Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or the ton, but your project is measured in feet and inches — this gravel calculator bridges the gap. Enter the area's length, width and depth and get cubic yards, tons and cost for a driveway, path, patio base or drainage bed.
How much gravel do you need?
Multiply length × width × depth for the volume, then convert: cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards, and multiply by ~1.4 tons per yard for weight. Worked example: a 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep is 50 × 10 × 0.333 ≈ 167 ft³ = 6.2 cubic yards ≈ 8.7 tons. Enter any units — the calculator converts.
How deep should gravel be?
Typical depths: 4–6 inches for driveways (often two lifts: larger base stone below, smaller surface gravel on top), 2–3 inches for paths and decorative beds, and 4+ inches under slabs and pavers for drainage. Deeper isn't wasted — thin gravel migrates and ruts quickly under wheels.
Tons vs yards — how gravel is sold
Suppliers quote either unit. Typical crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (roughly 1.5 tonnes/m³), though density varies by material — pea gravel is lighter, wet stone heavier. If a quote is in tons, divide by 1.4 to sanity-check the yardage against this calculator.
Pro tips before ordering
Order ~5–10% extra for spreading, compaction and settling; put landscape fabric underneath to stop weeds and keep stone from sinking into soil; and compact in 2-inch lifts for a driveway that lasts. Need the area first? Use the square footage calculator — and if the project ends in a slab, the concrete calculator handles the pour.