Gravel Calculator
Building a gravel driveway, walkway, french drain, or patio sub-base? Our free gravel calculator computes required volume in cubic yards and converts it directly into tons or tonnes based on specific aggregate density.
Project Inputs
Enter your measurements to calculate exact materials
Enter measurements above to view calculation results.
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
Scenario: Installing a 10 ft × 20 ft crushed stone patio base with 3 inches depth and 10% compaction allowance.
Area: 20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft.
Depth in Feet: 3 in ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft.
Volume: 200 × 0.25 = 50 cu ft + 10% compaction = 55 cu ft.
Cubic Yards: 55 ÷ 27 = 2.04 cubic yards.
Convert to Tons: 2.04 cu yds × 1.4 tons/yd³ = 2.85 tons.
Gravel Weight & Volume Formula
Total Tons = (Length [ft] × Width [ft] × Depth [in ÷ 12]) ÷ 27 × (1 + Buffer) × Density [tons/yd³] Area is multiplied by layer depth in feet to get volume in cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. Multiplying cubic yards by the stone density factor (~1.4 tons per yard) produces the total tonnage to purchase.
Formula Variables
Calculation Assumptions
- Crushed stone base compacts by roughly 10% to 15% when tamped or rolled.
- Gravel suppliers typically sell bulk material by the ton or by the cubic yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common homeowner and DIY questionsGravel Calculator
How deep should driveway gravel be?
A new gravel driveway needs a total depth of 8 to 12 inches composed in layers: a 4–6 inch sub-base of coarse crushed stone (#3 or #4), followed by a 4-inch layer of #57 stone, topped with 2 inches of dense crusher run.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
One ton of gravel covers approximately 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, or about 50 square feet at 4 inches deep.
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