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Gravel calculator: cubic yards and tons

Units

1. Area to cover

Describe each area. Several areas add up: a path and a round flower bed, for example.

    2. Material and depth

    Typical value for loose material: it changes with stone size, moisture and supplier. If your supplier quotes another figure, type it here.

    Percentage added to the in-place volume. Gravel settles when compacted (allow 10 to 15%), delivered topsoil and mulch settle too (15 to 20%). Dug soil bulks up: it takes 20 to 30% more room, which matters when you haul it away.

    Volume to order —

    Diagram of the selected area and cross-section of the layer

    Rough sketch, not to scale. Click inside an area to show it.

    3. Bags, bulk bags and trailer

    Number of bags (rounded up) —

      Payload = the trailer's gross weight rating minus its empty weight, both shown on its plate or papers. Never exceed that rating or your vehicle's towing capacity: a load of gravel reaches the limit quickly.

      4. Landscape fabric and cost

      Overlap covers the strips laid over each other (4 to 8 in) and the edges turned up: 10% suits a simple shape.

      The tool has no prices built in: type your supplier's price, in your own currency.

      Landscape fabric and rough cost

        These results are estimates to plan an order. Depths and densities vary with the ground and the product: check with your supplier before ordering a large load.

        Your areas and settings stay on this device and come back on your next visit. The copied link reopens the calculation with the same values.

        How much gravel do I need?

        This gravel calculator turns the size of a path, driveway, flower bed or new lawn into the volume to order in cubic yards and cubic feet, or cubic metres, and its weight in US tons and metric tonnes. It also counts bags, bulk bags, trailer trips and landscape fabric, and gives a rough cost when you type a price. Imperial units are selected by default; switch to metric with one click.

        How to use it

        1. In "1. Area to cover", pick a "Shape": path or driveway, rectangle, circle, triangle, or "Any shape (known area)". Use "Add area" to add several areas together.
        2. In "2. Material and depth", pick a "Use", which suggests a depth, then a "Material". Set "Compaction or bulking (%)" if needed.
        3. In "3. Bags, bulk bags and trailer", enter the "Bag size" in lb or ft³ and your "Trailer payload".
        4. In "4. Landscape fabric and cost", add a "Unit price" if you like.

        Working out the volume

        Volume is area times depth, both in feet: cubic feet = square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12). Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. A circle covers π × diameter² ÷ 4; a triangle covers base × height ÷ 2.

        Example: a 20 × 10 ft patio area covers 200 ft². With 3 in of gravel that is 200 × 0.25 = 50 ft³, or 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³. A 10 × 10 ft bed with 3 in of mulch takes 25 ft³, which is 13 bags of 2 ft³ (12.5 rounded up).

        From cubic yards to tons

        Weight is volume times bulk density. The tool uses 1.35 US tons per cubic yard for gravel, so the 1.85 yd³ above weigh about 2.5 US tons, or 5,000 lb: 100 bags of 50 lb.

        MaterialUS tons/yd³Metric t/m³
        Crushed gravel, river rock1.351.6 (1.5 to 1.7)
        Pea gravel1.261.5 (1.4 to 1.6)
        Sand1.351.6 (1.5 to 1.7, more when wet)
        Topsoil1.101.3 (1.2 to 1.5)
        Slate chippings1.181.4 (1.3 to 1.5)
        Lava rock0.760.9 (0.8 to 1)
        Compost0.510.6 (0.5 to 0.7)
        Bark mulch0.250.3 (0.25 to 0.35)

        These are typical figures for loose, fairly dry material. If your supplier quotes another density, type it in.

        Suggested depth by use

        Rough guides offered in the "Use" menu: garden path 2 to 3 in; driveway 4 to 6 in of crushed gravel over a compacted base; decorative bed 2 to 3 in; mulch 2 to 4 in; topsoil for a lawn 4 to 6 in; sand under pavers 1 to 2 in.

        Bulking and compaction

        Soil bulks up when you dig it: loosened, it takes 20 to 30% more room, which matters when you haul it away. Gravel, on the other hand, settles when compacted, and delivered topsoil sinks over a few weeks. The setting adds that percentage to the in-place volume. Example: a 40 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in needs 133.3 ft³, or 4.94 yd³; with 10% for compaction, order 5.43 yd³, about 7.33 US tons.

        Bulk delivery or bags

        Bags suit small jobs. For anything over a cubic yard or two, a bulk delivery or a bulk bag is usually cheaper; tick "Also count bulk bags" to see how many. With a trailer payload of 2,000 lb, the 7.33 US tons of driveway gravel take 8 trips. Stay within the trailer's gross weight rating and your vehicle's towing capacity.

        Preparing the ground

        Dig out to the planned depth, remove roots and weeds, then compact the base. Under a gravel path, lay landscape fabric: it slows weeds and stops stones sinking into the soil. Allow overlap between strips; for the 400 ft² driveway, 10% extra means 440 ft² of fabric.

        FAQ

        How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?

        About 1.25 to 1.45 US tons for dry gravel. The tool starts at 1.35, and you can change it.

        How much does a ton of gravel cover?

        One US ton at 1.35 tons per yd³ is 0.74 yd³, or 20 ft³. At 2 in deep that covers about 120 ft².

        Why add a percentage to the volume?

        Because the material settles once laid. Without it, a compacted driveway or a mulch bed will come up short within weeks.

        Is my data sent anywhere?

        No: everything is worked out in your browser.