Garden path: 20 ft × 3 ft, 3 in deep
The 3 inch depth is 0.25 ft, so the volume is 60 ft² × 0.25 ft.
60 ft² × 0.25 ft = 15 ft³ ÷ 27 = 0.56 yd³
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 0.78 tons.
Gravel Calculator
Free gravel calculator: find out how much gravel you need in cubic yards and tons for a path, driveway or drainage run.
Enter Your Area to Calculate Gravel
Enter your dimensions, then press Calculate.
Calculate a Rectangle Area
3D view- LLength—
- WWidth—
- DDepth—
Area = length × width · Volume = area × depth
Gravel Needed for a Path or Driveway
Start with the area you want to cover and the depth you want. Multiply them and you have a volume; divide by 27 and it is in cubic yards. To get a feel for the scale: a path 20 feet long and 3 feet wide at 3 inches deep needs about 0.56 of a cubic yard, while a driveway section 40 feet by 10 feet at 4 inches deep needs nearly five.
Then comes the question suppliers care about, which is weight. At around 1.4 tons per cubic yard those two jobs come to roughly 0.8 and 6.9 tons. The calculator above shows both figures together so you can order in whichever unit your supplier uses. For a full driveway worked through layer by layer, see our guide to how much gravel you need.
How to Use This Gravel Calculator
Give it the area and the depth, and it returns cubic yards plus the weight in tons, because many quarries sell gravel by the ton.
- Pick the shape of the area. Rectangle covers most paths, drives and trenches, and circle suits round pads.
- Enter the sizes and choose a unit for each field. Feet, inches, yards, millimeters, centimeters and meters can be mixed.
- Enter the depth of gravel you plan to spread.
- Open the optional section to set the density your supplier quotes, add a waste percentage of your own, or enter a price per ton or per cubic yard.
- Press Calculate, then read the cubic yards, the weight in tons and the metric tonnes.
Try a second depth and press Calculate again to compare before you book a delivery. The cubic yards and the tons always come from the same measurements, so they never disagree.
Calculate Cubic Yards of Gravel by Hand
If you would rather calculate gravel cubic yards on paper, the steps are short.
Cubic feet = area (ft²) × depth (ft)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per yd³)
Depth has to be in feet, so 3 inches is 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft. Loose, dry gravel usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and damp or compacted crushed stone can reach about 1.7, so the real figure depends on the stone and its moisture. For more on the volume math, see the cubic yard calculation guide. Fill dirt and other loose materials follow the same sum in the cubic yard calculator.
Gravel Area Shapes and Formulas
Driveways, paths and drainage strips rarely make a neat box. Match your area to one of these drawings, enter the lettered sizes in the gravel calculator and it finds the cubic yards and tons. The formulas below are what it does behind the scenes, and the gravel guide shows how to measure a flared driveway apron.
Rectangle
Driveways, paths and shed bases.
Area = L × W
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
L = length (ft) · W = width (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: L = 50 ft, W = 10 ft, D = 4 in. Area = 500 ft². Volume = 500 × 4 ÷ 12 = 166.67 ft³, which is 6.17 yd³.
Trapezoid
Flared driveway aprons where the drive meets the road.
Area = ½ × (B₁ + B₂) × H
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
B₁ = base 1 (ft) · B₂ = base 2 (ft) · H = trapezoid height (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: B₁ = 18 ft, B₂ = 10 ft, H = 6 ft, D = 4 in. Area = 84 ft². Volume = 84 × 4 ÷ 12 = 28 ft³, which is 1.04 yd³.
Circle
Fire pit areas and round patios.
Area = π × (Ø ÷ 2)²
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
Ø = diameter (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: Ø = 16 ft, D = 3 in. Area = 201.06 ft². Volume = 201.06 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50.27 ft³, which is 1.86 yd³.
Annulus (Ring)
A gravel ring around a fire pit or tree.
