Gravel Calculator
Gravel & StoneMeasurements in, purchasing amount out
How the Gravel Calculator works
The calculator finds volume first, then applies the selected material’s estimated bulk-density range to show weight. Your suggested order adds 10% for settling, uneven ground, and small measurement errors.
Using your measurements
12 ft × 8 ft × (3 in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 0.89 cu yd
Density assumption: Landscape gravel · 2,400–2,700 lb/yd³
The full breakdown
How much gravel your driveway, path, French drain, or base actually needs
The gravel calculator above converts length, width, and depth into cubic yards, tons, and bags as you type. Use it for a driveway, a patio sub-base, a French drain, or a bulk quarry order; getting the quantity right up front avoids short-load fees on a second delivery and overloaded axles on the first.
Volume is straightforward geometry — length × width × depth ÷ 27 gives cubic yards — but quarries and gravel yards sell bulk stone by the ton, so the figure has to become a weight. Standard crushed gravel and #57 stone weigh approximately 2,400 to 2,800 lb per cubic yard (1.2 to 1.4 tons per yard), while dense-graded aggregate such as 304 gravel or road base packs tighter at 2,600 to 3,000+ lb per cubic yard (1.3 to 1.5 tons per yard). Ordinary sand and gravel sits around 2,600 lb per cubic yard, which is why the same arithmetic works for a sand-and-gravel mix; for sand on its own, the sand calculator carries sand’s own densities and bag sizes.
Grading and aggregate size decide how the stone performs. A heavy-duty gravel driveway is built in layers: a stable coarse sub-base such as #3 or #4 stone or crusher run, a middle course of #57 gravel or 3/4 in crushed stone for interlock, and an optional dense surface layer. Under pavers the base is its own job, worked out at compacted depth by the paver base calculator. For drainage trenches, washed open-graded stone such as 3/4 in gravel or pea gravel lets water through without clogging the pipe.
Because loose gravel compacts and settles into the subgrade under vehicular traffic and compaction equipment, our calculator includes a recommended 10% allowance so your finished driveway or foundation reaches its full intended thickness.
Gravel type changes weight and compaction, not raw volume
One cubic yard always equals 27 cubic feet, but tonnage varies substantially with aggregate gradation and particle shape. Angular crushed stone packs tighter and carries more weight per yard than rounded stones or open-graded drainage gravel.
| Gravel | Weight |
|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,400–2,700 lb/yd³ |
| River rock | 2,400–2,700 lb/yd³ |
| Crushed stone | 2,400–2,800 lb/yd³ |
| Dense-graded base / road base | 2,600–3,000 lb/yd³ |
Recommended gravel depths by project
Layer thickness depends on expected weight loads and subsoil conditions. Use these standard contractor depths for common applications.
| Walkways & garden paths | 2–3 in (5–7.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Paver patio sub-base (crushed stone) | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) compacted |
| Residential gravel driveway surface | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) over base |
| Heavy truck driveway / RV pad base | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) in compacted lifts |
| French drain trench surrounding perforated pipe | 8–12 in (20–30 cm) of washed 3/4 in or #57 stone |
| Shed or hot tub gravel pad foundation | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) leveled |
Bagged vs. bulk delivery & dump truck loads
Bagged gravel (0.5 cu ft or 40–50 lb bags) is practical for small garden borders, minor pipe bedding, or aquarium setups. Any project requiring more than half a cubic yard is significantly cheaper ordered in bulk by the ton from an aggregate supplier or quarry. A standard tri-axle dump truck typically hauls 12 to 16 tons (roughly 9 to 12 cubic yards) of gravel per load.
A standard pallet holds approximately 40 to 56 bags of 50 lb gravel (roughly 1 to 1.4 tons).
Two common mistakes when ordering gravel
Skipping the geotextile fabric layer
Spreading gravel directly over soft topsoil causes aggregate to sink into the dirt under wheel loads while mud migrates up. Always excavate topsoil and lay a heavy-duty woven or non-woven geotextile fabric between subsoil and your gravel base.
Using rounded river stone for a load-bearing driveway
Rounded stones roll like ball bearings under vehicle tires and never lock together. For driveways, parking pads, and paver bases, always use angular crushed stone (such as #57 limestone or crushed granite) that mechanically interlocks under compaction.
Gravel, specifically
Gravel questions people actually ask
Why add 10% to the calculated amount?
Extra material covers small dips, settling, spillage, and measurements that are not perfectly square. The calculated amount remains visible so you can compare both figures.
Are bag counts based on the same amount?
Both are shown. “Calculated” bags cover the measured volume; “Order” bags include the 10% allowance and round partial bags up to whole bags.
How accurate is the weight estimate?
Volume comes directly from your dimensions. Weight is a range because moisture, particle size, composition, and compaction change bulk density.
What is gravel?
