Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel for driveways, paths, and landscaping.
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How to Calculate Gravel for Your Project
The gravel calculator converts your project dimensions into cubic yards and tons — the two units suppliers use for pricing. Knowing both is important because small orders are sold in 50-lb bags at hardware stores, while large orders are delivered by the cubic yard or ton from landscaping suppliers.
Recommended Depths by Application
Decorative garden beds and paths: 2–3 inches. Walkways and patios: 3–4 inches. Residential driveways (light traffic): 4–6 inches. Driveways with heavy traffic: 6–8 inches. Drainage layers: 4–6 inches of clean stone. For driveways, use a layered system: 4–6 inches of compacted base stone topped with 2 inches of surface stone.
Cubic Yards vs. Tons
Volume (cubic yards) = length × width × (depth/12) ÷ 27. Weight (tons) = cubic yards × density (typically 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone). Suppliers may quote in either unit — know both so you can compare prices. Bulk delivery is significantly cheaper per ton than bagged material at hardware stores.
Compaction
When gravel is compacted by vehicle traffic or mechanical compaction, it settles by 15–20%. For driveway applications where compaction is expected, add 15% to your calculated volume. For decorative beds that won't be compacted, your calculation is more accurate as-is.
Ordering Tips
Minimum delivery charges for bulk stone typically assume 1–3 cubic yards. For amounts under 1 cubic yard, bagged material from a hardware store may be more economical despite the higher per-unit cost. For large projects, get quotes from multiple landscape supply yards — prices vary widely by region and stone type.
Frequently Asked Questions
100 ft × 10 ft wide × 6 in deep = 100 × 10 × 0.5 = 500 cu ft ÷ 27 = 18.5 cu yd. Add 10% for compaction = ~21 cu yd. At 1.35 tons/cu yd = ~28 tons.
At least 6 inches total for residential driveways. Use a two-layer system: 4 inches of compacted base stone + 2 inches of surface stone on top. On clay soils, add geotextile fabric before the base layer to prevent mixing.
Approximately 1.35–1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on stone size and type. Pea gravel: ~1.4 tons/cu yd. Crushed limestone: ~1.45 tons/cu yd. Lava rock: ~0.85 tons/cu yd (much lighter).
One ton (about 0.7 cu yd) covers: 160 sq ft at 2 inches deep; 80 sq ft at 4 inches deep; 53 sq ft at 6 inches deep. A 100×10 driveway at 6-inch depth needs about 28 tons.
Pea gravel (round, smooth, 3/8 inch) for decorative beds and paths. Crushed granite or trap rock for driveways. River rock for drainage and decorative accents. Decomposed granite (DG) for paths and xeriscaping — it compacts to an almost solid surface. Lava rock for lightweight, moisture-retaining garden beds.