Gravel calculator
This gravel calculator turns the length, width and depth of a driveway, path or patio into cubic yards and tons of stone, using a density for the stone type that you can change to your supplier’s figure.
- Cubic yards and tons together
- Crushed stone, pea gravel, sand and road base
- Driveway and path presets
Last updated
How to use the gravel calculator
- Pick an example size to start from, or enter your own width, length and depth.
- Choose the stone type. It fills in a starting density; if your supplier gives a tons-per-yard figure, type it in instead.
- Add extra for compaction and an uneven base. 10 percent is a reasonable start; more if the stone will be compacted hard.
- Order in cubic yards or tons, whichever your supplier sells by.
How to calculate gravel
Find the volume in cubic yards, then multiply by the stone’s weight per cubic yard to get tons.
cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)
A shortcut for the first step: square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards.
Density is the number that varies. The stone-type starting points (crushed stone 1.35, pea gravel 1.42, road base 1.62, sand 1.28 tons per cubic yard) are the loose figures Vertigraph publishes for estimating, but one supplier lists its washed #57 stone at 1.21 tons per cubic yard. Rock type, size and moisture all change it, so use your supplier’s number when you have it.
Worked example
A one-car driveway 10 ft wide and 50 ft long, 4 inches deep, in crushed stone, with 10% extra.
- Area: 10 × 50 = 500 sq ft.
- Volume: 500 × (4 ÷ 12) = 166.7 cubic feet, ÷ 27 = 6.17 cubic yards.
- With 10% extra: 6.17 × 1.10 = 6.79 cubic yards.
- Weight: 6.79 × 1.35 = 9.17 tons.
Order 7 cubic yards, or about 9 to 10 tons, depending on how your supplier sells it.
Cubic yards to tons
Tons for a given number of cubic yards at the starting densities. Swap in your supplier’s figure for an exact number.
| Cubic yards | Crushed stone (1.35) | Pea gravel (1.42) | Road base (1.62) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.35 | 1.42 | 1.62 |
| 3 | 4.05 | 4.26 | 4.86 |
| 5 | 6.75 | 7.10 | 8.10 |
| 10 | 13.5 | 14.2 | 16.2 |
Coverage per cubic yard
| Depth | Sq ft per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 |
| 3 in | 108 |
| 4 in | 81 |
| 6 in | 54 |
Driveways are usually built in layers, with larger stone or road base below and a finer top layer. Run the calculator once per layer.
Common questions
How much gravel do I need for a 100 ft driveway?
A 100 ft driveway 12 ft wide at 4 inches deep is 1,200 sq ft × (4 ÷ 12) = 400 cubic feet, or 14.8 cubic yards. At 1.35 tons per yard that is about 20 tons, before any extra for compaction.
How many tons is a yard of gravel?
Roughly 1.2 to 1.6 tons, depending on the stone. Crushed stone is often estimated at about 1.35 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard; ask your supplier for their figure.
How many yards is 5 tons of gravel?
Divide tons by the density. At 1.35 tons per cubic yard, 5 tons is 3.7 cubic yards; at 1.42 it is 3.5 cubic yards.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.35 tons per yard, a ton is 0.74 cubic yards (20 cubic feet). That covers about 120 square feet at 2 inches deep or 60 square feet at 4 inches.
How do I calculate gravel in square feet?
Multiply the square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 to get cubic yards. 300 sq ft at 3 inches is 300 × 3 ÷ 324 = 2.78 cubic yards.
Related calculators
Sources
- Vertigraph gravel and aggregate calculator. Loose estimating densities: crushed stone about 1.35, pea gravel 1.42, sand 1.28, road base 1.62 tons per cubic yard. Starting points only
- Gravelshop: Drainage Gravel #57 calculator. Lists its #57 stone at 2,410 lb (1.21 tons) per cubic yard, showing how much suppliers vary. Last checked 28 October 2026
See the methodology page for how YardageHQ builds and checks its calculators.