Gravel Calculator
This gravel calculator estimates the amount of gravel you need to cover an area, based on the density and the depth of the gravel. It also estimates the cost of the gravel for your project.
Enter a length greater than 0.
Enter a width greater than 0.
Enter a depth greater than 0.
Enter a density from 40 to 150 lb per cubic foot.
Enter a quantity of 1 or more, as a whole number.
Enter a waste allowance from 0 to 20 percent.
There is no single standard allowance. Compaction can shrink the layer by 30 percent or more, so add extra for a compacted base.
Enter a truck capacity of 1 short ton or more, as a whole number.
Enter a price of 0 or more, or leave it blank.
Enter your dimensions and click Calculate.
No result yet. Enter your dimensions and click Calculate.
Prices vary by supplier and location. Confirm with your local supplier before ordering.
Gravel is loose aggregate made of stone fragments, used for driveways, paths, patios, drainage and as a base under concrete. It is sold by size, and the size names come from a standard system. ASTM D448 and the matching AASHTO M 43 define numbered size designations for coarse aggregate and screenings, including the sizes used for gravel. A size number names a gradation, the permitted range of particle sizes that pass each sieve, not a single particle size. Crushed stone #57, for example, is graded from 1 in down to the No. 4 sieve. Neither standard sets density or weight.
How much gravel do I need?
- Measure the area. Measure the length and width of the area in feet. If you already know the area, use the known area shape and enter the area in square feet.
- Measure the depth. Measure the depth in inches. Divide by 12 to get feet. 4 inches is 4 / 12, or 0.333 feet.
- Multiply for cubic feet. For a rectangle, multiply length x width x depth in feet. For a known area, multiply area x depth in feet.
- Divide by 27 for cubic yards. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so divide the cubic feet figure by 27.
- Multiply by the density for weight. Multiply the cubic feet by the density in lb per cubic foot to get the weight in pounds. Then divide by 2,000 to get short tons. General gravel uses 105 lb per cubic foot.
- Add waste and divide for truckloads. Multiply the tons by 1.10 for 10 percent waste. Divide the order tons by the truck capacity and round up to whole truckloads. A truckload is never rounded down.
Coverage: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 in, 162 square feet at 2 in, 108 square feet at 3 in and 81 square feet at 4 in. In short tons per 100 square feet at 105 lb per cubic foot: 0.88 tons at 2 in, 1.31 tons at 3 in, 1.75 tons at 4 in and 2.63 tons at 6 in.
Typical depths, as a starting point only: a path is usually 2 to 3 in of base, and a light driveway is usually 3 to 4 in. Heavier use is usually 4 to 6 in or more, laid in compacted layers. These are typical values, not a specification. The depth your job needs depends on the load, the ground and local practice, so confirm it before you order.
What is gravel?
Density is the number this page is built on, so it is stated plainly. General gravel, from 1/4 in to 2 in, weighs 105 lb per cubic foot, which is 2,835 lb per cubic yard or 1.42 short tons per cubic yard. That figure is the default in the calculator, and it is the consensus of the sources this page is based on. Density changes with the type of gravel, the quarry and the moisture, so the calculator lets you pick a type or enter your own density. The table below gives the density of each common type.
One warning about units: a short ton is 2,000 lb and a metric tonne is 2,204.6 lb, and the two are often mixed up. On this page every weight in tons is a short ton, and metric tonnes are shown separately, so the number you order is the number your supplier expects.
| Gravel type | Size | Density (lb/ft3) | Density (lb/yd3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea Gravel | 4-10 mm / 1/8-3/8 in | 95 | 2,565 |
| River Rock | 25-50 mm / 1-2 in | 105 | 2,835 |
| Crushed Stone #57 | 12-19 mm / 1/2-3/4 in | 90 | 2,431 |
| Crushed Stone #411 | 0-19 mm / 0-3/4 in | 105 | 2,835 |
| Dense Graded Aggregate (DGA/QP) | 0-19 mm / 0-3/4 in | 125 | 3,374 |
| Bank Run Gravel | 0-75 mm / 0-3 in | 120 | 3,240 |
| Decomposed Granite | 0-6 mm / 0-1/4 in | 103 | 2,781 |
| Lava Rock | 12-75 mm / 1/2-3 in | 51.5 | 1,391 |
| Marble Chips | 10-20 mm / 3/8-3/4 in | 95 | 2,565 |
| Riprap | 150-600 mm / 6-24 in | 100 | 2,700 |
Riprap density varies by source, so confirm it with your supplier before ordering a large quantity.
