Gravel Quantity Calculator
Estimate gravel tons, cubic yards, bags, and delivery truckloads needed for driveways, landscaping, and drainage.
Gravel Quantity Calculator - Tons, Yards, Bags & Coverage Estimator: Calculate gravel and crushed stone volume in cubic yards and weight in US tons for driveways and landscaping. Free, private, and simple to use in your browser.
Calculate Gravel & Crushed Stone Needs
Enter dimensions and stone type to determine volume, delivery weight in tons, and bag counts including compaction margins.
Gravel Coverage, Depth Standards & Bulk Density Formulas
Whether you are constructing a rural gravel driveway, installing a decorative patio walkway, setting bedding for flagstones, or digging a perforated French drain trench, accurately estimating your stone volume prevents both mid-project work stoppages and costly surplus waste disposal. Gravel is commercially purchased either by Cubic Yard (volume) or by Short Ton (2,000 lbs) (weight).
Formula for Calculating Gravel Yardage and Weight
To calculate the required cubic yardage of aggregate:
$$ ext{Volume (Cubic Yards)} = rac{ ext{Length (ft)} imes ext{Width (ft)} imes left( rac{ ext{Depth (in)}}{12} ight)}{27} imes left(1 + rac{ ext{Wastage %}}{100} ight)$$To convert cubic yardage to total delivered weight in US tons:
$$ ext{Weight (Tons)} = ext{Volume (Cubic Yards)} imes ext{Bulk Density Factor (Tons per yd}^3 ext{)}$$Most standard washed gravels and crushed rocks weigh between 1.3 and 1.5 tons per cubic yard (2,600 to 3,000 lbs/yd³).
Recommended Gravel Depths by Application
| Project Application | Recommended Depth | Ideal Aggregate Size & Type | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicular Driveways | 4 – 6 inches | #57 Stone / Crusher Run (3/4" minus) | Apply over compacted sub-base and geotextile fabric. |
| Pedestrian Garden Paths | 2 – 3 inches | Pea Gravel (3/8") or Decomposed Granite | Use rigid edging to prevent lateral stone migration. |
| French Drains & Trenching | 6 – 12 inches | Washed #57 River Rock / Clean Gravel | Avoid fines or crusher run to prevent silt clogging. |
| Shed & Hot Tub Pads | 4 inches | Dense Grade Aggregate (DGA) / Road Base | Tamp thoroughly in 2-inch lifts using a plate compactor. |
Bulk vs Bagged Cost Savings
Buying bagged gravel at home centers costs $4 to $6 per 50-lb bag (~$160 to $240 per ton). Bulk quarry delivery averages $30 to $65 per ton, saving over 70% on medium and large projects.
Compaction Compensation
Vibratory plate compaction settles aggregate by 10% to 15%, especially with graded crusher-run materials. Accounting for this margin prevents thin coverage.
Superior Drainage Performance
Using correct clean, angular washed gravel guarantees long-term hydrostatic pressure relief along foundation walls and French drains.
Delivery Truck Matching
Standard tandem dump trucks carry 10 to 14 tons. Knowing exact tonnage lets you coordinate single-drop vs multiple-drop delivery logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, one cubic yard of gravel weighs between 2,600 and 3,000 pounds (1.3 to 1.5 US short tons). Denser crushed stone with stone dust/fines weighs closer to 2,900–3,000 lbs, while loose pea gravel or river rock weighs around 2,600–2,700 lbs per yard.
At a 2-inch thickness depth, one ton of gravel covers approximately 100 to 110 square feet. At a 3-inch depth, one ton covers roughly 70 square feet. At a 4-inch depth (standard for driveways), one ton covers about 50 to 55 square feet.
A non-woven geotextile fabric serves two critical roles: it prevents the crushed stones from sinking and mixing into soft clay or subsoil under traffic, and it restricts weed emergence from underneath while permitting water to drain freely.
One US short ton equals 2,000 pounds. Therefore, exactly forty (40) 50-pound bags make up 1 ton of gravel. For a cubic yard (~2,800 lbs), you would need approximately 56 bags.