Gravel Calculator
Estimate cubic yards and tons of gravel needed.
Optional extra for compaction and spillage.
Results update as you type.
How it works
A gravel calculator works out how much stone you need for a driveway, path, patio base or drainage layer, and reports it in both the cubic yards suppliers quote and the tons trucks are weighed by. You enter the length and width of the area and the depth of gravel you want, and the tool multiplies them into a volume, converting the depth from inches to feet so all three dimensions share one scale before dividing by 27 to reach cubic yards. Volume is the natural language of aggregate because bulk gravel is sold loose by the cubic yard or ton rather than in tidy packages. Ordering short means a second delivery fee and a seam where old and new stone meet at different compaction, while ordering long leaves a pile you must spread or haul away. Because gravel settles as it is compacted and some always scatters off the edges during spreading, the calculator lets you add a waste margin on purpose — many crews add 5 to 10 percent for compaction and spillage rather than discovering the shortfall on site. The length-times-width-times-depth method is standard estimation practice because a spread of gravel is simply a shallow rectangular volume. Contractors, landscapers and homeowners rely on it to price jobs and load trucks with confidence.
Volume (ft³) = length × width × (depth ÷ 12); yd³ = ft³ ÷ 27 × (1 + waste%); tons = yd³ × 1.4
Length times width gives the ground area the gravel will cover in square feet, and multiplying by depth turns that flat area into a three-dimensional volume. Depth is divided by 12 first because it is entered in inches while length and width are in feet, so every dimension shares one unit before they are multiplied. Dividing the resulting cubic feet by 27 converts to cubic yards, since one cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet, and multiplying by one plus the waste fraction adds a margin. Multiplying yardage by 1.4 estimates weight in US tons, the rough density of common crushed gravel delivered dry.
Source:Standard construction estimation (area/volume method)
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter length, width and depth.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust waste allowance if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Gravel needed updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Common crushed gravel weighs roughly 1.4 US tons per cubic yard when delivered dry, and this calculator uses that figure to convert yardage into an approximate tonnage. The exact number varies with stone type, size and moisture — wet gravel and dense crushed rock run heavier, while lighter decorative stone runs less. Ask your supplier for the density of the specific product to fine-tune the weight.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A residential gravel driveway usually needs about 4 inches of surface stone, and often more total depth once you include a coarser base layer beneath it, bringing the excavation to 6 to 8 inches. Depth drives volume directly in the formula, so every extra inch adds noticeable material. Softer or frequently used ground benefits from a deeper, layered build that resists rutting and drains well.
Should I add extra gravel for compaction?
Yes. Loose gravel settles as it is rolled or driven on, so the compacted depth ends up less than the loose depth you spread. Adding a 5 to 10 percent waste margin covers that settlement plus the stone that scatters off the edges and works into the subgrade. Use the waste field to build that cushion in rather than measuring the exact volume and coming up short on site.
Does this calculator include a margin for waste?
Only if you enter one. The waste field defaults to zero so the base result is the exact geometric volume of the area you describe, which keeps the figure transparent and easy to check. Type a percentage — commonly 5 to 10 percent — to add an allowance for compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade. Keeping the raw volume separate lets you scale the margin to the job and the ground conditions.
How do I measure gravel for an irregular area?
Split the space into simple rectangles, calculate the volume of each with its own length, width and depth, then add the results together. For a rough curve, approximate it as the rectangle that best contains it and let the waste margin absorb the small overage. Measuring carefully and rounding area up slightly is safer than rounding down, since a short load costs a second delivery.