Gravel & Stone Calculator
Calculate how much gravel or crushed stone you need — enter your area and depth to get the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and the number of 50 lb bags, with cost.
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel and crushed stone are sold in bulk by the cubic yard or the ton, and in bags for small jobs. To estimate a load, find the volume of the area you are filling, then convert that volume to weight (tons) using the stone's density and to bags if you are buying bagged. The calculator above does all three at once — enter your area and depth and it returns cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags, plus an estimated cost.
The gravel formula
Volume is length times width times depth, with every dimension in the same unit. Because landscape depths are almost always given in inches while area is in square feet, the quickest shortcut keeps area in square feet and depth in inches:
cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324
The 324 comes from the math: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and there are 12 inches in a foot, so 27 × 12 = 324. If you prefer to work entirely in feet, the long form is the same calculation:
cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) · cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Once you have cubic yards, multiply by the stone's density to get tons. Most common gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so:
tons = cubic yards × 1.4 · 50 lb bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5
Worked example: a small gravel pad
Say you are laying a 12 ft × 10 ft gravel pad at a 3 inch depth (a typical walkway or shed-base depth):
- Area = 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft
- Cubic yards = 120 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.11 cubic yards
- Tons = 1.11 × 1.4 = 1.56 tons
- 50 lb bags = (120 sq ft × 3 in ÷ 12) ÷ 0.5 = 30 cu ft ÷ 0.5 = 60 bags
At 60 bags this job is firmly in "buy in bulk" territory — see the cost table below. Once you account for compaction (covered further down) you would round the order up to about 1.25 cubic yards or 1.75 tons.
Gravel types, weight & cost
Density and price both vary by stone type and by region. Decorative and washed stone cost more than plain crushed limestone or crusher-run. The figures below are typical 2026 US bulk ranges and are estimates only — always confirm the delivered price with a local supplier, since haulage often costs as much as the stone.
| Gravel type | Tons / cubic yard | Typical use | Cost / ton (2026 est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 1.5 | Driveway base, packs hard | $15–$30 |
| Crushed limestone | ≈ 1.4 | Driveways, paths | $20–$35 |
| #57 stone (¾") | ≈ 1.4 | Driveway surface, drainage | $30–$50 |
| Pea gravel | ≈ 1.3 | Walkways, patios, decorative | $25–$45 |
| River rock | ≈ 1.4 | Beds, dry creeks (decorative) | $40–$60 |
| Riprap (2–6") | ≈ 1.8 | Erosion control, slopes | $35–$60 |
The calculator uses about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, which is representative of common driveway and drainage gravel. For heavier riprap or lighter washed pea gravel, adjust your weight estimate up or down a little.
Coverage: how far does a ton go?
A quick field rule for plain gravel: one ton covers about 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep. Coverage drops as depth rises because the same weight of stone has to spread thinner.
| Depth | Sq ft per ton (approx.) | Sq ft per cubic yard (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | ≈ 100 sq ft | ≈ 160 sq ft |
| 3 inches | ≈ 80 sq ft | ≈ 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | ≈ 60 sq ft | ≈ 81 sq ft |
How deep should gravel be?
Depth depends on the job. For a walkway or drainage bed, 2–3 inches over fabric is usually enough. A driveway carries vehicle loads and is built up in layers, not a single dump:
| Use | Recommended depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative bed / mulch replacement | 2 inches |
| Walkway / patio base | 2–3 inches |
| Drainage trench (French drain) | varies by trench |
| Driveway base layer (crusher run / #57) | 4 inches |
| Driveway surface layer | 2 inches |
| Driveway total | ≈ 6 inches |
For a driveway, lay a geotextile (landscape) fabric on the graded subgrade first. The fabric stops the stone from sinking into the soil and the soil from pumping up into the stone, which can double the life of the surface. It typically adds roughly $0.15–$0.30 per square foot in material. On top of the fabric goes a 4 inch compacted base of angular crusher-run or #57 stone, then a 2 inch surface layer.
Waste & compaction: order a little extra
Gravel settles and compacts under its own weight and traffic, so the depth you order is more than the depth you end up with. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Gravel Roads Construction & Maintenance Guide treats compaction as a routine part of building a gravel surface. A practical rule:
- Add about 10% for handling and overage — uneven subgrade, spillage and the last partial load.
- Add 20–30% if the gravel will be machine-compacted, as a driveway base is. Compacting a 4 inch loose lift can lose roughly an inch of finished depth.
