Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and the finished depth to get the loose gravel to order in cubic yards (or cubic meters) and its weight in tons. The density and the compaction allowance are yours to change.
Quick answer: A 50 ft × 10 ft driveway with 6 in of gravel is 9.26 cubic yards, or 10.65 yd³ with a 15% compaction allowance, about 14.91 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Gravel volume is length × width × depth, with the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12). Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards, add a compaction allowance, then multiply by the density in tons per cubic yard to get weight.
Example: a driveway 50 ft × 10 ft with 6 in of total depth is 250 ft³, or 9.26 yd³. With 15% for compaction that is 10.65 yd³ of loose gravel. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that weighs about 14.91 tons.
Method
How this calculator works
Volume is exact geometry. Weight depends on the stone, and no authoritative density exists, so the density field is an editable estimate and your supplier’s figure should replace it.
Volume at the finished depth
Area times depth in feet, then divided by 27 to get cubic yards. If you spread two layers, add their depths together: a 4 in base plus a 2 in surface is 6 in.
Volume (ft³) = L (ft) × W (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12Cubic yards = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27Compaction and spillage
Loose gravel packs down once it is spread and compacted, so you order more than the finished volume. The calculator starts at 15% (adjustable from 0 to 40%). Spillage starts at 0% so the two allowances do not stack unless you want them to.
Loose yd³ = Net yd³ × (1 + Compaction ÷ 100) × (1 + Spillage ÷ 100)Weight in tons
Weight is loose volume times density in short tons (2,000 lb) per cubic yard. Starting values: crushed stone 1.4, crusher run 1.5, pea gravel 1.3. These come from supplier-style tables, not a standard. Use your supplier’s number when you have it.
Tons = Loose yd³ × Density (tons per yd³)Ton or tonne
A US construction ton is the short ton: 2,000 lb, or 0.90718474 metric tonnes. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg. The metric view shows cubic meters and tonnes.
Pounds = Tons × 2,000Metric tonnes = Tons × 0.90718474Worked example: a 50 ft × 10 ft driveway, 6 in total depth
Arithmetic checkedA 4 in base plus a 2 in top layer, both crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 15% compaction, 0% spillage.
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 50 × 10 | 500 ft² |
| Volume at 6 in | 500 × (6 ÷ 12) | 250 ft³ |
| Convert to cubic yards | 250 ÷ 27 | 9.2593 yd³ |
| Add 15% for compaction | 9.2593 × 1.15 | 10.648 yd³ |
| Spillage allowance (0%) | 10.648 × 1.00 | 10.648 yd³ |
| Weight | 10.648 × 1.4 | 14.907 tons |
| In pounds | 14.907 × 2,000 | about 29,815 lb |
| In metric tonnes | 14.907 × 0.90718474 | 13.52 t |
| You would order | about 10.65 yd³, or 14.9 tons | |
Disclaimer
Results are planning estimates based on the dimensions and assumptions you enter. They are not engineering, structural or building-code advice. Product yields, densities and coverage vary by manufacturer, batch and site conditions. Check product labels, your supplier and your local building department before you order materials or start work. Read the full calculation disclaimer.
Accuracy
What affects your estimate
Gravel is sold by volume or by weight, and neither is exact. These are the variables that move the answer.
Density changes with the stone
Rock type and gradation set the weight. The sources behind the presets give ranges, for example 1.4 to 1.5 for crushed stone, not a single value. Wet gravel can weigh 15 to 20% more than dry.
Ton or yard
Your supplier decides whether to sell by the ton or by the cubic yard, and some quote both. Check which, and ask for their density so the two agree.
Depth depends on the job
Guides commonly quote 2 to 4 inches for a gravel surface, but no single figure is authoritative. Subgrade, traffic and local rules decide it. The calculator warns above 12 in because that is usually a fill or a footing, not a surface.
Compaction is a choice
The 15% default is a convention, not a measured value. Lower it if you do not plan to compact the gravel, for example a loose decorative layer, and raise it if you will compact a thick base.
Base depth, drainage, compaction specifications and subgrade preparation for driveways and structures are not calculated here. Follow your local rules and your contractor or engineer.
Common mistakes
Using one density for every stone
Pea gravel, crushed stone and crusher run weigh differently per yard. A wrong density turns a good volume into a wrong tonnage.
Ordering the finished volume
Gravel that is compacted loses volume. With a 0% compaction allowance you can end up thin on the last stretch.
Mixing up tons and tonnes
In US construction a ton is 2,000 lb. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, about 2,204.6 lb. The labels in the results say which one you are reading.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate how much gravel I need for an area?
Multiply length by width in feet, then by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12), and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Add a compaction allowance, then multiply by the density to get tons.
How much area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is 27 ÷ 1.4 = 19.29 ft³ of loose gravel. That covers about 77 ft² at 3 in deep or 116 ft² at 2 in deep, before any compaction allowance.
How much gravel do I need for a 10×10 area, 3 inches deep?
10 × 10 × (3 ÷ 12) = 25 ft³, or 0.93 yd³. With 15% compaction that is 1.06 yd³, about 1.49 tons at 1.4 tons per yd³.
Should I order gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Whichever your supplier uses. Ask for their density in tons per cubic yard, put it in the density field, and the yard and ton figures will match what they quote. The guide on how much gravel you need lists typical weights by stone.
What does the compaction allowance do?
It adds loose material so the finished, compacted layer reaches the depth you entered. It starts at 15% and you can change it from 0 to 40%.
Related calculators and guides
Sources
Where the numbers come from
- Crushed Stone Calculator (secondary source) weight per yard of gravel (density presets; not an official standard), accessed October 16, 2026.
- Inch Calculator (secondary source) cubic yards to tons (density ranges; no primary source cited), accessed October 16, 2026.
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C (cubic yard, ton and pound definitions), accessed October 16, 2026.