Gravel Calculator

How many tons of gravel do you need?

Enter your dimensions and gravel type. Get the weight in tons, cubic yards, and cubic feet — with an optional cost estimate. Gravel is sold by the ton; this is the number you need.

Gravel Tons Calculator

Crushed stone, pea gravel, road base, river rock, and more.

Gravel Type density determines weight per cubic yard

Area Length feet

Area Width feet

Depth inches deep

Price per ton (optional) leave blank to skip cost estimate

6 gravel types with real densities

Tons, cu yd, and cu ft

Free, no sign-up

How to Calculate Gravel in Tons

Gravel and crushed stone are sold by the ton at quarries and landscape suppliers — not by the bag or by the cubic yard, though cubic yards are a useful intermediate step. The calculation requires two things: volume and density. Different gravel types weigh different amounts per cubic yard, which is why picking the right material in the calculator matters.

Formula Volume (cu yd) = Length × Width × (Depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Weight (tons) = Volume (cu yd) × Density (tons/cu yd)

Gravel Density by Type

These are the density values used in this calculator, sourced from USGS material data and supplier spec sheets:

Crushed stone (limestone / granite) — 1.50 tons per cubic yard. The most common gravel for driveways, drainage, and general fill.
Pea gravel — 1.40 tons per cubic yard. Smaller, rounded stones used for paths, playgrounds, and decorative beds.
Item 4 / road base — 1.55 tons per cubic yard. Compacted mix of crushed stone and stone dust. The densest common gravel because the fine particles fill voids.
River rock / cobble — 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Rounded, washed stones. Lighter than angular crushed stone.
Marble chips — 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Decorative white or grey chips for landscape beds.
Lava rock — 0.85 tons per cubic yard. Porous volcanic rock, significantly lighter than all other types. Often used for decorative landscaping and drainage layers.

Recommended Depth by Application

Driveway (new base) — 6 to 8 inches of compacted road base, plus 2 to 4 inches of surface gravel
Driveway (top dressing existing) — 2 to 3 inches of crushed stone or pea gravel
Walkway / path — 3 to 4 inches for pedestrian traffic
Drainage trench — Fill completely; depth depends on trench size
Decorative landscape bed — 2 to 3 inches
French drain surround — Minimum 6 inches around perforated pipe

How Much Extra to Order

Always order 10 to 15 percent more than your calculation. Gravel compacts under weight and foot traffic, losing 10 to 20 percent of its depth. Edges are ragged and require overfill. Delivery trucks cannot always place material exactly where you need it, so some is wasted in transfer. Budget the extra — returning a fraction of a ton is impractical and most suppliers don't accept returns of loose materials.

Tons vs Cubic Yards: What Your Supplier Will Quote

Landscape and quarry suppliers quote by the ton for bulk delivery because their trucks are weighed at the scale house. When you call for a price, you need the number in tons. The cubic yard figure is still useful for visualising volume — one cubic yard of gravel is a pile roughly 3 feet square by 3 feet tall, or the equivalent of about 14 wheelbarrow loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?

For a standard residential driveway, enter your length, width, and depth into the calculator above. A typical driveway (12 ft wide × 50 ft long) at 4 inches of crushed stone depth requires about 7.4 cubic yards, which works out to roughly 11 tons. A full base layer with 6 inches would require about 16.5 tons for the same footprint. Use the calculator with your actual dimensions and select your gravel type for the exact figure.

How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?

It depends on the gravel type. Crushed limestone or granite runs about 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel is lighter at about 1.4 tons. Road base and compacted material is heavier at 1.55 tons. Lava rock is the lightest at about 0.85 tons per cubic yard. Always confirm with your specific supplier, as density varies by source and moisture content.

How many cubic yards is a ton of gravel?

For crushed stone at 1.5 tons per cubic yard, one ton equals approximately 0.67 cubic yards (about 18 cubic feet). For pea gravel at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 0.71 cubic yards. Use the calculator in reverse: enter your area dimensions at the depth you need, and the result tells you exactly how many tons to order.

What depth of gravel do I need for a driveway?

For a new driveway, a proper base requires 6 to 8 inches of compacted road base (Item 4) plus 2 to 4 inches of surface gravel on top — so 8 to 12 inches total. For top-dressing an existing driveway that has settled, 2 to 3 inches of crushed stone restores depth and fills ruts. For a lightly used driveway on firm, well-drained ground, 4 inches of compacted crush is often adequate for car traffic.

How much does a ton of gravel cover?

One ton of crushed stone (1.5 tons/cu yd) covers approximately 100 square feet at 2 inches deep, 50 square feet at 4 inches deep, or 33 square feet at 6 inches deep. For pea gravel (1.4 tons/cu yd), one ton covers slightly more. Use the calculator to get the precise figure for your area and depth rather than relying on rules of thumb.

What is the difference between crushed stone and pea gravel?

Crushed stone is angular — it has sharp, irregular edges from the crushing process. This angularity causes the stones to interlock when compacted, making it the right choice for driveways, structural fills, and road base. Pea gravel is small and rounded, either naturally weathered or processed to remove sharp edges. It doesn't compact and interlock the same way, making it better suited for decorative uses, playgrounds, and paths where a looser, more comfortable surface is preferred.