Gravel Calculator
Calculate the exact gravel volume, weight in tons, and cost for any driveway or landscaping project. Free gravel calculator with imperial and metric units, density presets, and waste factor.
Planning a gravel driveway, walkway, or landscaping project? This gravel calculator tells you exactly how much gravel you need: cubic yards, tons, and cost based on your area’s length, width, and depth. Whether you’re laying a base for pavers, filling a French drain, or surfacing a driveway, the math is straightforward. Length × width × depth gives you volume, and the calculator converts that to tons based on your selected gravel type and density.
Enter your dimensions below to get an instant estimate. The calculator includes density presets for the most common gravel types so you can switch between pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock, and base gravel without doing the conversion math yourself.
Planning a gravel driveway, walkway, or landscaping project? This gravel calculator tells you exactly how much gravel you need: cubic yards, tons, and cost based on your area’s length, width, and depth. Whether you’re laying a base for pavers, filling a French drain, or surfacing a driveway, the math is straightforward. Length × width × depth gives you volume, and the calculator converts that to tons based on your selected gravel type and density.
Enter your dimensions below to get an instant estimate. The calculator includes density presets for the most common gravel types so you can switch between pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock, and base gravel without doing the conversion math yourself.
How to Use This Calculator
How to use the gravel calculator
The calculator works in two modes: a simple default mode for quick volume estimates, and an advanced mode for tonnage, waste factor, and cost calculations. Here’s how to use both.
Step 1. Enter your area dimensions
Type the length and width of the area you’re filling with gravel. You can use any unit (feet, meters, inches, centimeters, or yards) by selecting it from the unit dropdown next to each input. For depth, the default is inches, which is what most landscaping projects use. Typical depths: 2 to 3 inches for walkways, 3 to 4 inches for decorative landscaping, 4 to 6 inches for driveways.
Step 2. Select your gravel type
Pick your gravel type from the dropdown in the advanced options. The calculator automatically applies the correct density to convert volume to tons. If your gravel type isn’t listed, choose “Custom” and enter the density manually.
Step 3. Open advanced options for tonnage and cost
Click “Show advanced options” to access the gravel type selector, custom density input, waste factor slider, and cost-per-ton input. The advanced section is where the calculator becomes a full gravel cost estimator instead of just a volume tool.
Step 4. Adjust the waste factor
The default 10% waste factor accounts for compaction, spillage, and uneven distribution. Increase to 15% for sloped areas or projects with significant edge work. Drop to 5% only for very controlled installations on flat ground.
Step 5. Enter cost per ton (optional)
If you want a total cost estimate, enter what your supplier is quoting per ton. Gravel prices vary by region, gravel type, and supplier, typically ranging from $15 to $75 per ton in the US. Leave blank if you only need the volume and weight.
Step 6. Read the results
Three result cards appear: Gravel Volume (always shown), Weight in Tons (when advanced is open), and Estimated Cost (only if you entered a price). All values include the waste factor when calculated in advanced mode.
How the Calculation Works
The formula behind the gravel calculator
Calculating gravel comes down to two equations. First, the volume:
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
Then, the weight based on the gravel’s density:
Weight (tons) = Volume × Density ÷ 2,000
The catch is unit consistency. All three measurements need to be in the same unit before you multiply. If length and width are in feet but depth is in inches, you have to convert depth to feet first by dividing by 12.
Worked formula in feet (Imperial)
Cubic feet = Length(ft) × Width(ft) × (Depth(in) ÷ 12)
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = Cubic yards × Density (tons per cubic yard)
Gravel density reference
Different gravel types weigh different amounts per cubic yard. The calculator uses these industry-standard densities:
- Pea gravel: 1.4 tons per cubic yard
- Crushed stone (3/4 inch): 1.5 tons per cubic yard
- River rock: 1.3 tons per cubic yard
- Base gravel (Class 5): 1.6 tons per cubic yard
- Crusher run: 1.7 tons per cubic yard
If you know the exact density of your specific gravel source, you can enter a custom value in the advanced options.
Worked Example
Worked example: 20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in gravel walkway
Let’s walk through a real example. Say you’re laying crushed stone for a 20 ft × 10 ft walkway at 4 inches deep. Here’s exactly what the gravel calculator does behind the scenes.
Step 1. Convert depth to feet
4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet
Step 2. Calculate cubic feet
20 ft × 10 ft × 0.333 ft = 66.7 cubic feet
Step 3. Convert to cubic yards
66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards
Step 4. Convert to tons (crushed stone at 1.5 tons per cubic yard)
2.47 × 1.5 = 3.71 tons
Step 5. Add waste factor (10%)
3.71 × 1.10 = 4.08 tons. Order 4 tons when calling your supplier.
Step 6. Estimated cost at $45 per ton
4.08 × $45 = $184
Practical takeaway: Most gravel suppliers deliver in 1-ton minimum increments. For pours under 3 tons, you may pay a delivery surcharge that exceeds the gravel cost itself. Always confirm delivery minimums and surcharge thresholds when ordering.
Understanding the Variables
Variables explained
Each input in the gravel calculator affects the final tonnage calculation. Understanding what each one means, and how to measure it correctly, is the difference between an accurate estimate and ordering 30% too much gravel.