Area = π ÷ 4 × (Ø₁² − Ø₂²)
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
Ø₁ = outer diameter (ft) · Ø₂ = inner diameter (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: Ø₁ = 12 ft, Ø₂ = 6 ft, D = 3 in. Area = 84.82 ft². Volume = 84.82 × 3 ÷ 12 = 21.21 ft³, which is 0.79 yd³.
Rectangle Border
A drainage strip around a patio or foundation.
Area = (L + 2b) × (W + 2b) − L × W
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
L = inner length (ft) · W = inner width (ft) · b = border width (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: L = 40 ft, W = 30 ft, b = 2 ft, D = 4 in. Area = 296 ft². Volume = 296 × 4 ÷ 12 = 98.67 ft³, which is 3.65 yd³.
Triangle
Corner fills beside a driveway.
Area = ½ × B × H
Volume (ft³) = Area × D ÷ 12
Cubic yards = Volume ÷ 27
B = base (ft) · H = triangle height (ft) · D = depth (in)
Example: B = 10 ft, H = 8 ft, D = 4 in. Area = 40 ft². Volume = 40 × 4 ÷ 12 = 13.33 ft³, which is 0.49 yd³.
Gravel Depth: How Deep Should It Be?
Gravel depth depends on whether the stone just covers the ground or has to carry weight. A decorative path gets by with two to three inches, while a driveway needs four to six inches or more, built up in layers.
Paths and decorative areas
Foot traffic is gentle, so two to three inches is a common choice. A weed barrier underneath helps the gravel stay put and keeps the soil from mixing in.
Driveways and parking areas
Driveways are usually built in layers: a base of larger crushed stone with a finer layer on top. Four to six inches in total is typical, and heavy vehicles or soft ground call for more. Because a base is compacted, see the note on extra material below.
Paver bases and patios
A compacted gravel base under pavers is often around four inches, topped with a thin layer of bedding sand. Use the Sand Calculator for the sand and follow the paver manufacturer's instructions.
Drainage trenches
French drains and similar trenches are filled with clean, washed stone and often need six inches or more around the pipe. Measure the trench, and remember the pipe displaces a little stone.
Gravel Coverage: What a Yard or Ton Covers
Coverage works backwards from volume: divide by the depth. Here is what one cubic yard and one ton cover at common depths, using 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers (at 1.4 t/yd³) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | about 116 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | about 77 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | about 58 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | about 39 sq ft |
Gravel Weight: Cubic Yards to Tons
Suppliers talk in yards, tons or both, so a quick conversion is useful. The calculator shows the weight for you, and the table below shows how much the density matters.
| Cubic yards | 1.3 t/yd³ | 1.4 t/yd³ | 1.5 t/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.3 tons | 1.4 tons | 1.5 tons |
| 2 | 2.6 tons | 2.8 tons | 3 tons |
| 5 | 6.5 tons | 7 tons | 7.5 tons |
| 10 | 13 tons | 14 tons | 15 tons |
| 20 | 26 tons | 28 tons | 30 tons |
The spread between columns is the reason to ask your supplier for their number. A bigger density means the same truck carries fewer cubic yards.
Common gravel types
| Type | What it is | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| No. 57 stone | Washed crushed stone, graded from about 1 inch down to about 3/16 inch under the ASTM D448 size system | Drainage, French drains, driveway base, concrete mixes |
| Pea gravel | Small, smooth, rounded stones, around 3/8 inch | Paths, play areas, gaps between stepping stones |
| Crusher run | Crushed stone mixed with stone dust, so it packs hard | Driveway and paver base, pads under sheds |
| River rock | Rounded, water worn stones, often 1 to 3 inches | Decorative beds, dry creek beds, drainage edges |
Each type packs differently, so its weight per cubic yard differs too. Ask for the density of the exact product you choose and type it into the calculator.
Gravel Calculator Examples
Driveway: 40 ft × 10 ft, 4 in deep
A bigger area. Four inches is 0.3333 ft, and full precision is kept until the final display.
400 ft² × 0.3333 ft = 133.33 ft³ ÷ 27 = 4.94 yd³
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 6.91 tons.
