the area in feet.
- Enter the desired gravel depth in inches.
- The calculator returns cubic feet, cubic yards, and approximate tons.
Find out how much gravel to order for your driveway, path, or garden bed.
Formula
Volume (ft³) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12
Volume (yd³) = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27
Weight (tons) ≈ Volume (yd³) × 1.4
How it works
The calculator converts a rectangular area's dimensions to cubic feet (dividing depth in inches by 12 to get feet), then divides by 27 to convert to cubic yards — the standard unit for bulk material orders. Weight in short tons is estimated by multiplying cubic yards by 1.4, a typical bulk density factor for crushed stone or pea gravel (approximately 1.4 US tons per cubic yard). Actual density varies by gravel type and moisture content, so the tonnage figure is an approximation.
Worked example
Worked example
- Area: 20 ft long × 10 ft wide, 6 in deep.
- Volume (ft³) = 20 × 10 × (6 ÷ 12) = 20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 ft³.
- Cubic yards = 100 ÷ 27 ≈ 3.704 yd³.
- Tons ≈ 3.704 × 1.4 ≈ 5.185 tons.
Volume = 100 ft³; cubic yards ≈ 3.704 yd³; approximate weight ≈ 5.185 tons.
Key terms
- Cubic yard (yd³)
- The standard unit for ordering bulk landscape materials; equal to 27 cubic feet or approximately 0.765 cubic metres.
- Bulk density
- The mass of a loose material per unit volume, including air spaces between particles; for gravel typically 1.3–1.5 US tons per cubic yard.
- Crushed stone
- Mechanically broken rock used for driveways and drainage; denser and more angular than natural pea gravel.
- Depth (coverage depth)
- The thickness of gravel layer required; 2–4 in for decorative use, 4–6 in for driveways.
- Short ton
- A US unit of weight equal to 2000 pounds (approximately 907 kg); used by most gravel suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
- How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
- Driveways typically need 4–6 inches of gravel depth. Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 for cubic yards. One cubic yard weighs about 1.4 tons.
- How many tons of gravel per cubic yard?
- Pea gravel and crushed stone weigh approximately 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Denser materials like limestone gravel can weigh up to 1.5 tons per cubic yard.