Gravel Calculator
Size the gravel for any job from real geometry — area and depth, gravel type and compaction — with cubic yards, weight in tons, bag counts, U.S. pricing, and a downloadable PDF.
Gravel weight swings with stone type and moisture — dense base rock is heavier. Prices use 2024-2025 U.S. figures. For planning purposes only.
| Depth | Cubic Yards | Weight (ton) | Bags |
|---|
For your 400 sq ft area, includes 10% compaction. Deeper layers need much more gravel.
How to use the gravel calculator
Four quick steps turn your area and depth into a gravel order — cubic yards, tons, and bags — with the right gravel type, a compaction allowance, a depth comparison, and a downloadable PDF.
Enter the area
Length and width, or the square footage, for the area you’re covering with gravel.
Set the depth
Enter how deep in inches — driveways go deeper than paths, and depth is the biggest driver.
Pick gravel & compaction
Choose the gravel type, set a compaction %, and enter the price per ton or bag.
Read results & save a PDF
Get cubic yards, tons, and bags, a cost breakdown, a depth comparison, and a material list.
How the gravel estimate is calculated
Gravel is a volume that you then weigh. The calculator turns your area and depth into cubic feet, adds compaction, converts to cubic yards and tons using the stone’s density, and works out how many bags that is. Here is the exact math.
Worked example — a 200 sq ft path, 3 inches deep
Volume: 200 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cu ft
Cubic yards: 50 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.85 cu yd
Weight: 50 × 105 ÷ 2000 ≈ 2.63 tons
Bags: 50 × 105 ÷ 50 ≈ 105 × 50 lb bags
≈ 1.85 cubic yards, about 2.6 tons, or ~105 fifty-pound bags for 200 sq ft at 3″ deep.
Gravel estimating charts
Handy lookups for the questions people ask most — gravel by depth, by area, unit conversions, and which stone to use. Figures use a density of about 105 lb per cubic foot, so confirm your own gravel.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.44 |
| 2 inches | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.88 |
| 3 inches | 25.0 | 0.93 | 1.31 |
| 4 inches | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.75 |
| 6 inches | 50.0 | 1.85 | 2.63 |
Per 100 sq ft, before compaction. Depth scales the gravel directly — doubling the depth doubles the volume and weight, so it’s the number worth measuring carefully.
| Area | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 12.5 | 0.46 | 0.66 |
| 100 sq ft | 25.0 | 0.93 | 1.31 |
| 200 sq ft | 50.0 | 1.85 | 2.63 |
| 300 sq ft | 75.0 | 2.78 | 3.94 |
| 500 sq ft | 125.0 | 4.63 | 6.56 |
At 3 inches deep, before compaction. For other depths, scale up or down — 6 inches is double these figures, 1.5 inches is half.
| 1 of this | Equals | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cubic feet | The bulk-delivery unit |
| 1 cubic yard | ~1.4 tons | Base rock is heavier, ~1.8 tons |
| 1 ton | ~19 cubic feet | ~0.71 cubic yards |
| 1 cubic foot | ~105 lbs | Typical gravel density |
| 1 cubic yard | ~57 × 50 lb bags | Why bulk beats bags at scale |
Density varies with stone type and moisture, so these are working figures. Compacted base rock and wet gravel weigh more per cubic foot than loose, dry decorative stone.
| Gravel type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (3/8 in) | Paths, drainage, dog runs | Smooth rounded stone, stays loose |
| Crushed stone (3/4 in) | Driveways & bases | Angular grains that lock together |
| #57 stone | Drainage & French drains | Clean, no fines, drains freely |
| River rock | Decorative beds | Rounded, larger sizes |
| Crusher run / road base | Compacted base, driveways | Stone plus fines, packs hard |
| Decomposed granite | Paths & patios | Fine, firms up when compacted |
Match the gravel to the task — angular stone locks up for driveways and bases, while rounded stone stays loose and decorative. Ask your supplier if you’re unsure which grade or local name suits your project.
area × depth
~105 lb/cu ft
~57 bags / yd
Gravel is ordered by volume and often paid for by weight, and depth is the lever that swings both.
- Volume — area times depth gives cubic feet; depth scales it directly, so measure it well.
