Gravel Calculator: Tons, Cubic Yards and Bags

HOW IT WORKS

From area to tons

The calculator works out volume first: area × depth gives cubic feet, and dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. It then multiplies cubic yards by the weight of your chosen gravel to estimate tons, because many suppliers sell gravel by the ton while others sell by the cubic yard.

For example, a 20 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep is 200 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards. At 1.40 tons per cubic yard, that’s about 2.59 tons of crushed stone. For a step-by-step walkthrough with a chart and more examples, see how much gravel do I need.

How much does gravel weigh?

There is no single weight for gravel. Published figures for loose decorative and drainage gravel are commonly quoted between about 1.2 and 1.5 US tons per cubic yard, depending on the stone, its size and shape, and how wet it is. Crusher run and road base are often heavier, especially once compacted. The calculator uses these planning values:

If your supplier gives a different weight, choose Custom density and enter their number. When you buy by the cubic yard, the weight doesn’t affect how much you order, only how heavy the load will be.

How deep should gravel be?

Many paths and decorative beds use about 2–4 inches. Larger stones such as river rock usually need a deeper layer to cover the ground. Gravel driveways are normally built in layers, with a compacted base under a surface layer, so their total depth is much greater than a decorative bed; follow your supplier’s or contractor’s recommendation, and see how much gravel do I need for a two-layer driveway example. Laying a base under pavers? See paver base depth.

QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

How many tons are in a yard of gravel?

Roughly 1.2–1.5 US tons for most loose gravel, with about 1.4 tons a common planning figure for crushed stone. Crusher run and road base can be heavier. Ask your supplier for the exact weight of their product.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

At 1.40 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 19.3 cubic feet. That covers roughly 115 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 77 sq ft at 3 inches, or 58 sq ft at 4 inches. Lighter gravel covers a little more per ton.

How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft each. For any other bag size, divide 27 by the bag’s volume and round up.

Should I buy gravel by the ton or the yard?

Whichever unit your supplier quotes. The calculator shows both, so you can compare prices. If they sell by the ton, check which weight they use for their gravel, since that changes how many cubic yards you get per ton.

Does this calculator know gravel prices?

No. Prices vary by stone type, region, delivery distance and load size. Enter your own price per ton, cubic yard or bag for a cost estimate.