Gravel Calculator
Measure the area you want to cover and the depth of the layer, and the calculator returns the volume of gravel, how much it weighs and, with a price per ton, what it will cost.
Created by the Reeliy Editorial Team. Last updated: Oct 19, 2026
How the gravel calculator works
Gravel is ordered by weight but spread by volume, so the calculator works in two steps. First it multiplies the area by the depth of the layer to get the volume. Then it multiplies that volume by the density of the gravel to get the weight, and the weight by your price per ton to get the cost.
- Choose the unit system, then tell the calculator whether the area is rectangular or circular.
- Enter the width and length (or the diameter) and the depth of the gravel layer. Each value has its own unit, so feet, inches, yards, centimeters and meters can be mixed.
- Leave the density at its default, or type the figure from your supplier's data sheet.
- Add a price per ton (per tonne in metric mode) if you want a cost.
Measuring different areas
The volume of a flat layer is its footprint times its depth. How you get the footprint depends on the shape.
rectangle: volume = width × length × depth
circle: volume = π × (diameter ÷ 2)2 × depth
Example: a driveway extension
A strip 10 ft wide and 40 ft long, topped with 4 inches of gravel, is 10 × 40 × 1/3 = 133.3 ft3, which is 4.94 cubic yards. At the default density of 104.88 lb/ft3 that is 13,984 lb, or 6.99 short tons. At a price of $38.40 per ton the stone costs about $268.49.
Example: a round fire-pit surround
A circle 8 ft across and 3 inches deep holds π × 42 × 0.25 = 12.57 ft3, or 0.465 yd3. That is about 1,318 lb of gravel, or 0.66 short tons. Below half a ton (1,000 lb) the calculator reports pounds only; above it, tons and pounds together.
Irregular shapes
Split an odd outline into rectangles and circles, run each one through the calculator and add the volumes. For a curved bed, a rough alternative is to measure the length along the middle of the bed and multiply by its average width. If the depth varies, use the average depth.
How far does a cubic yard go?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so the area it covers is 27 × 12 ÷ depth in inches, in square feet. Use the table to sanity-check your result.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 yd3 |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 ft2 |
| 2 inches | 162 ft2 |
| 3 inches | 108 ft2 |
| 4 inches | 81 ft2 |
| 6 inches | 54 ft2 |
Common depths: 1 to 2 inches for a decorative top dressing, 3 to 4 inches for a walking path, and 4 to 6 inches or more for a driveway or a base under pavers. Drainage trenches are much deeper.
Gravel weight, density and tons
Loose, dry gravel usually has a density between 1,520 and 1,680 kg/m3 (95 to 105 lb/ft3); gravel mixed with sand is closer to 1,920 kg/m3 (120 lb/ft3). Wet or very fine material is heavier. The calculator starts from 104.88 lb/ft3, which equals 1,680 kg/m3.
At that density one cubic yard weighs 27 × 104.88 = 2,832 lb, or about 1.42 short tons, and a ton of gravel fills 0.706 yd3. In metric terms, a cubic meter weighs 1.68 tonnes and a tonne fills about 0.595 m3.
Be careful with the word ton. A US (short) ton is 2,000 lb or 907 kg, a metric tonne is 1,000 kg or 2,205 lb, and a long ton is 2,240 lb. The price field follows the unit system you chose: per short ton in US units and per tonne in metric units.
Common gravel and crushed stone
| Material | Typical look | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | Rounded stones around 3/8 in | Paths, play areas, around pipes |
| Crushed stone (about 3/4 in) | Angular, grey | Driveways, drainage layers, concrete bases |
| Larger crushed stone (1 to 2 in) | Angular, coarse | Drainage trenches, erosion control |
| Crusher run | Stone mixed with fines | Compacted sub-base under paving |
| River rock | Smooth, 2 to 5 in | Decorative beds and dry creek lines |
Angular stone locks together when compacted and suits load-bearing layers. Rounded stone stays loose, which is comfortable underfoot and drains well but moves under wheels.
Ordering tips
- Gravel settles and compacts. For a compacted base, many people order about 10 to 15 percent more than the loose volume.
- Ask the supplier for their own density figure and whether they sell by the ton, the cubic yard or the load, then type it into the density field.
- A pickup's payload limit is usually reached long before its bed is full, because a single cubic yard of gravel already weighs well over a ton. Check the weight, not just the volume.
- A layer of landscape fabric under the gravel helps stop it from mixing into the soil.
Quantities are estimates for planning and shopping. See the disclaimer. For the pad that usually goes on top, try the concrete calculator; for the bedding layer, the sand calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 1.4 short tons, or 2,800 lb, for loose dry gravel at the calculator's default of 104.88 lb/ft3. Wet, fine or sand-mixed gravel can reach 1.6 tons or more.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A typical driveway uses 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone, more on soft ground or where heavy vehicles drive. For footpaths 3 to 4 inches is common and for a decorative layer 1 to 2 inches is usually enough.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards at the default density, so a ton covers roughly 57 ft2 at 4 inches deep. Heavier or wetter gravel covers less.
Why does the calculator show pounds only for small amounts?
When the weight is half a ton or less the answer is given in pounds (kilograms in metric mode); above that it also shows tons (or tonnes), because tons are what suppliers quote.
Cite this calculator and page
If you use this page in your work, you can cite it as:
Reeliy Editorial Team. (2026). Gravel Calculator. Reeliy. https://reeliy.com/calculators/gravel-calculator“Gravel Calculator.” Reeliy, 2026, https://reeliy.com/calculators/gravel-calculator.