- Weight — at ~105 lb per cubic foot, a cubic yard of gravel is around 1.4 tons.
- Bulk vs bags — a cubic yard is ~57 fifty-pound bags, so bulk wins for all but small jobs.
Everything the calculator works out
One area and depth gives you a complete gravel order — the volume, the weight, the bags, and the cost, however you buy it.
Key figures every gravel order depends on
Built for any gravel job
From a garden path to a driveway or a French drain, the same calculator scales to the area, the depth, and the gravel type.
Laying a gravel path, border, or drainage bed and wants the right bags or yards without over-buying.
- Measure the area and depth
- Pick the right gravel type
- Compare bags vs a bulk load
Ordering bulk gravel for driveways and beds and needs yards, tons, and cost with delivery in one place.
- Work in cubic yards for bulk
- Add compaction to the order
- Save the PDF material list for the quote
Buying stone for driveway bases, French drains, or a paver sub-base and wants volume and weight figured right.
- Choose crusher run for a hard base
- Convert volume to tons to order
- Total gravel across the job
7 tips for an accurate gravel order
Small habits keep your volume right and your delivery sensible, whether you buy bags or bulk.
Gravel calculator FAQ
The volume, weight, bag, and gravel-type questions people ask most before ordering gravel.
Work out the volume as area times depth, then convert to weight. Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply cubic feet by about 105 pounds to get the weight.
A 200 sq ft area at 3 inches deep is about 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards, which is roughly 2.6 tons of gravel.
A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 2,600 to 3,000 pounds, or about 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on the stone. Compacted base rock like crusher run is heavier, closer to 1.8 tons per yard.
As a working figure, one cubic yard of gravel is about 1.4 tons and covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Delivery is usually sold by the cubic yard or the ton.
Multiply the cubic feet by the gravel’s density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000. Gravel is roughly 105 pounds per cubic foot, so cubic feet times 105, divided by 2,000, gives tons.
For example, 40 cubic feet of gravel is about 4,200 pounds, or 2.1 tons. Density varies with the stone type and moisture, so treat it as an estimate.
A cubic yard of gravel is about 57 fifty-pound bags, or roughly 47 bags at 60 pounds each. A 50-pound bag holds only about half a cubic foot, so it takes a lot of bags to equal bulk gravel.
For anything more than a small job, bulk gravel by the cubic yard or ton is far cheaper and easier than bagged. Bags make sense for small repairs and topping up.
For a gravel driveway, aim for about 4 to 6 inches of compacted stone, often a base course of larger crushed stone with a 2 to 3 inch top course of smaller gravel. Paths and borders need less, usually 2 to 3 inches.
Lay it in layers and compact each one so the surface holds up under traffic. A geotextile fabric under the base helps stop the gravel sinking into soft ground.
The right gravel depends on the job. Pea gravel and river rock are smooth and decorative for paths and borders; crushed stone and #57 stone are angular for driveways and drainage; crusher run compacts hard for a solid base; and decomposed granite makes a firm path surface.
Angular crushed stone locks together and stays put, while rounded stone stays loose and shifts underfoot. Match the gravel to the task, and ask your supplier about local names and grades.
Yes. Add about 5% to 15% extra for spillage, uneven ground, and compaction, and a bit more for base rock that you’ll tamp hard, since compaction reduces the loose volume you ordered.
It’s better to have a little gravel left over than to stop part-way and wait for more. Round up to the nearest half or full cubic yard when ordering bulk.
Both. Bulk gravel is commonly sold by the cubic yard or by the ton, while bagged gravel is sold by weight, such as 50-pound bags. The calculator gives you cubic yards, tons, and bags so you can order either way.
When comparing prices, convert to the same unit first, since a cubic yard is roughly 1.4 tons of gravel. Delivery fees often make bulk the better value once you pass a few bags’ worth.
General Estimating Notice: This calculator estimates gravel volume, weight, bags, and cost from your area, depth, gravel type, compaction, and the prices you enter, using a typical density of about 105 lb per cubic foot and standard conversions. Actual weight varies with the stone type, size, and moisture — dense base rock and wet gravel weigh more — and delivered quantities can differ. Always confirm the density and quantities with your supplier and allow for compaction before ordering. For planning purposes only.