For a loose decorative bed, the 10% buffer is enough. For a compacted driveway base, order on the high side — it is far cheaper than a second delivery.
Common mistakes
- Using rounded stone for a driveway. Pea gravel and river rock never lock together, so they shift and rut under tires. Use angular crushed stone or crusher-run for anything vehicles drive on; save the rounded stone for beds and paths.
- Skipping the fabric. Without geotextile, base stone migrates into the soil and you are topping up gravel every couple of years.
- Ignoring compaction. Ordering the exact calculated volume leaves a driveway base an inch shy of spec.
- Buying bags for a big job. Past ~12–15 bags, bulk by the yard or ton is dramatically cheaper per pound.
- Forgetting delivery. A short load can carry a flat haul fee that dwarfs the stone cost — combine deliveries where you can.
When to hire a pro
A small decorative bed or a short walkway is a confident DIY weekend. Bring in a pro when the job involves grading and drainage you can't eyeball, a long or load-bearing driveway, a slope that needs riprap or erosion control, or any cut near utilities. A contractor with a plate compactor and a laser grade will get the base right the first time, which is where most DIY gravel surfaces fail. For related estimates, see the sand, mulch and soil calculators, the cubic yards calculator, the floating deck calculator for its gravel base pad, the paver calculator if gravel is the base under a paver patio, the retaining wall calculator for its base and drainage stone, or the asphalt calculator if you're paving the driveway on top.
Figures here are estimates only and vary by region, stone type and supplier as of 2026 — verify quantities and delivered pricing with a local pro or gravel supplier before you order.
Prices vary by location. Verify with local suppliers.
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel and crushed stone are sold by the cubic yard or ton in bulk and in bags. Find the volume by multiplying the area in square feet by the depth in inches and dividing by 324 for cubic yards. The calculator above also gives the weight in tons — gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard — and the number of 50 lb bags.
cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 · tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.4
Gravel depth & weight
| Use | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Walkway / drainage | 2–3 inches |
| Driveway (total) | 4–6 inches (in layers) |
| 1 cubic yard | ≈ 1.4 tons · ≈ 54 × 50 lb bags |
Gravel compacts, so order a little extra. For other bulk materials, see the mulch, sand and soil calculators, or the cubic yards calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of gravel cost?
Plain bulk gravel typically runs about $15–$50 per ton in 2026, and a cubic yard weighs roughly 1.4 tons, so a yard of common driveway or drainage gravel is often $25–$70 of stone. Decorative options like river rock cost more, and delivery is usually charged separately and can add a flat haul fee — these are estimates, so confirm the delivered price with a local supplier.
What gravel is best for a driveway?
Use angular crushed stone for a driveway, not rounded stone. A standard build is a 4-inch base of crusher-run or #57 stone over geotextile fabric, topped with a 2-inch surface layer, about 6 inches total. Pea gravel and river rock look nice but never lock together, so they shift and rut under tires — keep those for beds, patios and walkways.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
As a field rule, one ton of plain gravel covers about 100 square feet at 2 inches deep. Coverage drops with depth — roughly 80 square feet at 3 inches and 60 square feet at 4 inches — because the same weight of stone has to spread thinner. Larger or decorative stone covers slightly less than fine gravel.
Should I put landscape fabric under gravel?
For driveways and load-bearing areas, yes. Geotextile (landscape) fabric on the graded subgrade keeps the base stone from sinking into the soil and the soil from pumping up into the stone, which can roughly double the life of the surface. It adds about $0.15–$0.30 per square foot in material. For a loose decorative bed it is optional but still helps suppress weeds.
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 for cubic yards. The calculator above also converts that to tons — gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard — and to 50 lb bags, so you can order bulk or bagged.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel or crushed stone weighs roughly 2,600–2,900 pounds — about 1.3 to 1.45 tons. The calculator uses about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, which is typical for common driveway and drainage gravel.
How deep should gravel be?
For a walkway or drainage bed, 2–3 inches is usually enough. A gravel driveway is normally built up in layers to a total of about 4–6 inches over a compacted base. Set your depth above to match the job, and remember gravel compacts, so order a little extra.
How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?
A 50 lb bag of gravel holds roughly 0.5 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes about 54 bags to make a yard. For anything more than about a dozen bags, bulk gravel by the yard or ton is usually much cheaper.