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CalcBelt

Gravel calculator

Find the tons and cubic yards of gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock or decomposed granite you need for a path, patio base or driveway.

Units
Shape

Paths and decorative beds: about 3 in. Gravel driveways: at least 6 in.

%

Crushed stone and decomposed granite pack down more.

tons per cu yd

Your supplier may quote a different figure; wet stone is heavier.

Most gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb), or about 1.66 tonnes per m³.

Gravel (mixed sizes) needed

2.85 tons

2.04 cubic yards · 1.56 m³, with 10% extra

Cubic feet
55
Weight
5,704 lb
50 lb bags
115For small jobs; buy bulk above about 1 ton

Cost estimate

per ton

Material: $85.56 for 2.85 tons

Typical US price $15 to $50 per ton (HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, October 2026). Delivery is often $10 to $25 per ton, or free above a minimum order (HomeGuide).

How it's calculated
  1. Area: 200 sq ft × depth 3 in = 50 cu ft
  2. Add 10% for compaction and spreading: 55 cu ft = 2.04 cu yd
  3. 2.04 cu yd × 1.4 tons per cu yd = 2.85 tons

Estimates use manufacturer data sheets and industry guides (sources). Check local codes and your supplier's figures before you order.

How to use the gravel calculator

  1. Choose the material. Each one has its own typical weight and compaction allowance.
  2. Pick the shape of the area and enter its size, or choose Known area and type the square footage.
  3. Enter the depth: about 3 in for paths and decorative beds, 4 in under pavers, and about 6 in for a gravel driveway.
  4. If your supplier quotes a weight per cubic yard, type it into the density box.
  5. Read the tons to order, or the cubic yards if your supplier sells by volume.

How to calculate gravel

Gravel is ordered by volume or by weight, so the calculation has two parts:

Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard)

Example: a path 20 ft long and 3 ft wide, 3 in deep, is 60 sq ft × 0.25 ft = 15 cubic feet, or 0.56 cubic yards. Add 10% for settling and spreading: 0.61 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that’s 0.86 tons, about 1,710 lb.

Typical weights

The calculator starts with these loose weights. Wet stone weighs more, so if your supplier gives a figure, use theirs.

Material Tons per cubic yard Extra added
Gravel, mixed sizes 1.4 10%
Crushed stone (#57) or road base 1.4 15%
Pea gravel 1.4 10%
River rock 1.3 10%
Decomposed granite 1.35 25%

In metric, 1.4 tons per cubic yard is about 1.66 tonnes per cubic meter.

How deep to spread it

Use Depth
Decorative beds and loose paths About 3 in (75 mm)
Base under a paver patio or walkway 4 in (100 mm) compacted, plus 1 in of sand
Base under a paver driveway 6 in (150 mm) compacted
Gravel driveway At least 6 in (150 mm) before compaction

Spread and compact a thick base in layers rather than all at once: ICPI’s base guide limits each compacted lift to 6 in. For a new driveway on soft ground, lay a coarse base first and finish with a smaller surface stone.

To pave over the stone, the asphalt calculator adds the gravel base for you, and the paver calculator does the same for a patio. For any other material sold by volume, use the cubic yard calculator.

Questions and answers

How much gravel do I need?

About 1 cubic yard (1.4 tons) for every 108 sq ft at 3 in deep, plus 10% for compaction. In general, multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches, divide by 12 and then by 27 for cubic yards, add the extra and multiply by 1.4 for tons. A 10 × 10 ft area at 3 in is 0.93 cubic yards: about 1 cubic yard, or 1.4 tons, with the extra.

How many tons is a yard of gravel?

About 1.4 tons for most gravel and crushed stone, so a ton is about 0.7 cubic yards. The calculator uses 1.4 tons for gravel, crushed stone and pea gravel, 1.35 for decomposed granite and 1.3 for river rock. Moisture and grading change the weight, so use your supplier's figure if they give one.

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

About 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) for most gravel and crushed stone, with a range of roughly 1.2 to 1.6 tons depending on the stone, its size and how wet it is. Caterpillar's earthwork tables list dry gravel at 2,550 to 2,850 lb per loose cubic yard.

How deep should gravel be?

About 3 in for paths and decorative areas. Paver patios need a 4 in compacted base (CMHA, formerly ICPI). For gravel driveways, PennDOT's gravel road guidance calls for at least 6 in of surface aggregate, measured before compaction.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 19.3 cubic feet. That covers about 116 sq ft at 2 in deep, 77 sq ft at 3 in and 58 sq ft at 4 in.

Why add extra for compaction?

Loose stone settles and packs down once it's spread and rolled, so a delivered yard fills less than a yard of finished depth. The calculator adds 10% for most gravel, 15% for crushed stone and 25% for decomposed granite; for crusher fines, a similar material, the US Forest Service advises 20 to 30% extra.

Should I buy gravel by the ton or by the yard?

Either works; suppliers quote one or the other. The calculator gives both, so you can compare prices, plus the number of 50 lb bags for small jobs.

How much is a ton of gravel?

About $15 to $50 per ton for bulk gravel and crushed stone, according to HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that's about $21 to $70 a yard. Delivery is often $10 to $25 per ton, or free above a minimum order nearby (HomeGuide).

How much does a 50 lb bag of gravel cover?

At about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (104 lb per cubic foot), a 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.48 cu ft: enough for about 2.9 sq ft at 2 in deep or 1.9 sq ft at 3 in. Check the bag, since products vary.

Sources

Figures checked October 2026.