Home › Gravel calculator · Updated November 4, 2026 · Sources
Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width and depth of the area. The ticket gives you cubic yards to order, the weight in tons, and a drawing to check against. Pick the stone type for its weight, or type in your supplier's figure.
How much area a ton of gravel covers
Crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | One ton covers | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 116 ft² | 162 ft² |
| 3 in | 77 ft² | 108 ft² |
| 4 in | 58 ft² | 81 ft² |
| 6 in | 39 ft² | 54 ft² |
Gravel for common sizes
Cubic yards and tons of crushed stone, before any extra.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 yd³ · 0.9 t | 0.93 yd³ · 1.3 t | 1.23 yd³ · 1.7 t |
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 yd³ · 1.7 t | 1.85 yd³ · 2.6 t | 2.47 yd³ · 3.5 t |
| 12 × 24 ft | 1.78 yd³ · 2.5 t | 2.67 yd³ · 3.7 t | 3.56 yd³ · 5.0 t |
| 20 × 20 ft | 2.47 yd³ · 3.5 t | 3.70 yd³ · 5.2 t | 4.94 yd³ · 6.9 t |
| 12 × 50 ft | 3.70 yd³ · 5.2 t | 5.56 yd³ · 7.8 t | 7.41 yd³ · 10.4 t |
Worked examples
- Garden path, 30 × 3 ft. Family Handyman's method uses about 2 in of base and 2 in of ¼ in gravel on top: 0.56 yd³ of base (about 0.8 t) plus 0.56 yd³ of pea gravel (about 0.8 t, or 30 bags).
- Driveway, 12 × 50 ft. Bob Vila's guide uses three layers of 4–6 in. At 4 in each, every layer is 7.41 yd³: about 11.1 t of road base or large rock, or 10.4 t of crushed gravel. Order each layer separately and compact between them.
- Base under a 12 × 16 ft slab. The residential code calls for 4 in of gravel or crushed stone under slabs below grade: 2.37 yd³, about 3.3 t. See the gravel base guide.
Weight by gravel type
| Type | Tons per yd³ | Typical range | Yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel / crushed stone (¼–2 in) | 1.4 | 1.35–1.7 | 0.71 |
| Pea gravel | 1.4 | 1.35–1.7 | 0.71 |
| Road base / crusher run | 1.5 | 1.4–1.5 | 0.67 |
| River rock | 1.4 | 1.39–1.7 | 0.71 |
| Crushed limestone | 1.32 | 1.32–1.7 | 0.76 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.35 | 1.3–1.4 | 0.74 |
Your supplier's own figure is always better. Type it into “Weight per volume” and the ticket uses it.
Which stone for which layer
- Driveway base: large crushed rock. Bob Vila suggests 6 in stone at the bottom; Hunker suggests 3–4 in.
- Driveway middle: 2–3 in stone (both sources).
- Driveway top: angular gravel that locks together, about ⅜ in according to Hunker. Round stone rolls under tyres.
- Paths: ¼ in or smaller, often pea gravel, for comfortable walking.
- Patios: crushed gravel ⅜–¾ in (Hunker).
The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
Bags (0.5 ft³) = cubic yards × 54
For L-shapes, split the area into rectangles and add them up. For a circle, area = 3.14 × radius². Measure the depth in a few places and use the average. The measuring guide works the same way for gravel.
Bags or bulk?
Bagged all-purpose gravel is sold in 0.5 ft³, 50 lb bags, so a cubic yard is 54 bags and about 1.35 tons to carry. Bags suit small jobs such as post holes or a short path. For more than about a cubic yard, ask a landscape yard for a bulk price delivered: stone is usually sold by the ton, so use the tons figure on the ticket.
Questions
How much gravel do I need for a 10 × 10 area?
At 3 in deep, 0.93 cubic yards, which is about 1.3 tons of crushed stone or 50 bags of 0.5 ft³. At 2 in it's two thirds of that, and at 4 in a third more.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
About 116 ft² at 2 in deep, 77 ft² at 3 in and 58 ft² at 4 in, using 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Heavier stone covers less.
How many tons are in a yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons for crushed stone, with 1.35–1.7 typical depending on stone size and moisture. The table above lists each type.
How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?
Fifty-four. Bagged all-purpose gravel usually comes in 0.5 ft³ (50 lb) bags, and a cubic yard is 27 ft³. Past about a cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and much less work.
How deep should gravel be?
It depends on the job. Family Handyman’s garden path uses about 2 in of base under 2 in of ¼ in gravel. Bob Vila’s driveway guide builds three layers of 4–6 in each, from large crushed rock at the bottom to angular gravel on top. Ask your supplier what works on local soil.
Should I add extra?
Gravel settles as it is compacted and driveways lose stone over time. Add 5–10% with the Extra box, and ask your supplier how much more a compacted base needs for the material you’re buying.
Guides: Gravel base under a concrete slab · How to measure
Sources
Gravel weights: SelectSG, Aggregate Markets, Inch Calculator. Driveway layers: Bob Vila, how to make a gravel driveway. Path depth: Family Handyman, DIY gravel path. Stone sizes: Hunker, how to select gravel sizes. Bag size (bag sizes vary by brand, so check the bag): QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel, 0.5 ft³ / 50 lb. Slab base: IRC summary by EVstudio.