Length and Width
The two horizontal dimensions of the area you’re filling. The calculator accepts feet, meters, inches, centimeters, and yards. Pick whatever unit your tape measure shows from the dropdown next to each field. For irregular shapes, measure the longest length and average width, or divide the area into rectangles and calculate each separately.
Depth
The thickness of the gravel layer. Default is inches, with cm, feet, and meters also available. Typical depths by use case:
- 2 inches for thin decorative coverage over weed barrier
- 3 inches for foot traffic walkways
- 4 inches for residential driveways over compacted base
- 6 inches for driveways without a separate base layer
- 8 inches and above for heavy vehicle use or poor soil conditions
Gravel Type (advanced)
Different gravel types have different densities, which means the same volume produces different tonnage. Pea gravel is lightweight (1.4 tons/yd³) while crusher run is heavy (1.7 tons/yd³). Select the closest match to your gravel, or use “Custom” if your supplier provides exact density data.
Custom Density (advanced)
If you select “Custom” from the gravel type dropdown, you can enter your exact density in tons per cubic yard. Use this when your supplier provides a spec sheet or when you’re using a specialty aggregate not in the presets.
Waste Factor (advanced)
A percentage added to the calculated tonnage to account for compaction loss, spillage during delivery and spreading, and uneven distribution. Industry standard is 10%. Use 15% for sloped sites or projects with significant edge detail. Use 5 to 7% only for tightly controlled installations.
Cost per Ton (advanced)
The price your supplier quotes per ton, including delivery if applicable. US gravel prices range widely: pea gravel and decorative aggregates run $30 to $75 per ton at the supplier, while bulk base gravel is $15 to $30 per ton. Add 20 to 50% for delivery to residential addresses, depending on distance and minimum order size.
Industry Standards & References
Industry standards referenced
The math in this calculator is volumetric geometry plus density conversion, but real-world gravel installation is governed by published standards from highway and aggregate industry bodies. Here are the relevant references.
ASTM D2940: Standard Specification for Graded Aggregate Material
Covers graded aggregate materials used for bases and subbases. Defines particle size distributions and quality requirements for gravel used under pavements, driveways, and structural slabs.
AASHTO M147: Standard Specification for Materials for Aggregate and Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials specification defines gradation requirements for aggregate base materials. This is the spec most state DOT projects reference, and many commercial driveway specs follow it.
ASTM C29: Standard Test Method for Bulk Density of Aggregate
Defines how density is measured for aggregates. The density values in this calculator are based on typical loose bulk density measurements from this standard. Compacted density can be 10 to 20% higher.
NSSGA: National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Industry trade association that publishes density reference data and best-practice installation guides for aggregate products.
Note: This gravel calculator estimates loose volume and weight. Actual delivery weights vary by moisture content, compaction state, and specific quarry source. For engineered projects, request a density spec sheet from your supplier and enter the exact value in custom mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 20 ft × 10 ft walkway at 3 inches deep requires 1.85 cubic yards of gravel (about 2.78 tons of crushed stone). At 4 inches deep, the same walkway needs 2.47 cubic yards or 3.71 tons. Add 10% waste factor when ordering. Use the calculator above for exact numbers based on your specific gravel type and dimensions.
It depends on the gravel type. Pea gravel is approximately 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Crushed stone is 1.5 tons per cubic yard. River rock is 1.3 tons per cubic yard. Base gravel and crusher run can run 1.6 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard. The calculator above lets you select your gravel type to get exact tonnage automatically.
A new gravel driveway is typically built 10 to 12 inches deep in two or three compacted layers, which works out to roughly 24 cubic yards (about 34 tons) for a 50 by 12 foot single-car driveway. Enter your dimensions above for an exact figure, and see our gravel driveway guide for the full layer-by-layer breakdown.
Cubic yards measures volume. Tons measures weight. To convert between them, multiply cubic yards by the gravel's density in tons per cubic yard. For example, 5 cubic yards of crushed stone equals 5 × 1.5 = 7.5 tons. Most US gravel suppliers sell and deliver by the ton, while landscape supply stores often sell by the cubic yard for smaller quantities.
Pea gravel is small, round, smooth stone used for decorative surfaces and walkways. Crushed stone is angular and locks together when compacted, making it ideal for driveways and structural bases. For a full comparison covering cost, drainage, installation, and which to choose for your project, see our complete pea gravel vs crushed stone guide.
US gravel prices typically range from $15 to $75 per ton at the supplier. Crushed stone and base gravel are usually $15 to $30 per ton. Pea gravel and decorative aggregates run $30 to $75 per ton. Delivery to residential addresses typically adds $50 to $150 per load, with minimum order requirements (often 1 to 3 tons). Prices vary significantly by region and proximity to quarry sources.
Yes. Standard practice is to add 10% to your calculated tonnage to account for compaction (gravel reduces in volume when compacted), spillage during delivery and spreading, and uneven distribution across the area. For sloped sites or projects with significant edge work, use 15%. The calculator's advanced mode lets you adjust this directly.
The volume calculation is mathematically exact (within rounding). Tonnage accuracy depends on how closely your gravel's actual density matches the selected preset. If you're ordering a specialty aggregate or need precise tonnage for an engineered project, ask your supplier for the actual loose density (in tons per cubic yard) and enter it as a custom value in the calculator's advanced options.