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Gravel Calculator
Our free gravel calculator tells you exactly how much gravel to order for a driveway, patio, walkway, or garden bed. Enter the length, width, and depth of your area, and it works out the volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, the weight in tons, and an estimated cost in US dollars.
Typical US price: about $30–$60 per ton plus delivery. Estimates only.
5% is a sensible allowance for uneven ground.
| Volume (cubic feet) | |
| Volume (cubic yards) | |
| Weight (tons) | |
| Weight (pounds) | |
| Estimated cost |
How it works
Gravel is sold by volume, usually by the cubic yard, but its weight matters too, because delivery trucks have weight limits and many quarries price by the ton. This calculator handles both. First it finds the volume of your area, then it converts that volume into cubic yards, then it turns cubic yards into tons using the average weight of gravel.
Measure the length and width of your area in feet. For a driveway that is not a neat rectangle, measure the longest length and the widest width, or split the shape into rectangles and add them up. Measure the depth in inches. A patio or path is usually 2 to 3 inches deep, while a driveway needs 4 to 6 inches over a solid, compacted base.
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = Cubic yards × 2,800 lb ÷ 2,000 lb
The depth is divided by 12 to turn inches into feet, because the length and width are in feet. There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,800 pounds on average, and there are 2,000 pounds in a US ton, so one cubic yard is about 1.4 tons. Crushed stone is a little heavier and pea gravel a little lighter, but 2,800 pounds per cubic yard is a reliable planning figure for most common gravel types sold in the United States, including pea gravel, crushed stone, and river rock.
The cost estimate multiplies the tons by the price per ton you enter. Delivery is usually charged separately, often $50 to $150 per truckload depending on how far the quarry is from your home, so treat the cost shown here as a material estimate only and ask your supplier for a delivered quote.
Worked example
Say you are building a small patio in your backyard in Texas. The patio is 10 feet long and 10 feet wide, and you want the gravel 3 inches deep. Here is how the calculator works it out, step by step.
First, turn the depth into feet: 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet. Next, find the volume: 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet. Then convert to cubic yards: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards. Finally, find the weight: 0.93 × 2,800 ÷ 2,000 = 1.30 tons. At $50 per ton, the gravel itself costs about $65. In practice you would order 1 cubic yard, since suppliers sell by the yard, and the extra 5 percent allowance in the calculator covers settling into the soil.
Now try a bigger job. A single-car driveway 12 feet wide and 30 feet long at 4 inches deep needs 12 × 30 × (4 ÷ 12) = 120 cubic feet, which is 4.44 cubic yards, or about 6.22 tons. At $50 a ton that is roughly $311 for the material, before delivery. A double driveway, 20 by 30 feet at the same depth, needs twice as much: about 8.89 cubic yards, or 12.44 tons.
FAQ
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 patio?
For a 10 by 10 foot patio at 3 inches deep, you need about 25 cubic feet of gravel, which is 0.93 cubic yards or about 1.30 tons. Most suppliers sell by the cubic yard, so order 1 cubic yard and expect a little left over.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,800 pounds, which is 1.4 tons. So multiply your cubic yards by 1.4 to get tons. Crushed stone, pea gravel, and river rock vary a little, but 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a good planning figure.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A gravel driveway usually needs 4 to 6 inches of gravel over a compacted base. A garden path or patio is fine at 2 to 3 inches. Deeper gravel lasts longer under cars, but it also costs more and needs edging to stay in place.
Should I order extra gravel?
Yes. Order about 5 to 10 percent extra to cover uneven ground, settling, and spillage. This calculator gives the exact volume for a flat area, so round up to the next whole cubic yard when you order.
How much does gravel cost per ton in the US?
Gravel typically costs about $30 to $60 per ton for the material, plus delivery, which is often $50 to $150 per load depending on distance. Prices vary by state and gravel type, so get a local quote before you order.