Gravel Calculator

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How to Use the Gravel Calculator

1. 1

   Choose the shape

   Select Rectangle, Circle or Triangle to match the area you are covering. Split odd shapes into several simple ones and add the results.

2. 2

   Pick your units and enter dimensions

   Choose feet, yards or meters, then enter length and width, the diameter, or the base and height of the triangle.

3. 3

   Set the depth

   Type the depth in inches or tap a quick preset (2, 3, 4 or 6 inches). Depth is always in inches, even when you measure the area in meters.

4. 4

   Add a price and read the results

   Optionally enter the price per ton. The results show area, cubic yards, tons and, if you added a price, the estimated cost.

How the gravel calculator works

The calculator first finds the area in square feet. Yards are multiplied by 3 and meters by 3.28084 to convert them to feet. Rectangles use length times width, circles use pi times the radius squared, and triangles use half the base times the height.

The area is multiplied by the depth in feet (inches divided by 12) to get cubic feet, then divided by 27 to get cubic yards. Weight is estimated at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a common average for gravel and crushed stone. The tons shown are US short tons of 2,000 lb. The results do not include any extra for waste or compaction, and the cost is tons times your price, also without extra.

Cubic yards = area sq ft × (depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4
Cost = tons × price per ton

Worked example: a 12 x 40 ft driveway, 4 inches deep

If your supplier sells by the ton, order about 9 to 9.5 tons. If they sell by the cubic yard, round up to 6.5 or 7 yards depending on the increments they offer.

• Area: 12 × 40 = 480 sq ft.
• Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
• Volume: 480 × 0.333 = 160 cubic feet.
• Cubic yards: 160 ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards.
• Weight: 5.93 × 1.4 = 8.30 tons.
• With 10% extra for compaction and spreading: about 6.52 cubic yards, or 9.13 tons.

Gravel for common driveway sizes

Single-car driveways are usually 10 to 12 ft wide, two-car driveways 20 to 24 ft. Tons use 1.4 tons per cubic yard; the last column adds 10%.

Gravel base for patios, sheds and pavers

Patios, shed pads and paver areas for foot traffic usually sit on 4 to 6 in of compacted crushed stone. Figures are loose volume before compaction. If you are laying pavers, the paver calculator works out the base, bedding sand and paver count together.

Coverage per ton and per cubic yard

In metric terms, a cubic yard is 0.765 m³ and 1.4 short tons per cubic yard is about 1.66 tonnes per m³. One cubic meter spread 10 cm deep covers 10 m².

Compaction, slopes and other edge cases

• Compaction: crushed stone with fines (often sold as road base or crusher run) packs down when you run a plate compactor over it. Order about 10 to 15% extra so the base still reaches full depth once compacted. Clean round stone such as pea gravel compacts much less.
• Weight varies by material. Suppliers commonly quote around 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard for dry gravel and crushed stone; wet or dense stone weighs more. If your supplier gives a figure for the exact product, multiply the cubic yards result by that number instead of 1.4.
• Slopes: measure along the ground surface, not the level distance on a plan. On a steep bank the surface is longer than the map distance, and loose gravel migrates downhill, so a stabilizing grid or edging helps.
• Uneven ground: fill potholes and ruts first and measure them separately. A driveway refresh that averages 3 in in some places and 1 in elsewhere is best split into sections.
• Layers: new driveways are normally built as a thicker base of larger crushed stone with a finer top layer. Calculate each layer separately with its own depth.
• Under a concrete slab: the concrete calculator handles the slab itself; work out the gravel base here.

Tips for ordering and spreading gravel

• Lay landscape fabric under paths and decorative areas to keep gravel from sinking into the soil and to slow weeds.
• Check delivery minimums and whether the truck can reach the spot. Dumping a large load on a lawn or soft ground can leave ruts.
• A standard dump truck carries roughly 10 to 15 tons, so a long 6 in driveway may take more than one load. Ask the supplier.
• For planting beds rather than hardscape, use the mulch calculator, which also counts bags.

When to call a professional

Topping up a driveway or laying a path is straightforward DIY. A new driveway on clay or wet ground, a long driveway that needs a culvert or crown for drainage, or a steep grade where gravel washes out is a job for a grading or excavation contractor. They can size the base, add drainage and compact it properly with heavy equipment, which is hard to match with a rented plate compactor.

Features

• Rectangle, circle and triangle areas
• Depth and area calculations
• Weight and volume results
• Optional cost estimate from price per ton

Frequently Asked Questions