Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width, and depth of the area, then pick a material. Cubic yards, tons, and estimated cost update as you type.
| Length (ft) | Width (ft) | Depth (in) | Material | $/ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Price is per ton, not per cubic yard. Leave it blank to skip the cost estimate.
How to calculate how much gravel you need
Gravel is sold by weight, but the area you're filling is a volume. Convert length, width, and depth to cubic yards first, then multiply by the material's density to get tons.
Depth goes in as inches and gets divided by 12 to convert it to feet before the volume math. Once you have cubic yards, tons follow directly from the material's density:
Gravel types and typical uses
Density varies by material because particle shape and size change how tightly the stone packs.
| Material | Tons per cubic yard | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | 1.40 | Driveway base, drainage fill |
| Pea gravel | 1.42 | Walkways, playgrounds, decorative beds |
| Sand | 1.35 | Paver base, leveling course |
| Limestone | 1.45 | Driveways, drainage |
| Riverstone | 1.35 | Landscaping, dry creek beds |
Coverage per ton at common depths
Figures below use crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Heavier materials like limestone cover slightly less area per ton; lighter ones cover slightly more.
| Depth | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 115.7 sq ft |
| 3 in | 77.1 sq ft |
| 4 in | 57.9 sq ft |
How deep should the gravel be?
Depth depends on what's walking or driving over it. A gravel walkway needs 2 to 3 inches to feel solid underfoot without wasting stone. A driveway base needs 4 to 6 inches, spread and compacted in separate lifts rather than dumped in one pass, so the base packs down evenly instead of shifting under a car's weight.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
It depends on the material. Crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, pea gravel about 1.42, and limestone about 1.45. Use the density for your specific material rather than a single rule of thumb.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
For crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton covers about 115.7 square feet at 2 inches deep, 77.1 square feet at 3 inches, and 57.9 square feet at 4 inches. Coverage shrinks as depth increases because the same volume spreads over less area.
What's the difference between pea gravel and crushed stone?
Pea gravel is small and rounded from natural weathering, so it stays loose underfoot and works for walkways, drainage, and playgrounds. Crushed stone is mechanically fractured into angular pieces that lock together when compacted, which is why it's the standard base for driveways.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
For walkways and driveways, yes: fabric stops weeds from growing up through the gravel and keeps the stone from working its way down into the soil over time. Skip it around french drains or perforated pipe, where water needs to pass through the base freely.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
4 to 6 inches total, built in compacted lifts rather than dumped all at once: a larger crushed stone base layer topped with a finer surface layer. A gravel walkway needs far less, typically 2 to 3 inches.
Working with a different material? Try the sand calculator or the general cubic yard calculator. The mulch calculator uses the same length-by-width-by-depth math for garden beds. Back to all calculators.