Gravel Calculator
Estimate gravel volume, weight and cost for driveways and paths.
About Gravel Calculator
Volume is calculated the same way as mulch: (area sq ft × depth in) ÷ 324. Weight is then calculated by multiplying cubic yards by the material's bulk density in lb/yd³, then dividing by 2000 to get US short tons. Gravel deliveries are typically priced per ton, so weight matters as much as volume. A 10% overage is standard practice because minor settling and uneven base always consume a little extra.
Formulas
Volume
Cubic yards = (area sq ft × depth in) ÷ 324
Weight
Tons = cubic yards × density (lb/yd³) ÷ 2000
- \rho
- Bulk density of the material in lb/yd³
Worked example
With the default values below, Gravel Calculator returns Cubic Yards (with overage) of 2.716. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Lengthminimum 0.1 ft
- 20 ft
- Widthminimum 0.1 ft
- 10 ft
- Depthaccepts 0.5–48 in
- 4 in
- Materialone of Crushed Stone / Granite Base, Pea Gravel, Crushed Limestone, Decomposed Granite, River Rock, Lava Rock, Concrete Sand
- Crushed Stone / Granite Base
- Price per Ton (optional)minimum 0 $
- 0 $
- Overage Factoraccepts 0–30 %
- 10 %
Results
- Cubic Yards (with overage)
- 2.716
- Weight (US tons)
- 4.03
- Weight (lbs)
- 8,067
- Cubic Yards (net)
- 2.469
- Area
- 200.0 sq ft
- Material Density
- 2,970 lb/yd³
Step by step
- 1Area= 200 sq ft
- 2Volume (net)= 2.469 yd³
- 3Add 10% overage= 2.716 yd³
- 4Weight= 4.03 US tons
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 6 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A typical residential driveway uses 4 inches of compacted base course (crushed stone) plus a 2-inch finish layer of pea gravel or decorative aggregate — 6 inches total. For heavy vehicles, increase the base to 6 inches.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
It varies by material: crushed stone ≈ 1.35 tons/yd³, pea gravel ≈ 1.4 tons/yd³, lava rock ≈ 0.8 tons/yd³. The calculator uses the material-specific density from its built-in table.
Should I order in tons or cubic yards?
Suppliers typically sell bulk aggregate by the ton. The calculator shows both so you can use whichever the supplier quotes.
What is the overage factor for?
10% overage accounts for the material that settles into depressions, the slight over-application during spreading, and the material wasted on sloped edges. It prevents a second delivery run.