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Gravel Calculator
Our free gravel calculator tells you exactly how much gravel to order for a driveway, patio, walkway, or garden bed. Choose from five gravel materials, a rectangle or a round area, and a depth preset, then enter your measurements, and it works out the volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, the weight in tons, and an estimated cost in US dollars.
Density is a typical value; suppliers vary a little.
For a circle, enter the diameter as the length.
Typical US price: about $30–$60 per ton plus delivery. Estimates only.
5% is a sensible allowance for uneven ground.
| Volume (cubic feet) | |
| Volume (cubic yards) | |
| Weight (tons) | |
| Material | |
| Density | |
| Weight (pounds) | |
| Estimated cost |
How it works
Gravel is sold by volume, usually by the cubic yard, but its weight matters too, because delivery trucks have weight limits and many quarries price by the ton. This calculator handles both. First it finds the volume of your area, then it converts that volume into cubic yards, then it turns cubic yards into tons using the average weight of gravel.
Measure the length and width of your area in feet. For a driveway that is not a neat rectangle, measure the longest length and the widest width, or split the shape into rectangles and add them up. Measure the depth in inches. A patio or path is usually 2 to 3 inches deep, while a driveway needs 4 to 6 inches over a solid, compacted base.
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = Volume (ft³) × Material density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000 lb
The depth is divided by 12 to turn inches into feet, because the length and width are in feet. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. The weight depends on the material you pick, because each type has its own density: pea gravel about 96 lb per cubic foot (2,592 lb per cubic yard, 1.30 tons), crushed stone about 104 lb per cubic foot (2,808 lb per cubic yard, 1.40 tons), river rock about 100 lb per cubic foot (2,700 lb per cubic yard, 1.35 tons), decomposed granite about 95 lb per cubic foot (2,565 lb per cubic yard, 1.28 tons), and limestone about 105 lb per cubic foot (2,835 lb per cubic yard, 1.42 tons). There are 2,000 pounds in a US ton. Crushed stone is the default here because it is the most common driveway material, and it locks together well under tyres.
The cost estimate multiplies the tons by the price per ton you enter. Delivery is usually charged separately, often $50 to $150 per truckload depending on how far the quarry is from your home, so treat the cost shown here as a material estimate only and ask your supplier for a delivered quote.
Worked example
Say you are building a small patio in your backyard in Texas. The patio is 10 feet long and 10 feet wide, and you want the gravel 3 inches deep. Here is how the calculator works it out, step by step.
First, turn the depth into feet: 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet. Next, find the volume: 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet. Then convert to cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards. Finally, find the weight for crushed stone: 25 × 104 ÷ 2,000 = 1.30 tons. At $50 per ton, the gravel itself costs about $65. In practice you would order 1 cubic yard, since suppliers sell by the yard, and the extra 5 percent allowance in the calculator covers settling into the soil.
Now try a bigger job. A single-car driveway 12 feet wide and 30 feet long at 4 inches deep needs 12 × 30 × (4 ÷ 12) = 120 cubic feet, which is 4.44 cubic yards, or about 6.24 tons of crushed stone. At $50 a ton that is roughly $312 for the material, before delivery. A double driveway, 20 by 30 feet at the same depth, needs twice as much: about 8.89 cubic yards, or 12.48 tons. A round patio 10 feet across at 3 inches deep has an area of about 78.5 square feet, so it needs about 19.6 cubic feet, or 0.73 cubic yards — pick the circle shape above and the calculator does that area for you.
FAQ
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 patio?
For a 10 by 10 foot patio at 3 inches deep, you need about 25 cubic feet of gravel, which is 0.93 cubic yards or about 1.30 tons. Most suppliers sell by the cubic yard, so order 1 cubic yard and expect a little left over.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the material. A cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 2,808 pounds (1.40 tons), pea gravel about 2,592 pounds (1.30 tons), river rock about 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons), decomposed granite about 2,565 pounds (1.28 tons), and limestone about 2,835 pounds (1.42 tons). Pick your material in the calculator above and it uses the right density.
Which gravel material is best for a driveway?
Crushed stone is the usual choice for a driveway because its angular pieces lock together and stay put under cars. Pea gravel looks good on paths and garden beds but rolls around under tyres, river rock is decorative and best for beds and borders, decomposed granite packs into a firm path surface, and limestone is a hard-wearing option for driveways and bases.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A gravel driveway usually needs 4 to 6 inches of gravel over a compacted base. A garden path or patio is fine at 2 to 3 inches. Deeper gravel lasts longer under cars, but it also costs more and needs edging to stay in place.
Should I order extra gravel?
Yes. Order about 5 to 10 percent extra to cover uneven ground, settling, and spillage. This calculator gives the exact volume for a flat area, so round up to the next whole cubic yard when you order.
How much does gravel cost per ton in the US?
Gravel typically costs about $30 to $60 per ton for the material, plus delivery, which is often $50 to $150 per load depending on distance. Prices vary by state and gravel type, so get a local quote before you order.