Gravel Calculator
This gravel calculator works out how much gravel, stone, or sand you need for a driveway, path, or landscape bed. Enter the area and how deep you want the layer, pick the material, and you'll get the amount in cubic yards, cubic feet, and tons. It handles a rectangle or a circle, so it's ready whether you're filling a driveway or a round fire-pit border.
- Cubic yards & tons
- Gravel, stone, sand
- Rectangle or circle
- Coverage chart
- Live as you type
Last updated June 17, 2026 1 yard of gravel ≈ 1.4 tons Reviewed by the Calcowa team
Enter the area and depth above 0.
Tonnage is an estimate; density varies by material and moisture. Order a little extra for settling.
400 ft² × (3 ÷ 12) = 100 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.7 yd³ × 1.4 = 5.2 tons
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel is bought by volume or weight, so you'll want both. Start with the area in square feet, multiply by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 by 20 foot driveway at 3 inches deep works out to 100 cubic feet, or about 3.7 cubic yards. To get tons, multiply the yards by the material density, roughly 1.4 for gravel, which gives about 5.2 tons. It's built to run that whole chain and adjust the tonnage for the material you pick.
Calculating gravel in yards and tons
Here's how the calculator handles a 20 by 20 foot area at 3 inches deep:
- 1
Find the area20 × 20 = 400 square feet of ground to cover.
- 2
Multiply by the depth in feet3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft, so 400 × 0.25 = 100 cubic feet.
- 3
Divide by 27 for cubic yards100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards, the volume you order.
- 4
Multiply for tons3.7 × 1.4 for gravel is about 5.2 tons, since you'll often see suppliers quote by weight.
How deep should the gravel be?
Depth drives the amount, so it's worth getting right. A decorative layer or a walkway needs about 2 inches. A gravel driveway wants 4 to 6 inches, and it's common to lay a coarse base first, then a finer top layer. Drainage beds and landscape rock are usually 2 to 3 inches, so they're shallower. Because doubling the depth doubles the material, you'll feel a small change in the cost. The coverage chart below shows how far one cubic yard stretches at each depth, and you'll get yards and tons from your numbers.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
Gravel, stone, sand, and topsoil
The volume in cubic yards is the same whatever you're spreading, but the weight in tons depends on the material, since each one packs to a different density. Gravel and river rock sit near 1.4 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone and sand a little under, and topsoil lighter still. Crushed limestone runs a touch heavier. Pick the closest match in the dropdown and you'll see the tonnage adjust, while the cubic yards stay put. For a slab instead of loose fill, the concrete calculator sizes the pour, and the square footage calculator measures the area first.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons, though it ranges from roughly 1.3 to 1.5 depending on the stone and how dry it is. So 5 cubic yards of gravel is around 7 tons. The calculator uses 1.4 for gravel and shifts it for other materials.
Find the area in square feet, multiply by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 by 20 foot area at 3 inches deep is 100 cubic feet, or about 3.7 cubic yards. Gravel is also sold by weight, so multiply the yards by roughly 1.4 to get tons. This gravel calculator does both, so you'll order the right amount the first time.
Work out the volume in cubic yards, then multiply by the material's density. Gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so 3.7 cubic yards is around 5.2 tons. Sand and topsoil are a little lighter, and crushed limestone a touch heavier, which is why the material picker above adjusts the figure. Suppliers quote by the ton or the yard, so you'll want both.
For a walkway or a decorative layer, 2 inches is enough. A gravel driveway wants 4 to 6 inches, often in two layers with a coarser base under a finer top. Drainage beds and landscape rock are usually 2 to 3 inches. Deeper means more material, so the depth drives the cost; set it above and you'll see the volume update as you change it.
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, 81 square feet at 4 inches, or 162 square feet at a 2-inch layer. The deeper the layer, the less ground a yard covers. The chart on this page lists the common depths, and it'll work it the other way, turning your area and depth straight into yards and tons.
They're the same pile measured two ways: a cubic yard is volume, while a ton is weight. Since a yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons, the two are linked by the material's density. Some suppliers price by the yard and others by the ton, so having both, as the result above shows, lets you compare quotes without guessing.
The volume stays the same for a given area and depth, but the weight in tons shifts with the material, since pea gravel, crushed stone, sand, and topsoil each pack to a different density. Pick the closest match above and the tonnage adjusts. When in doubt, gravel at 1.4 tons per yard is a safe middle estimate, and you'll cover settling by ordering a little extra.
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