Gravel Calculator
How much gravel a driveway, path, or drainage bed needs, in cubic yards and tons, with the density set by the material you are actually ordering.
Results
Tons needed
2.59tons
Cubic yards
1.85yd³
Volume
50ft³
Most yards sell by the ton. Density shifts with material and how wet it is, so on a large order confirm the conversion with your supplier instead of trusting a table.
How the gravel calculator works
Gravel works like any bulk fill. Find the volume of the space you are filling, then convert it into whatever unit your supplier sells in, which is almost always tons.
Formula: volume (ft³) = length × width × (depth ÷ 12). Cubic yards = volume ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × material density.
Density is the part worth getting right. Gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel, and sand all pack differently, so the same volume comes out at a different tonnage depending on what you order. Pick your material above instead of taking the generic number.
Pricing out a gravel driveway and want to compare it against concrete or asphalt? Use the Driveway Cost Calculator with the same dimensions. For what gravel costs per ton and per yard, from the national quarry price to published retail and delivered prices, see Gravel Prices.
Filling a round or triangular area, or mixing gravel with soil and sand on one job? The Cubic Yard Calculator handles circles and triangles and converts any of them to cubic yards and tons.
The same area can be priced in hot mix with the Asphalt Calculator, and the Sand Calculator covers bedding sand for pavers. Drainage gravel behind a wall pairs with the Retaining Wall Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
4-6 inches of base material, often with another 2 inches of top dressing over it. A walking path only needs 2-3 inches, since nothing heavy is driving on it. Skimping on driveway depth is what produces ruts and potholes in the first winter.
It depends on the material, but general gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone around 1.35, pea gravel around 1.3, and dry sand around 1.4 (wet sand can weigh noticeably more). Select your material above for a more precise conversion.
Yes. Gravel loses roughly 10-20% of its loose volume once it is spread and rolled or tamped, so the number above is what goes down, not what stays up. Order a bit over the raw calculation and you will not be short after the first pass with the plate compactor.
It is usually not a choice. Most yards quote and sell by the ton for anything past a bag order, which is why this calculator leads with tons. If a supplier does quote by the yard, convert using the density for your material before comparing the two prices, or you are comparing different things.
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