Gravel Calculator
Estimate gravel or landscape rock volume, with optional supplier density and price.
Free calculator. Mixed units and fractions welcome.1 yd³ = 27 ft³
At a glance
Gravel Calculator
For a rectangular gravel layer, multiply length and width in feet by depth in inches, then divide by 324. Converting the result to tons also requires a bulk density.
Materials
Calculate the finished gravel layer
Measure the footprint and the planned finished depth. An illustrative driveway section 24 ft long by 10 ft wide at 4 inches deep holds 80 cubic feet, or about 2.963 cubic yards. The example depth demonstrates the calculation; use the layer thickness specified for your own project. Choose Known area if you already have the square footage.
Gravel volume (yd³) = area (ft²) × depth (in) ÷ 324
Pea gravel, river rock, crushed stone, crusher run, and decomposed granite use the same geometry. Their grading, moisture, void space, and delivered condition can change weight and how loose material relates to the final layer.
Materials
From gravel yards to tons
Use a supplier’s bulk density for the same material, moisture condition, and volume state as the quantity being converted. If your calculated layer is compacted and the density describes a loose delivery, convert the volume state first. A particle density or specific gravity is not a bulk density, which includes spaces between particles.
US short tons = cubic yards × 27 × density (lb/ft³) ÷ 2,000
As an arithmetic example, the 80 ft³ layer above would weigh 8,000 lb if its bulk density were 100 lb/ft³. That is 4 US short tons. The 100 lb/ft³ value is an example input, not a default density for gravel.
Materials
Loose delivery, compaction, and supplier scoops
A compacted driveway layer and a loose delivered pile are different volume states. Ask whether a supplier quote describes loose volume, weight, or a finished compacted quantity. Use a project specific volume factor when a conversion is required.
A scoop or bucket has no universal cubic yard capacity. Ask for its rated or measured volume and how it is filled. Do not assume that one scoop is one yard. The fill and excavation calculator supports explicit bank, loose, and compacted volume ratios.
Choose an extra allowance deliberately. A percentage shown on a compaction test report is a density requirement; it is not automatically a volume allowance.
Materials
Estimate a quoted gravel cost
Open Ordering options and enter the supplier’s price in its stated volume unit. If your supplier sells by weight, first estimate the weight with a matching bulk density and compare it with the quote. Keep delivery, minimum order charges, spreading, and tax separate.
Common questions
Gravel questions, answered.
Can I use this for pea gravel or river rock?
Yes, for volume. Select the shape, area, and depth of the layer. Use the relevant supplier density if you also need weight. The calculator does not treat every rock type as having the same bulk density.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Depth depends on the project, subgrade, drainage, aggregate system, and expected loads. Use the depth specified for your project. The calculator estimates quantities from that depth rather than choosing the pavement design.
How much ground does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard covers 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, 81 square feet at 4 inches, or 54 square feet at 6 inches, before any difference between delivered loose material and the finished layer.
Can tons be converted back to cubic yards?
Yes, with a density for the same material and condition. Use the cubic yards to tons tool and choose Weight to volume. Specify whether the quote uses US short tons or metric tonnes.
Check the basis