Gravel is sold by the ton or the cubic yard, but driveways and paths are measured in feet and inches. Enter your area and depth below to translate between them — and to know what the quote should say before the truck arrives.
How much gravel do you need?
Enter your area size and depth to get gravel in cubic yards and tons — the two units suppliers actually sell by.
Your estimate
Weight uses the standard average of about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for gravel and crushed stone; dense or wet material runs heavier. Gravel compacts after spreading and rain — if your base is soft or freshly graded, add about 10%.
How to use this gravel calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area.
- Enter the total depth — for driveways, add the base and top layers together (usually 4–6 inches total).
- Quote or order in whichever unit your supplier uses: tons or cubic yards, both are shown.
How we calculate gravel
Volume = length × width × depth. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × 1.4, the standard average weight of gravel and crushed stone. Coverage shortcut: one cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
Gravel calculator FAQs
How much gravel do I need for a 10×10 area?
At 3 inches deep, a 10×10 area needs 25 cubic feet — about 0.93 cubic yards, weighing roughly 1.3 tons. At driveway depth (4–6 inches total), plan on roughly 1.7–2.6 tons for the same area.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Four to six inches in total, built in layers: a coarse base layer compacted first, then a finer top layer. Paths and patios do fine at 2–3 inches over landscape fabric.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,800 lbs — 1.4 tons. That surprises people picking up by the yard: a half-ton pickup can legally carry only about a third of a cubic yard per trip, so delivery usually wins.
How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?
A standard bag holds 0.5 cubic feet, so one cubic yard is 54 bags. Bags make sense for patches and tiny paths; anything over a quarter-yard is cheaper and easier in bulk.