Gravel Calculator
Figure out how much gravel to order for a driveway, path, or other area. Enter the area and depth to get the volume and, since gravel is sold by weight, the tonnage to give your supplier.
- Weight Needed
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- Volume
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Assumptions
- Tons (or tonnes in metric mode) are estimated using 1.2 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard, or about 1.42 to 2.02 tonnes per cubic metre, for gravel and crushed stone. This is a widely used industry range repeated across contractor and landscaping references, not a figure from a primary government or standards-body source: multiple targeted attempts to verify it against a state DOT specification or USGS data were blocked (403 errors on live, legitimate agency domains, not dead links) rather than confirmed. The metric figures are a direct unit conversion of the same range, not a separately sourced metric density; note that a US ton (2,000 lb) and a metric tonne (1,000 kg) are different units, so this isn't a 1:1 relabeling. Treat it as a rule of thumb, and actual density still varies by stone type, moisture, and how tightly it's compacted.
- Driveways typically need 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 cm) of gravel total, often applied as two layers: a coarser base layer for structure and drainage, topped with a finer layer for a smoother driving surface.
- Material shrinks meaningfully between the loose stockpile or truck bed and the compacted, in-place depth, by 30 percent or more in many cases. Order a bit extra to account for compaction.
- Circular areas are calculated as a true circle using the diameter you enter. Irregular shapes should be approximated as the closest standard shape or split into sections and added together.
- This estimates material for a single fill to your chosen depth. It does not account for excavation, removal of existing material, or geotextile fabric, which many driveway installations also require. Imperial is the default unit system here, matching this site's other US-sourced calculators.
Sources
Why gravel is priced by weight, not volume
Unlike mulch, which is sold and priced by volume, gravel and crushed stone are almost always sold by weight, in tons or tonnes, because that's what a truck can safely haul and what a quarry's scale actually measures. The volume figure here exists to translate your area and depth into a real quantity; the weight figure is what you'll actually order and pay for.
Base and surface layers for driveways
A gravel driveway that holds up under vehicle weight and drains well is usually built in two layers rather than one: a coarser base course that provides structure and lets water drain through, topped with a finer surface layer that's smoother to drive and walk on. If you're building a driveway from scratch rather than topping off an existing one, plan for both layers within your total depth rather than one uniform layer of a single gravel size.
Worked example
A 20 ft x 10 ft driveway section, filled 4 inches deep.
Area = 20 x 10 = 200 square feet. At 4 inches (0.33 feet) deep, that's 200 x 0.33 = 66.7 cubic feet, or 66.7 / 27 = 2.47 cubic yards. Using the 1.2 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard density range, that's about 2.96 to 4.20 tons of gravel.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this calculator give tons instead of just cubic yards?
Gravel is sold and priced by weight at most quarries and suppliers, not by volume, so tons (or tonnes in metric mode) is the number you'll actually give your supplier. Volume is included too since that's how your area and depth translate into a physical quantity before converting to weight.
How is the cubic yardage calculated?
Multiply your area by the depth, converted to feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 (the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard). This calculator does that conversion automatically once you enter your area and depth, or works the same way in square metres and cubic metres if you switch to metric units.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Most driveways need 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 cm) total, often built as two layers: a coarser base for structure and drainage, topped with a finer layer for a smoother driving surface. Lighter-duty paths and walkways can generally use less.
How do I figure out the square footage of my driveway or path?
For a rectangular area, multiply length by width. For a circular area, like a gravel ring around a tree or fire pit, the area comes from the diameter using the standard circle formula, which this calculator handles automatically.
Does this calculator estimate how much my gravel will cost?
Not directly. Prices per ton or tonne vary too much by region, stone type, and supplier to estimate reliably here, so this calculator focuses on the weight and volume you'll need. Multiply the weight estimate by your local supplier's price to get a cost estimate.
Can I buy gravel in bags instead of bulk?
For small areas, yes: bagged gravel is available at most home improvement stores, typically around half a cubic foot per bag. It gets expensive quickly for anything beyond a small area, though, so this calculator's weight and volume figures are meant for ordering bulk gravel by the load, which is the standard route for driveways and larger areas.
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