Gravel Calculator
Work out gravel by the ton — the unit your supplier actually sells it in.
Getting your gravel order right
You calculate volume, but the quarry sells by weight. A cubic-yard figure on its own doesn’t tell you what to ask for.
Why gravel is sold by the ton
Every online gravel calculator gives you cubic yards. No quarry sells cubic yards. You ring up, you ask for tons, and the conversion between the two depends entirely on which gravel you picked — the same hole filled with pea gravel and with crusher run are two different orders by weight.
That is why this calculator leads with tons and asks which gravel you are using before it gives you a number.
There is a second trap with crusher run. It contains stone dust as well as stone, which is what lets it bind and compact — and compact it does, by around 20% once it is rolled. Order for your finished depth and you will come up short, because the material you tip is deeper than the material you end up with. Set the compaction option above and the calculator accounts for it, adding roughly 25% to the load.
Planning gravel alongside the rest of the job
Laying gravel as a sub-base under a slab? Work out the pour with the concrete calculator.
Putting pavers on top? The paver calculator handles paver counts, bedding sand and edge restraint.
Related calculators
- paver calculator — for the surface that sits on this base.
- concrete calculator — for a poured slab over the sub-base.
- fence calculator — for post-hole concrete on the same driveway job.
FAQFrequently asked questions
Multiply length by width by depth to get volume, then convert to tons using the density of the gravel you have chosen. A 20 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep is about 1.9 cubic yards — but the tonnage depends on whether you are ordering pea gravel, crushed stone or crusher run. Enter your dimensions and gravel type above for an exact figure.
It depends on the gravel. Most landscape gravels fall in a broad range per cubic yard, with crusher run at the heavier end because it contains stone dust as well as stone. Select your gravel type above and the calculator applies the right density. Confirm with your supplier before ordering, since density varies with source and moisture.
For a decorative bed or path, 2 to 3 inches is usually enough. A walkway or patio base wants 4 inches. A driveway needs considerably more, often in layers, and the depth depends on the ground underneath and what will be driving on it. Check local guidance for driveways carrying vehicle weight.
| Where the gravel goes | Typical depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative bed or path | 2–3 inches |
| Walkway or patio base | 4 inches |
| Driveway | More, usually in layers — check locally |
Driveways are usually built in layers rather than a single depth, with a coarse base under a finer top. Work out each layer separately using the Driveway shape above, choosing the right gravel type for each. Total depth depends on soil conditions and vehicle weight, so confirm the specification locally before ordering.
Yes, significantly. The stone dust in crusher run is what lets it bind, and it loses depth once rolled. That means the depth you tip is not the depth you finish with, and ordering for the finished depth leaves you short. Turn on the compaction option above and the calculator allows for it.
Pea gravel is rounded and loose, which makes it comfortable underfoot but prone to migrating — it needs edging. Crushed stone has angular faces that lock together, so it stays put and works better as a base or under pavers. They also weigh different amounts per cubic yard, so swapping one for the other changes your order.
| Pea gravel | Crushed stone |
|---|---|
| Rounded, smooth | Angular, sharp-faced |
| Comfortable underfoot | Locks together and stays put |
| Migrates — needs edging | Works as a base or under pavers |
Bagged gravel is sold by volume while bulk gravel is sold by weight, so the answer depends on bag size and gravel density. The calculator shows a bag count alongside the tonnage. Bags make sense for small jobs; past roughly a cubic yard, bulk delivery is almost always easier and cheaper.