Gravel formula and worked example
Rectangular area: Volume (ft3) = Length x Width x Depth.
Known area: Volume (ft3) = Area x Depth.
Volume (yd3): Volume (yd3) = Volume (ft3) / 27.
Volume (m3): Volume (m3) = Volume (ft3) x 0.0283168.
Weight (lb): Weight (lb) = Volume (ft3) x density (lb/ft3), general gravel 105 lb/ft3 by default.
Short tons: Short tons = Weight (lb) / 2,000.
Tonnes: Tonnes = Short tons x 0.907185.
Order (short tons): Order (short tons) = Short tons x (1 + waste percent / 100).
Truckloads: Truckloads = order short tons / truck capacity, rounded up.
Cost: Cost = order short tons x price per ton (only if a price was entered).
Worked Example
A 40 x 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep, general gravel 105 lb/ft3:
Area: 40 x 10 = 400 square feet.
Depth: 4 in = 4 / 12 ft, or 0.333 ft.
40 x 10 x (4 / 12) = 133.33 cubic feet
133.33 / 27 = 4.94 cubic yards
In cubic metres, that is 3.78 m3.
Weight: 133.33 ft3 x 105 lb/ft3 = 14,000 lb.
Short tons: 14,000 / 2,000 = 7.00 short tons (6.35 tonnes).
Waste: 10 percent, 7.00 x 1.10 = 7.70 short tons. Order 7.70 short tons.
Truckloads: 7.70 / 20 = 1 truckload.
Check by coverage: one cubic yard covers 81 square feet at 4 in, 400 / 81 = 4.94 cubic yards, the same answer.
Check by tons per cubic yard: 4.94 x 1.42 = 7.01 short tons, the same answer within rounding.
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Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length x width x depth in feet, then multiply by the density and divide by 2,000. In short: Short tons = Length x Width x (Depth in inches / 12) x 105 / 2,000. For example, a 40 x 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep, needs 40 x 10 x 0.333 x 105 / 2,000 = 7.00 short tons. Add waste before you order: 10 percent waste gives 7.70 short tons. The calculator on this page does the same sum.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
One cubic yard of general gravel weighs 2,835 lb at a density of 105 lb per cubic foot (27 cubic feet x 105 lb per cubic foot), which is 1.42 short tons. Pea gravel is lighter, about 2,565 lb per cubic yard, and dense graded aggregate is heavier, about 3,374 lb per cubic yard. Always ask which ton your supplier means: a short ton is 2,000 lb, a metric tonne is 2,204.6 lb.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
One short ton of general gravel is about 0.71 cubic yards (2,000 / 2,835). The other way round, one cubic yard of general gravel weighs 1.42 short tons. The figure changes with the type: pea gravel is about 0.78 cubic yards per short ton (2,000 / 2,565), and dense graded aggregate is about 0.59 cubic yards per short ton (2,000 / 3,374).
What area will 1 ton of gravel cover?
One short ton of general gravel covers about 114 square feet at 2 in deep and about 57 square feet at 4 in deep. One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 in, 162 square feet at 2 in, 108 square feet at 3 in and 81 square feet at 4 in. These figures use a density of 105 lb per cubic foot.
How many truckloads of gravel do I need?
Divide the order tons by the truck capacity and round up to whole truckloads. A truckload is never rounded down. A pickup truck holds about 1 cubic yard, and a dump truck holds 13 to 25 short tons. The calculator on this page uses a truck capacity of 20 short tons by default, and you can change it.
Which type of gravel should I use?
It depends on the job. Pea gravel is for walkways, patios and decorative areas, and it does not compact well. Crushed stone #57 is for driveways, drainage and concrete mix, and it drains well. Crushed stone #411 and dense graded aggregate compact into a firm base, so they suit driveways and road base. River rock is for landscaping and drainage. Ask your supplier for the density of the type you buy, because the weight per cubic yard changes with the type.