Calculators / Gravel
Gravel Calculator
A 10 × 20 ft area, 3 in deep, needs about 1.94 cubic yards of crushed stone, or 2.63 tons, including 5% extra. In 0.5 cu ft bags, that is 105 bags. Enter your area below.
How much gravel do you need?
52.5 cu ft, 1.49 m³, area 200 sq ft, including 5% extra.
How much will it cost? Replacing a 600 sq ft concrete driveway, 4 in thick, typically costs $7,200 installed, including removal of the old one. Concrete driveway cost in your state
How to calculate gravel
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27, plus a little extra for spreading and settling. Tons = cubic yards × the weight of your stone per cubic yard. Bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5, rounded up.
Example: 200 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12 = 50 cu ft, or 1.85 cubic yards. With 5% extra, that is 1.94 cubic yards, and at 1.35 tons per cubic yard of crushed stone, 2.63 tons.
Gravel needed by area and depth
Crushed stone, with 5% extra: cubic yards and tons.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.65 yd³ / 0.9 t | 0.97 yd³ / 1.3 t | 1.30 yd³ / 1.8 t | 1.94 yd³ / 2.6 t |
| 200 sq ft | 1.30 yd³ / 1.8 t | 1.94 yd³ / 2.6 t | 2.59 yd³ / 3.5 t | 3.89 yd³ / 5.3 t |
| 300 sq ft | 1.94 yd³ / 2.6 t | 2.92 yd³ / 3.9 t | 3.89 yd³ / 5.3 t | 5.83 yd³ / 7.9 t |
| 500 sq ft | 3.24 yd³ / 4.4 t | 4.86 yd³ / 6.6 t | 6.48 yd³ / 8.8 t | 9.72 yd³ / 13.1 t |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.48 yd³ / 8.8 t | 9.72 yd³ / 13.1 t | 12.96 yd³ / 17.5 t | 19.44 yd³ / 26.3 t |
How much a cubic yard weighs
| Material | Tons per cubic yard | Area 1 ton covers at 2 in |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | 1.35 | 120 sq ft |
| Pea gravel | 1.40 | 116 sq ft |
| River rock | 1.30 | 125 sq ft |
| Crusher run (road base) | 1.50 | 108 sq ft |
| Sand | 1.35 | 120 sq ft |
Dry weights from supplier tables. Damp stone can weigh noticeably more.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
For a 12 × 40 ft driveway with 4 in of crusher run, you need 6.22 cubic yards, about 9.3 tons, including 5% extra. If the driveway is built in layers of different stone, calculate each layer with its own depth and material.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
A ton of crushed stone covers about 120 sq ft at 2 in deep, 80 sq ft at 3 in and 60 sq ft at 4 in. Lighter stone covers a little more.
How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so it takes 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft. For more than a cubic yard or two, bulk delivery is usually easier than bags.
Should I buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Quarries usually sell by the ton and many landscape suppliers by the cubic yard. Use both numbers from the calculator to compare prices. Wet stone weighs more, so a ton of wet gravel covers a little less area.
How deep should gravel be?
Under a concrete slab that sits below the surrounding grade, the residential building code calls for a 4 in base of sand, gravel or crushed stone, unless the soil is already well-drained sand and gravel (International Residential Code R506.2.2). Walkways and patios often use 2 to 3 in of decorative stone.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
It is optional. Fabric helps keep the stone from mixing into the soil and slows weeds. It does not change how much gravel you need.
How we calculated this
Volumes use standard geometry. Weights per cubic yard come from aggregate supplier tables (dry stone). We test the calculator against 155 worked examples, checked with a separate program. Sources.
Results are estimates. Suppliers weigh and round orders differently, so ask how they sell before you order.
Changelog
- : Published.
- : Formulas checked against 155 worked examples, verified with a separate program.
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