Gravel Calculator — Yards, Tons & Coverage

Quick answer: a 20 × 20 ft area at 3 in deep needs about 3.7 cubic yards — roughly 5.2 tons of gravel.

Gravel is priced by the ton at some yards and by the cubic yard at others — so this calculator gives you both, using the real density of the material you're buying. A yard of crusher run weighs about 3,000 lb; the same yard of river rock about 2,700 lb. Using the wrong density throws an order off by 10%+.

Built for driveways, paths, French drains, shed bases and decorative beds — with compaction and spill allowances folded in the way you'd actually order.

How to use it

Measure the area (length × width, diameter, or enter a known square footage).
Set the depth: 2 in for decorative top-dressing, 3–4 in for driveways (over a compacted base), 4+ in for structural base layers.
Pick the material — it sets the density used for the tonnage — and set compaction and spill allowances.
Read the result: cubic yards, cubic metres, tons, tonnes, 50-lb bags, and cost both ways (per ton or per yard).

How it works

Volume (ft³) = area × depth ÷ 12; cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × density (e.g. gravel ≈ 1.40 t/yd³). Compaction and spill percentages are added to the volume before converting.

Densities are planning values from published bulk ranges: gravel/pea/#57 1.40 t/yd³, crushed/DG/limestone 1.45, crusher run 1.50, river rock/rip rap/sand 1.35–1.40.
Compaction defaults to 10% (typical for driveway base layers); spill to 5%.
US short tons (2,000 lb); tonnes are metric (1,000 kg).
Confirm the density on your supplier's ticket — wet or dense stone weighs more.

Worked example

A 20 × 20 ft area at 3 in deep: 400 ft² × 0.25 ft = 100 ft³ = 3.70 yd³. With 10% compaction × 5% spill: 4.28 yd³. At 1.40 t/yd³ → ~5.99 tons of gravel; at $40/ton → ~$240.

Quick reference

Coverage per cubic yard by depth

Depth	Sq ft per yd³	Sq ft per ton (~1.4 t/yd³)
1 in	324	231
2 in	162	116
3 in	108	77
4 in	81	58
6 in	54	39

Density by material (planning values)

Material	Tons per yd³	Lb per yd³
Gravel / pea / #57	1.40	2,800
Crushed stone / DG / limestone	1.45	2,900
Crusher run	1.50	3,000
River rock / rip rap / sand	1.35–1.40	2,700–2,800

FAQ

How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?

About 1.4 tons for typical gravel, 1.35 for river rock, up to 1.5 for crusher run. Density varies by stone type and moisture — always check the supplier's conversion.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

Roughly 100 ft² at 2½ in deep (about 116 ft² at 2 in, 77 ft² at 3 in). Coverage per ton depends on the material's density, which is why the calculator works volume-first.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

4 in of surface gravel over a compacted 4-in base is the common build; lighter paths and beds use 2–3 in. Add 10% for compaction — loose gravel settles 5–10% as it's used.

Should I order gravel by the yard or by the ton?

Order in whichever unit your supplier quotes, but verify the other: 1 yd³ ≈ 1.4 tons. For small projects (under a yard or two) bagged gravel is convenient but costs 3–4× more per yard than bulk.

Why add a compaction allowance?

Gravel is delivered loose and settles as it's spread and driven on — 5–10% of the volume disappears into a denser pack. Ordering the raw volume can leave you a few wheelbarrows short.

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Sources & verification

Data verified: October 11, 2026.

Bulk densities: published US supplier density tables (planning values).
Coverage geometry: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³; coverage per yard = 324 ÷ depth (in).

Estimates are for planning only — always confirm quantities with your supplier and check local building codes before you buy or build.