Gravel Calculator
Calculate how much gravel you need for driveways, walkways, patios, and landscaping projects.
Common depths: 2″ walkways, 4″ patios, 4-6″ driveways
Last updated: April 7, 2026· Reviewed by the CalcNeeds Team
About This Calculator
This gravel calculatortells you exactly how much gravel, crushed stone, or decorative landscape rock you need for a driveway, walkway, patio, French drain, or any other project. Enter your length, width, and desired depth, and the tool returns the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and the number of bags if you're buying retail. It works for any rectangular or square area; for irregular shapes, calculate each section separately and add the totals.
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard for bulk deliveries and by the ton at most quarries. The calculator handles both — most landscape gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so the conversion is automatic.
How to calculate cubic yards of gravel
Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. So a 20 ft × 10 ft driveway with 4" (0.333 ft) of gravel needs 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.6 cubic feet, or about 2.47 cubic yards. Add 5–10% extra for compaction and edge spread.
To convert cubic yards to tons, multiply by the gravel's density. Most crushed-stone driveway gravels weigh 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so 2.47 yd³ ≈ 3.5 tons. Pea gravel and lighter decorative stone weigh about 1.3 tons/yd³; heavy crushed granite can hit 1.5 tons/yd³.
Recommended gravel depth by project
Walkways and garden paths: 2–3 inches.
Patios and sitting areas: 3–4 inches over a 2-inch compacted base.
Residential driveways: 4–6 inches total, ideally as two layers — a 3–4 inch base layer of #2 or #3 crushed stone topped with 2 inches of #57 or pea gravel.
Heavy-vehicle and farm driveways: 6–8 inches with a geotextile fabric underneath to prevent the gravel from sinking into the soil.
Drainage and French drains:fill the trench fully — typically 12 inches or more — with #57 or 3/4" clean stone.
Types of gravel and what to use them for
#57 stone (3/4"): the most common driveway and drainage gravel. Angular pieces lock together for stability.
#3 or #4 stone (1.5–2.5"): a base layer for driveways, used under #57 to provide a solid foundation.
Crusher run / road base / DGA: a mix of crushed stone and stone dust that compacts to a hard, smooth surface. Excellent driveway top layer.
Pea gravel:small, smooth, rounded stones (3/8") for walkways and decorative landscaping. Doesn't compact well, so it shifts underfoot.
River rock (1–3"): larger smooth stones for decorative beds, drainage swales, and dry creek features.
Crushed granite: dense, durable, and a popular choice in the southern U.S. for driveways and hardscape.
How much does gravel cost?
Bulk gravel from a quarry typically runs $15–$75 per ton or $20–$100 per cubic yarddepending on stone type and your region. Delivery adds $50–$200 depending on distance and truck size. A standard dump truck holds about 10 cubic yards (≈14 tons), enough for most residential driveways.
Bagged gravel from home-improvement stores is much more expensive per unit — usually $4–$8 for a 0.5 cu ft bag, which works out to $216–$432 per cubic yard. Bags only make sense for small projects under one cubic yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
For a typical residential driveway, plan on 4–6 inches of gravel. Multiply length × width × depth (in feet), then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. A 20 × 40 ft driveway with 4 inches of gravel needs about 9.9 cubic yards, or roughly 14 tons. Always order 5–10% extra for compaction.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 tons for most landscape and driveway gravels. Pea gravel and lighter decorative stones are closer to 1.3 tons/yd³, while dense crushed granite can be 1.5 tons/yd³. The calculator above uses the correct density for the gravel type you select.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) and divide by 27. For example, 30 ft × 12 ft × 0.333 ft (4 inches) = 119.9 cubic feet ÷ 27 = about 4.4 cubic yards.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
4–6 inches total for a residential driveway, ideally installed as a 3–4 inch base layer of larger #3 or crusher-run stone topped with 2 inches of smaller #57 or 3/4-inch crushed stone. Heavy-vehicle and farm driveways should go to 6–8 inches with a geotextile fabric below.
How much does a yard of gravel cost?
$20–$100 per cubic yard at the quarry depending on stone type and region. Delivery adds $50–$200. Bagged gravel from a hardware store costs many times more per unit volume — only use bags for very small projects.
How many bags of gravel in a cubic yard?
About 54 standard 0.5 cubic foot bags per cubic yard (27 cubic feet ÷ 0.5 = 54). At $5/bag, that's $270/yard — compared to roughly $40 for the same yard delivered in bulk. Bulk is dramatically cheaper for any project larger than about half a cubic yard.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 patio?
A 10 × 10 ft patio with a 4-inch gravel base needs about 1.23 cubic yards (or roughly 1.7 tons). For a stable paver patio, install 4 inches of compacted gravel base topped with 1 inch of leveling sand under the pavers.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, 1 ton of gravel covers roughly 100 sq ft. At 4 inches deep, it covers about 50 sq ft. At 6 inches deep, about 35 sq ft. The exact figure depends on the gravel's density and how tightly it compacts.
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