Gravel calculator
Work out how much gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel or sand you need for an area, by volume and by weight.
- 100% free
- Runs in your browser
- No uploads
Volume
Enter the size of the area and the depth.
- Runs on your deviceEvery tool works directly in your browser. No files are uploaded.
- Your privacy mattersYour files never leave your device, so there's nothing for us to store.
- No limitsUse any tool as much as you need. No daily caps, no waiting.
- Completely freeNo signup and no trial to cancel. Ads keep the tools free.
How to use the gravel calculator
- Pick the shape. Rectangle for driveways and paths, Circle for round beds, or Known area if you already have the square footage.
- Enter the size and depth. Every measurement has its own unit, so you can give the length in feet and the depth in inches.
- Choose the material. Pick gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel, sand or topsoil, or enter your supplier's density.
- Order by weight or volume. The result shows cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres, and the weight in US tons, pounds and metric tonnes.
How the amount is worked out
Volume = area × depth. The area is length × width for a rectangle, or π × (diameter ÷ 2)² for a circle. The settling allowance is then added: 5% more volume multiplies it by 1.05.
Weight = volume × density. The densities are typical dry, loose values: about 2,800 lb per cubic yard for mixed gravel, 2,700 lb for crushed stone and dry sand, 2,600 lb for pea gravel and 2,200 lb for dry topsoil. Real stone varies with its size, moisture and how tightly it's packed, so use the Custom option with your supplier's figure when you have it.
How far a cubic yard goes
| Depth | Area 1 cubic yard covers | Area 1 m³ covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in (2.5 cm) | 324 sq ft | 39.4 m² |
| 2 in (5 cm) | 162 sq ft | 19.7 m² |
| 3 in (7.6 cm) | 108 sq ft | 13.1 m² |
| 4 in (10 cm) | 81 sq ft | 9.8 m² |
| 6 in (15 cm) | 54 sq ft | 6.6 m² |
Example: a 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches is 6.17 cubic yards. With 5% extra that's 6.48 cubic yards, or about 9.07 US tons of mixed gravel.
Tips for ordering gravel
Ask how it's sold. Quarries and landscape yards sell by the ton, the tonne or the cubic yard. Use the matching line of the result.
Measure odd shapes in pieces. Split an L-shaped path into two rectangles, work out each, and add them together.
Check the truck. Large orders may need more than one delivery. Ask your supplier how much a load holds.
Pouring a slab on top? The concrete calculator works out the concrete and bags.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply the length and width in feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 50 × 10 ft driveway 4 inches deep is 50 × 10 × 0.333 = 166.7 cubic feet, or 6.17 cubic yards.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
Typically about 1.4 US tons (2,800 lb) for mixed gravel, about 1.35 tons for crushed stone and about 1.3 tons for pea gravel, when dry and loose. Wet or compacted stone weighs more, so your supplier's figure for their material is the one to use.
How deep should a gravel layer be?
It depends on the job and what's under it. Decorative paths and beds are often a couple of inches deep, while driveways are built up in several deeper layers over a compacted base. Your supplier or a local contractor can tell you what suits your soil.
Why add extra for settling?
Loose stone packs down when it's spread, raked and rolled, so the finished layer is thinner than the loose one. The extra percentage adds volume to make up for it. The 5% filled in is a starting point; add more if you'll compact the stone hard.
Is a US ton the same as a metric tonne?
No. A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb, about 907 kg. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, about 2,205 lb. The calculator shows both, so check which one your supplier sells by.