Gravel Calculator
A free gravel driveway calculator for driveways, roads, paths and pads: enter the length, width and depth to get tons, cubic yards, truck loads and a cost range.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons (about 2,600 to 3,000 pounds), depending on the stone. Suppliers usually sell gravel by the ton, so converting between tons and cubic yards is the step most people need. These figures use the same densities as the calculator above.
| Material | Per cubic foot | Per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone (3/4 in, #57) | 100 lb | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Crusher Run (compactable base) | 110 lb | 2,970 lb | 1.49 | 0.67 |
| Pea Gravel | 96 lb | 2,592 lb | 1.30 | 0.77 |
| River Rock (decorative) | 95 lb | 2,565 lb | 1.28 | 0.78 |
Moisture, stone size and how tightly the gravel is packed change real weights, so treat this as a planning figure and ask your supplier for the density of the load you are buying. To answer "how many tons in a yard of gravel" or "how many yards in a ton", use the last two columns. Already have a quantity from a supplier and just need to switch units? Our sister site's cubic yards to tons converter converts either way for gravel, sand, topsoil and more.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
Coverage depends on depth and density. Divide your area in square feet by the figure below to estimate tons before the waste allowance; the calculator above does this for you and adds the allowance.
| Square feet covered by 1 ton at | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone (3/4 in, #57) | 120 sq ft | 80 sq ft | 60 sq ft | 40 sq ft |
| Crusher Run (compactable base) | 109 sq ft | 73 sq ft | 55 sq ft | 36 sq ft |
| Pea Gravel | 125 sq ft | 83 sq ft | 63 sq ft | 42 sq ft |
| River Rock (decorative) | 126 sq ft | 84 sq ft | 63 sq ft | 42 sq ft |
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Typical sizes below assume a 4 in compacted base of crusher run with a 10% waste allowance and 10-ton trucks. Crushed stone (#57) weighs about 9% less per cubic yard, so the same volume needs fewer tons. Open a size in the calculator to change the material, depth or add a top layer.
| Size | Area | Cubic yards | Tons | Truck loads | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-car parking pad10 × 20 ft | 200 sq ft | 2.7 | 4.0 | 1 | Run this size |
| Short driveway12 × 50 ft | 600 sq ft | 8.1 | 12.1 | 2 | Run this size |
| Two-car pad20 × 24 ft | 480 sq ft | 6.5 | 9.7 | 1 | Run this size |
| Long driveway12 × 100 ft | 1,200 sq ft | 16.3 | 24.2 | 3 | Run this size |
| Farm lane or access road12 × 200 ft | 2,400 sq ft | 32.6 | 48.4 | 5 | Run this size |
How deep should gravel be, and how much extra should I order?
- Driveway base: 4 in compacted on stable soil; 6 in or more for soft soil or heavy traffic, often placed in two lifts.
- Decorative top layer: 1–2 in over the compacted base, if you use one.
- Walkways and garden paths: about 2–3 in of decorative stone, usually over landscape fabric.
- Under pavers: the Paver Calculator sizes the base and bedding sand for you.
These are typical ranges, not code requirements, so follow your local practice. The calculator adds a 10% waste allowance by default to cover compaction and spillage. Raise it under the optional settings for soft ground, deep lifts or a compactable base like crusher run, and ask your supplier how much extra they recommend for your site.
Which gravel should I use?
- Crusher run: crushed stone mixed with stone dust. It compacts tightly, which is why it is the usual driveway base.
- Crushed stone (#57): a single-size angular stone for drainage and base layers. It locks together but does not pack as tightly as crusher run.
- Pea gravel: small rounded stone, popular for paths and decorative layers.
- River rock: larger rounded stone for decorative beds and borders. For a rock bed, border or dry creek bed, the river rock calculator sets the depth by rock size and adds bags and landscape fabric.
How the gravel calculator works
This planner converts your driveway, access road, path or pad area into cubic yards and tons of gravel, using the density of your chosen material. It supports a base layer plus an optional decorative top layer, and applies a waste allowance for compaction and spillage. For a gravel road, enter its full length and driving width the same way you would a driveway. See how it compares to other free gravel driveway calculators.
- Volume: area (length × width) × depth, converted from inches to feet.
- Tons: volume in cubic feet × the material's density in lb/cu ft, divided by 2,000.
- Truck loads: total tons divided by a standard dump truck's capacity (10 tons), rounded up.
Worked example
A 50 ft by 12 ft driveway (600 sq ft) with a 4 in crushed stone base: volume works out to 200 cu ft, plus a 10% waste allowance = 220 cu ft. At 100 lb per cu ft, that's 22,000 lb, or 11 tons, a bit more than one standard 10-ton dump truck load. At $45–$65 per ton delivered materials-only, that's roughly $495–$715; delivered and spread typically runs $770–$1,100.
Prices by gravel type, per truckload and the official USGS figures are on the gravel prices page.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length by width to get the area, multiply by your depth (in feet), then convert to tons using the material's density, typically around 100 lb per cubic foot for crushed stone. A 50 ft by 12 ft driveway at 4 in deep needs about 11 tons of crushed stone, or about 12 tons of crusher run, including a 10% waste allowance.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.3 to 1.5 tons. Using the calculator's densities, a cubic yard of crusher run weighs about 1.49 tons, crushed stone (#57) about 1.35 tons, pea gravel about 1.30 tons and river rock about 1.28 tons. Moisture and stone size change the real figure, so confirm with your supplier.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 2,600 to 3,000 pounds: about 2,970 lb for crusher run, 2,700 lb for crushed stone (#57), 2,592 lb for pea gravel and 2,565 lb for river rock, using the calculator's densities.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
It depends on depth and density. Using the calculator's densities, one ton of crusher run covers about 109 sq ft at 2 in deep, 73 sq ft at 3 in and 55 sq ft at 4 in; one ton of crushed stone (#57) covers about 120, 80 and 60 sq ft at the same depths.
What is the best gravel for a driveway base?
Crusher run (a mix of crushed stone and stone dust) compacts tightly and is the most common base-layer choice. Crushed stone (like #57) is a common single-size alternative. A decorative top layer such as pea gravel or river rock is optional and sits over the compacted base.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A 4 in compacted base layer is typical for a residential driveway on stable soil; heavier vehicle traffic or soft soil often calls for 6 in or more, sometimes in two compacted lifts. A 1–2 in decorative top layer is common if a top layer is used at all.
How many tons of gravel fit in a truck load?
A standard single-axle dump truck typically carries around 10 tons of gravel. Larger tri-axle trucks can carry considerably more, so confirm capacity with your supplier when ordering.
Do I need a fabric barrier under a gravel driveway?
A geotextile fabric layer between the soil and the base course is commonly recommended, especially over soil or grass, to reduce rutting and keep gravel from migrating into the subgrade over time. It's less critical over an existing gravel or paved surface.
Is gravel sold by the ton or by the cubic yard?
Aggregate suppliers most often sell crushed stone and crusher run by the ton, while decorative or landscape stone is sometimes priced by the cubic yard. Ask which unit the quote uses and the material's weight per cubic yard, then convert with the table on this page.
Limitations
This tool estimates material quantities and typical bulk costs only. It doesn't account for site grading, drainage design or compaction equipment needs. Confirm delivery minimums and access requirements with your supplier.
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