Drainage trench: 50 ft long, 1 ft wide, 12 in deep
A trench is just a long, narrow rectangle. The pipe takes up a little room, which this ignores, so the result errs on the generous side.
50 ft² × 1 ft = 50 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 2.59 tons.
Round pad: 6 ft across, 6 in deep, with a 10% cushion
Choose Circle for a round area. The 10% is your own allowance for settling and uneven ground.
28.2743 ft² × 0.5 ft = 14.14 ft³ ÷ 27 = 0.52 yd³
With 10% allowance: 0.58 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 0.81 tons.
Should You Order Extra Gravel?
It depends on how the gravel will be used. Loose decorative gravel only needs a small allowance for uneven ground. A compacted base is different: it settles under a plate compactor or vehicle traffic, so you need more loose material than the finished volume. Your supplier will know how much their stone compacts.
Enter your own percentage in the optional waste field. It starts at 0%, so the calculator never adds extra on its own, and the weight and cost are then based on the total including your allowance.
Tips for an Accurate Gravel Estimate
- For a curved path, measure the width every few feet and use the average, because paths rarely keep one width.
- Decide the depth for each layer first, then calculate each layer separately.
- Ask the supplier for their density and how they sell, by the yard or by the ton.
- If you only know the sides of an odd shape, the Square Feet Calculator finds the square footage to type into Known Area.
Gravel Calculator FAQ
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
It varies with the type of stone, its size and its moisture. Loose, dry gravel usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and damp or compacted crushed stone can reach about 1.7. This gravel calculator starts at 1.4, and you can type your supplier's figure into the density field.
How deep should gravel be?
Walking paths usually need two or three inches. Driveways are commonly four to six inches, and heavier traffic means more. Drainage trenches often call for six inches or more around the pipe. Follow your supplier's advice and local requirements.
How much gravel do I need for a 100 ft driveway?
At 10 ft wide and 4 inches deep, a 100 ft driveway covers 1,000 square feet, which is 1,000 × 4 ÷ 12 = 333.33 cubic feet, or 12.35 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per yard that is about 17.3 tons. A new driveway built in layers needs each layer worked out on its own.
Should I order gravel by the yard or by the ton?
Whichever your supplier sells by. Many sell by the ton because they weigh each load, while some sell by the cubic yard. This calculator shows both, so you can compare quotes.
How do I calculate gravel for several layers?
Calculate each layer on its own, for example a 4 inch base and a 2 inch top layer, then add the cubic yards together. Each layer may use a different stone and density.
Can I use it for pea gravel, crushed stone or river rock?
Yes. The volume is the same for any of them. Only the weight changes, so adjust the density to match the material.
Related Guides
- Cubic Yards to Tons: How to Convert Different MaterialsConvert cubic yards to tons for gravel, sand, topsoil, mulch and concrete, with a weight chart by material and why wet material weighs more.
- How Much Gravel Do I Need?Work out how much gravel a driveway, path or drain needs in cubic yards and tons, with depth guides, a compaction allowance and worked examples.
- How to Calculate Cubic Yards: Complete GuideCalculate cubic yards from length, width and depth with one formula, a shortcut for inches, metric conversions, worked examples and common mistakes.
- What Is a Cubic Yard?A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, or 27 cubic feet. See how big it really is, how it converts, and why soil, gravel and concrete are sold this way.
More Calculators
- CY CalculatorCubic yards, feet and meters from any shape.
- Mulch CalculatorHow much mulch for a bed, in cubic yards and bags.
- Concrete CalculatorConcrete for slabs, footings and columns, in yards and bags.
- Topsoil CalculatorTopsoil for lawns and garden beds, in cubic yards and tons.
- Sand CalculatorSand for paver bases, sandboxes and fill, in yards and tons.
- Square Feet CalculatorArea of any shape in ft², yd², m² and acres.
Cite this page
APA style
Khan, M. A. (2026, October 19). Gravel Calculator. CY Calculator. https://cycalculator.com/gravel-calculator