Gravel is an unconsolidated mix of rock fragments, mineral particles, and stone aggregates ranging from fine granules (pea gravel) to coarse crushed rock. It is sourced either naturally from riverbeds and glacial deposits or produced commercially by crushing quarried bedrock like limestone, granite, or basalt.
What is type 2 gravel?
Type 2 gravel (often specified as Type 2 Class B or Type 2 base) is a dense-graded aggregate blend of crushed stone ranging from 3/4-inch down to fine stone dust. It compacts into an extremely solid, non-shifting foundation used for highway sub-bases, asphalt paving bases, and heavy-duty driveway foundations.
What is type 3/4 gravel?
Type 3/4 gravel refers to aggregate crushed and screened to an average particle size of 3/4 of an inch (19 mm). It comes in clean, washed open-graded forms (like #57 stone for French drains and concrete mix) or dense-graded forms with fines (crusher run / 3/4 minus) for compactible driveways and paver sub-bases.
What is 304 gravel?
Item 304 gravel is a specific DOT-standard dense-graded aggregate base consisting of crushed stone from 1.5 inches down to fine mineral dust. Because the fine particles fill all voids between larger rocks, 304 aggregate compacts into a nearly impermeable, cement-like sub-base for roads, driveways, and concrete slabs.
How to calculate 57 gravel?
To calculate #57 gravel: multiply project length by width in feet to find square footage, multiply by depth in feet (depth in inches divided by 12), and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. To convert to tons, multiply cubic yards by 1.35 to 1.4 (since #57 limestone weighs roughly 2,700 lb per cubic yard). Add 10% for settling.
What is number 57 gravel used for?
Number 57 gravel (sized 1/2 to 1 inch, clean and angular without fines) is the industry workhorse for French drains, retaining wall backfill, septic drain fields, driveways, concrete aggregate mix, and sub-slab drainage layers because it provides high load support while allowing water to flow freely.
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 to find cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by 1.3 to 1.4 for total tons needed. For example, a 10×20 ft driveway surface at 4 in depth needs roughly 2.5 cubic yards or about 3.5 tons of crushed gravel.
What is the best base for gravel?
The best base for a gravel driveway or heavy walkway is compacted undisturbed subsoil covered by heavy-duty geotextile fabric, followed by 4 to 6 inches of compacted dense-graded crushed stone (such as crusher run, road base, or #411 / #304 aggregate) before the decorative or wearing course is laid. Under pavers, the paver base calculator sizes that base at compacted depth.
How much does gravel cost per ton or per yard?
Plain crushed limestone or driveway gravel typically runs $25 to $65 per ton at the quarry, or $40 to $85 per ton delivered. A cubic yard weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 tons, so standard stone works out to roughly $40 to $90 a yard, and washed or decorative gravel such as colored river rock or white marble chips runs $75 to $150+ per ton. A basic gravel driveway installed by a contractor, with excavation and grading, typically costs $3 to $8 per square foot.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs between 2,400 and 2,900 pounds (1.2 to 1.45 tons). Loose dry pea gravel sits around 2,500–2,600 lb/yd³, while dense-graded crushed stone with rock dust can reach 2,800–3,000 lb/yd³.
How to build a gravel driveway?
Excavate 8 to 12 inches of topsoil, slope the subgrade for drainage, and line the bed with heavy-duty geotextile fabric. Add 4 to 6 inches of coarse base rock (#3 or #4 stone) and compact it; add 3 to 4 inches of dense-graded 304 or crusher run and compact; finish with 2 to 3 inches of angular #57 crushed stone crowned in the center.
How much pea gravel do I need?
For walkways and patios, calculate length × width in feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27 for cubic yards. Pea gravel is typically spread 2 to 3 inches deep (never more than 3 inches on walkways, or it becomes difficult to walk on). 100 sq ft at 2 inches depth requires 0.62 cubic yards (about 0.85 tons). The pea gravel calculator has its own depth guide and bag counts.
How much is a load of gravel?
A full standard dump truck load (10 to 14 tons / 8 to 11 cubic yards) typically costs $400 to $900 including material and local delivery. Single-axle truck loads (5 to 6 tons) cost around $250 to $450.
How many tons of gravel in a dump truck?
A standard tandem-axle dump truck carries 10 to 14 tons of gravel. Larger tri-axle and quad-axle dump trucks carry 16 to 22 tons, while small single-axle municipal dump trucks haul about 5 to 7 tons.
How much gravel for a 10x10 area?
A 10×10 ft area (100 sq ft) at a 2-inch depth requires 0.62 cubic yards (approx. 0.85 tons / 34 bags of 50 lb). At a 3-inch depth, it requires 0.93 cubic yards (approx. 1.25 tons / 50 bags). At a 4-inch depth, it requires 1.23 cubic yards (approx. 1.7 tons / 67 bags).