Gravel Calculator
Enter the size of your path, patio or driveway and how deep the stone should be to get the cubic yards, tons and bags to order.
Gravel for common projects
| Project | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (at 1.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkway 3 × 20 ft | 3 in | 0.56 | 0.8 |
| Path 4 × 30 ft | 3 in | 1.11 | 1.6 |
| Patio base 10 × 10 ft | 4 in | 1.23 | 1.7 |
| Patio base 12 × 12 ft | 4 in | 1.78 | 2.5 |
| Shed pad 10 × 12 ft | 4 in | 1.48 | 2.1 |
| Driveway 10 × 50 ft | 4 in | 6.17 | 8.6 |
| Driveway 12 × 60 ft | 6 in | 13.33 | 18.7 |
Before waste and compaction: add about 10%, more for base material you'll compact.
Weight of common materials
| Material | Tons per cubic yard | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | about 1.4 | Paths, patios, play areas, drainage |
| Crushed stone #57 (¾ in) | about 1.4 | Driveway top layer, drainage, under pavers' base |
| Crusher run / road base | about 1.5, more compacted | Compacted base for driveways, patios and sheds |
| River rock | about 1.35 | Decorative beds, dry creek beds |
| Decomposed granite | about 1.4 | Paths and patios with a natural look |
| Sand | about 1.35 | Paver bedding, under concrete, play sand |
Weights are typical for dry, loose material; wet stone and sand are heavier. Suppliers quote their own numbers, so check before ordering by the ton.
How deep to lay gravel
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative ground cover | 2 in |
| Walkway or garden path | 2–3 in of top stone over 2–4 in of compacted base |
| Patio or shed base | 4 in of compacted base (more on soft soil) |
| Paver base | 4–6 in of compacted base plus 1 in of sand |
| Driveway | 4–6 in of compacted base plus 2–3 in of top stone |
How to calculate gravel
- Area in square feet: length × width, or 3.1416 × radius² for a circle.
- Cubic feet: area × depth in inches ÷ 12. 100 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12 = 25 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: cubic feet ÷ 27. 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
- Tons: cubic yards × the material's weight. 0.93 × 1.4 = 1.3 tons.
- Bags: cubic feet ÷ 0.5 for the usual 0.5 cu ft (about 50 lb) bag. 25 ÷ 0.5 = 50 bags.
Measure the area with a tape measure. Pouring a slab instead? Use the concrete calculator; for garden beds, the mulch calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet, then by 27 for cubic yards. Most gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so multiply by 1.4 for tons. A 10 × 10 ft area 4 inches deep is 1.23 cubic yards, or about 1.7 tons.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
About 115 square feet at 2 inches deep, 77 sq ft at 3 inches and 58 sq ft at 4 inches, for gravel that weighs 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Heavier or more compacted material covers a little less.
How many tons are in a yard of gravel?
Usually 1.3 to 1.5 tons, about 1.4 for pea gravel and crushed stone. Crusher run and road base are heavier, around 1.5 tons or more once compacted; wet material weighs more. Ask your supplier, since some sell by the ton and some by the yard.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A typical gravel driveway has 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed base (crusher run or #3 stone) under 2 to 3 inches of top stone such as #57. Soft or clay soil needs a deeper base, and a fabric underneath helps keep the stone from sinking.
How deep should pea gravel be for a path?
About 2 to 3 inches, over landscape fabric and ideally a 2 to 4 inch compacted base. Deeper pea gravel is hard to walk on because the round stones roll underfoot; edging keeps it in place.