Gravel Calculator

Estimate gravel, crushed stone or landscape rock for a driveway or bed in cubic yards, cubic meters and tons from area, depth and your supplier’s density.

Interactive calculator · Method GRAVEL-TONNAGE-1.0 · Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

Calculate your scenario

Volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %).

Your inputs

Try an example

Area entry

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Area (entered-area mode) (sq ft)

Depth (in)

Supplier density (example 1.4 t/yd³) (US tons per cubic yard)

Waste and compaction allowance (%)

Price basis

Material price (example $45) ($ per ton or cubic yard)

Delivery fee (optional quote) ($)

Default worked example. Edit the inputs to calculate your scenario.

Default worked example

Gravel to order 6.79 cu yd

Weight at entered density 9.51 US tons (8.62 t)

Cubic feet 183.33 cu ft

Cubic meters 5.19 m³

Delivered material cost $427.78

500 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 × (1 + 10%) = 183.33 cu ft ÷ 27 = 6.79 cu yd × 1.4 t/yd³ = 9.51 tons.

How to use the calculator

Enter length and width (or the total area), the finished depth, the density your supplier gives for the product, an allowance for waste and compaction, and the price per ton or per cubic yard.

What the result means

A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in deep with 10% allowance needs about 6.79 cu yd, or 9.51 US tons at 1.4 t/yd³, about $427.78 at $45 per ton.

Formula and units

Volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27; cubic meters = cubic feet × 0.0283168. Tons = cubic yards × the supplier’s density in US tons per cubic yard (metric tonnes = US tons × 0.907185). Cost = tons or cubic yards × the entered price, plus any delivery fee.

Worked examples

50 × 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep: Length: 50 ft; Width: 10 ft; Area (entered-area mode): 500 sq ft; Depth: 4 in; Supplier density (example 1.4 t/yd³): 1.4 US tons per cubic yard; Waste and compaction allowance: 10 %; Material price (example $45): 45 $ per ton or cubic yard; Delivery fee (optional quote): 0 $; Area entry: dims; Price basis: ton.
Example result: Gravel to order: 6.79 cu yd; Weight at entered density: 9.51 US tons (8.62 t); Cubic feet: 183.33 cu ft; Cubic meters: 5.19 m³; Delivered material cost: $427.78.

1,200 sq ft bed, 3 in deep, priced per yard: Length: 50 ft; Width: 10 ft; Area (entered-area mode): 1200 sq ft; Depth: 3 in; Supplier density (example 1.4 t/yd³): 1.5 US tons per cubic yard; Waste and compaction allowance: 5 %; Material price (example $45): 55 $ per ton or cubic yard; Delivery fee (optional quote): 75 $; Area entry: area; Price basis: yard.
Example result: Gravel to order: 11.67 cu yd; Weight at entered density: 17.5 US tons (15.88 t); Cubic feet: 315 cu ft; Cubic meters: 8.92 m³; Delivered material cost: $716.67.

Limitations and common mistakes

Density varies with rock type, size, moisture and how the supplier measures, so the 1.4 t/yd³ default is only an example; use the figure your yard quotes. Results are loose-material quantities for ordering, not a driveway base design, drainage plan or load rating. Prices and delivery fees are your quotes, not market data.

Ordering tons from a cubic-yard figure without the product’s own density: pea gravel, crushed stone and river rock weigh differently per yard.

Sources and assumptions

Method GRAVEL-TONNAGE-1.0; last formula review 2026-11-04. Sources and their supported claims. Calculation methodology.