How to measure for your gravel project
- Measure your area. Measure length and width in feet. For an L-shaped driveway or irregular yard, break it into rectangles, calculate each one separately, and add the totals together. Do not worry about being perfect — you will add 10% for waste at the end.
- Pick a depth. Enter depth in inches. Use 2–3 inches for decorative paths and ground cover, 3–4 inches for foot-traffic paths and playgrounds, 4–6 inches for driveways (4 in for light use, 6 in for heavy vehicles or soft subgrade). Drainage beds behind French-drain pipe typically get 6–12 inches of clean stone.
- Read tons first, then cubic yards. The primary result is tons — the unit quarries and suppliers use to quote and bill. The secondary result is cubic yards, useful if you are renting a dump trailer or ordering a fractional yard from a landscape supply yard. Round up to the next half-ton or full ton, then add 10% for compaction and spreading loss.
How the gravel calculator works
Gravel volume is calculated the same way as any rectangular solid: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) = cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Depth is entered in inches, so divide by 12 first. To convert cubic yards to tons, multiply by 1.4 — the standard bulk density for pea gravel and crushed stone (roughly 2,800 lb per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 lb per ton). Worked example: a 20 × 10 ft driveway apron at 3 inches deep → 20 × 10 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feet → 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards → 1.85 × 1.4 = 2.59 tons. At that depth, one ton covers about 77 square feet (see the reference table), so 200 sq ft ÷ 77 = 2.6 tons — the two methods agree within rounding.
Which type are you estimating?
Pea gravel — paths, playgrounds, and drainage fill
Rounded, smooth 3/8-inch stones that pack loosely and drain freely. Good for garden paths, around raised beds, under play equipment, and as drainage fill around pipes. Does not compact firmly, so it is a poor choice for driveways.
Enter: Enter: path length × width, 2–3 in for decorative, 3–4 in for playground cushion
Crushed stone #57 — driveways, French drains, under pavers
3/4-inch clean angular stone — the most common all-purpose gravel. Locks together under load, drains quickly (no fines to clog), and is the standard aggregate for French-drain trenches, base under patio pavers, and surface gravel driveways.
Enter: Enter: area length × width, 4 in for paver base or light driveway, 6 in for heavy-duty driveway or drain trench
Crusher run / #21A — compactable driveway base
A blend of crushed stone and stone dust that compacts into a near-solid base. Used as the structural base layer under asphalt, concrete, or a surface gravel coat. Weighs slightly more than clean stone (~1.5 tons per cubic yard), but the calculator's 1.4 factor gives a close enough estimate for ordering.
Enter: Enter: driveway length × width, 4–6 in for a new base layer
River rock — decorative beds and dry creek beds
Smooth, rounded stones 1–4 inches across, used for mulch replacement in planting beds, dry creek beds, and erosion control on slopes. Placed at 2–3 inches deep for ground cover, 4–6 inches for a functional dry creek.
Enter: Enter: bed length × width, 2–3 in for ground cover, 4–6 in for a dry creek bed
Tips & ways to save
- Always order 10% extra — gravel compacts as it is spread and tamped, and delivery minimums often make a partial re-order expensive.
- Gravel is sold by the ton, not the cubic yard, at most quarries. Get a price per ton from your supplier before you order; local prices vary from about $15 to $75 per ton depending on stone type and haul distance.
- For irregular areas, sketch your space on graph paper, divide it into rectangles, run the calculator for each section, and sum the tons — it takes two minutes and prevents a costly under-order.
- Landscape fabric under gravel extends its life dramatically on paths and beds by blocking weed growth without blocking drainage — skip it in French drains, where fabric can clog over time.
- A standard full-size pickup truck bed holds roughly 1 ton of gravel safely (about 0.7 cubic yards). If you need more than 2 tons, delivery or a dump trailer is both safer and cheaper per ton than multiple truck trips.
How much one ton of gravel covers
| Depth | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in | ~116 sq ft |
| 3 in | ~77 sq ft |
| 4 in | ~58 sq ft |
| 6 in | ~39 sq ft |
Based on gravel at ~1.4 tons per cubic yard (≈19 cu ft per ton). Crushed stone and pea gravel vary slightly; order ~10% extra.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of gravel are in a ton?
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
How much gravel do I need for a 2-car driveway?
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 20×10 ft area at 3 inches deep?
What is the difference between cubic yards and tons for gravel?
What type of gravel is best for a driveway?
How deep should gravel be for a French drain?
Sources
Related calculators
Reviewed by the BackyardCalc editorial team. Figures are computed from the formula above and checked against manufacturer yields.