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Gravel Calculator

Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel for driveways, patios, walkways, and drainage.

Driveways, patios, and drainage — compacts well.

Measure the area
ft
ft
Depth and pricing
4"

Crushed stone #57 default: 4"

10%
$

Gravel needed

2.0 cubic yards

3.0 tons — 120 sq ft at 4" deep.
Volume to order
2.0 yd³
Weight equivalent1.5 tons/yd
3.0 tons
Cost by yard
$100
Cost by tonCompare quotes — suppliers price either way
$114
Volume and weight
MeasureValue
Area120 sq ft
Depth4"
Cubic yards (with waste)1.63 yd³
Tons (calculated)3.00 tons

Confirm yards or tons with your supplier

Gravel is sold by the ton or cubic yard — they are not interchangeable at the same price. One yard of crushed stone #57 weighs about 1.5 tons.

Compact in lifts

Spread and compact gravel in 2–3 inch lifts with a plate compactor. Dumping the full depth at once and raking it flat leads to settling and ruts within one season.

What this assumes

  • Weight conversion uses typical U.S. aggregate density of 1.4 to 1.6 tons per cubic yard.
  • Compaction reduces volume 10 to 15% after rolling — the waste factor covers this.
  • Depth recommendations are starting points; local code may require more for driveways.

Important

Call 811 before digging gravel trenches for drainage. Compact base material in lifts — dumping and spreading without compaction leads to settling and ruts.

Understanding the result

Yards versus tons

Gravel yards sell by the ton or cubic yard. One cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.5 tons. Always confirm which unit the quote uses — a price per ton is not the same as a price per yard.

Depth by application

Walkways and decorative cover: 2 to 3 inches. Patio and shed bases: 4 inches of compacted crushed stone. Driveways: 4 to 6 inches of road base plus surface stone. French drains: 12 inches of drain rock around the pipe.

Common questions

How much gravel do I need for a 10x12 patio base?
A 10×12 patio is 120 square feet. At 4 inches of compacted crushed stone: 1.48 cubic yards — order 1.5 to 2 yards with waste. That is about 2.2 tons of #57 crushed stone.
How many tons of gravel in a cubic yard?
Pea gravel: about 1.4 tons per yard. Crushed stone #57: about 1.5 tons. Road base: about 1.6 tons. Moisture and stone type shift these — confirm with your supplier.
How much does a ton of gravel cost?
Crushed stone runs $30 to $45 per ton picked up, $40 to $60 delivered. Pea gravel runs $35 to $50 per ton. Delivery minimums are often 3 to 5 tons.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A gravel driveway needs 4 to 6 inches of compacted road base plus 2 to 3 inches of surface stone. On soft clay, add geotextile fabric under the base to prevent the stone from sinking.

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