DIY Home CalcsGravel Calculator
Estimate how much gravel, crushed stone or pea gravel you need for a driveway, path or patio base. The calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards and then into tons, the unit most quarries and landscape suppliers sell by.
How to calculate gravel
- Multiply length × width in feet to get the area.
- Multiply by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
- Multiply cubic yards by the material's density in tons per cubic yard.
Worked example: a gravel driveway
- A 50 ft × 12 ft driveway is 600 sq ft.
- At 4 in deep: 600 × 4 ÷ 12 = 200 cu ft, or 7.41 cu yd.
- At 1.4 tons per yard: about 10.4 tons.
A typical single-axle dump truck carries roughly 5 to 7 tons, a tandem about 10 to 15 tons, so this job is likely one or two deliveries. Delivery capacity varies by supplier and local weight limits.
Recommended depths
| Project | Typical depth | Common material |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path or walkway | 2–3 in | Pea gravel, decomposed granite |
| Patio or paver base | 4–6 in (compacted) | Crusher run / road base |
| Shed base | 4 in | Crushed stone |
| New driveway | 8–12 in in layers | Large stone base, crusher run top |
| Driveway top-up | 2 in | Crushed stone |
Tips for ordering gravel
- Layer it. Driveways last longer with a base of larger stone and a top layer of smaller, angular stone that locks together.
- Use edging. Steel, plastic or stone edging stops gravel migrating into the lawn and means less topping-up.
- Lay landscape fabric under paths to keep stone from sinking into the soil.
- Pouring a concrete slab on top of the base? Use the concrete calculator for the slab itself.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) and divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the material's weight, typically about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 4 in deep is about 7.4 cu yd, or roughly 10.4 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 1.4 to 1.7 short tons per cubic yard (2,800 to 3,400 lb). Dry pea gravel is at the lighter end; wet or densely graded crushed stone is heavier. Your supplier can tell you the figure for their material.
How deep should gravel be?
Around 2 to 3 inches for garden paths, 4 inches for a compacted patio or shed base, and 4 to 6 inches or more for driveways, often laid in layers of coarser stone underneath and finer stone on top.
Why is gravel sold by the ton?
Quarries weigh trucks on a scale, so tons are the easiest unit to measure accurately. Some landscape yards sell by the cubic yard instead; this calculator gives both.
Should I add extra for compaction?
Yes. Crushed stone with fines compacts noticeably. Many contractors add 10% to 15% for compacted bases; enter a slightly greater depth to account for it.