Gravel Calculator
Estimate driveway base, patio gravel, path fill, and drainage stone in cubic yards, tons, and bags from one set of dimensions and depth.
Build Your Gravel Order
4 inches for vehicle traffic
Angular pieces, compacts well. Ideal for driveways.
Order Summary
Quantity checks
Order planning notes
- A 10% overage buffer brings this order to about 2.72 cubic yards.
- At roughly 3.33 tons, bulk delivery will usually be easier than moving bagged gravel yourself.
- At about 134 half-cubic-foot bags, bulk gravel is usually the cleaner buy.
Worked examples
Driveway Base
20 ft x 10 ft area, 4 in depth, crushed stone
This is the gravel job most people are trying to price out. The real question is how base depth turns into a supplier order, not just a raw volume number.
Garden Path
30 ft x 3 ft path, 2 in depth, pea gravel
Small paths are where bagged versus bulk really matters. This is usually the point where people decide whether a pickup run is enough.
Patio Base
12 ft x 12 ft patio, 3 in depth, base gravel
Patio base jobs look small until the gravel gets converted into tons. Even a shallow layer can turn into a delivery-sized order fast.
How to use this calculator
- Pick the project type. Start with driveway, path, patio, drainage, or decorative landscaping so you begin from a practical depth.
- Enter shape and dimensions. Use rectangle for most work, circle for tree rings, and triangle for corner fill areas.
- Set the depth. Use inches for most gravel jobs. Driveway base usually needs more depth than a simple path.
- Select the gravel type. Density changes tonnage, so this step matters when the yard prices by weight.
- Read the order summary. Use cubic yards for volume, tons for supplier pricing, and bags when the job is still small enough for retail material.
How we calculate
Example: 20x10 ft driveway at 4 in deep
- Area = 20 x 10 = 200 sq ft
- Depth = 4 in = 0.33 ft
- Volume = 200 x 0.33 = 66.67 cu ft
- Cubic yards = 66.67 / 27 = 2.47 cu yd
- Tons = 2.47 x 2,700 lbs/yd3 / 2,000 = about 3.33 tons
Why your ton result may differ from another site
Cubic yards tell you the fill volume. Tons tell you what many suppliers will actually charge for. Our calculator uses the selected material's default density to produce one practical tonnage estimate, while some competitor tools show a wider ton range using broader density bands.
That means small differences between sites are normal. If your local supplier publishes a specific weight per cubic yard, enter that as a custom density for a closer order estimate.
Formula framework aligned with standard volume conversion and common aggregate guidance, including U.S. DOT gravel road references for overage and compaction planning.
Gravel type and density guide
| Type | Typical density | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 1.3-1.4 tons/yd3 | Paths, patios, decorative beds | Easy to spread, but not ideal for a main driveway. |
| Crushed stone | 1.4-1.5 tons/yd3 | Driveway base, compacted fill | Angular pieces lock together under load. |
| #57 stone | 1.35-1.45 tons/yd3 | Driveways, drainage, base layer | A common residential supplier spec. |
| River rock | 1.35-1.5 tons/yd3 | Decorative edging, landscape beds | Higher decorative value, usually higher cost. |
Recommended depth by project
Walkway / path
2 inLight foot traffic and decorative cover.
Patio base
3 inA common base depth for small flatwork support.
Driveway
4-6 inMore depth is often needed for traffic and compaction.
Drainage trench
4-6 in or trench-specificDepth depends on trench detail and pipe cover requirements.
Buying guide
Bulk by yard
Go with cubic yards when the supplier quotes by volume or loads by bucket. That's common at local landscape yards and in many delivery quotes.
Bulk by ton
Go with tons when the yard sells by weight. That's common for crushed stone and driveway gravel where truck scales set the final bill.
Bagged gravel
Bagged material works for touch-ups, narrow paths, and small decorative beds. Once the bag count starts climbing, bulk is usually easier and cheaper.
Order with overage
A 10% buffer is normal for gravel. Spreading, compaction, and uneven grade can leave you short on the last pass if you order too tight.