Free material order planner
Gravel Calculator
Open calculatorUse this gravel calculator to estimate cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, bag count, coverage, and an optional cost from length, width, depth, and a gravel type. Pick general gravel, pea gravel, crushed stone, or river rock and it sets a planning density you can override, then turns a measured area into a printable ordering list in yards and tons.
EstimateEstimate only; gravel type, stone size, moisture, compaction, and supplier density vary. Confirm the tons-per-yard figure with your supplier before ordering by weight.
Project inputs
Recommended order
Order 2 cu yd in bulk
Bulk is about $507.00 less with the entered delivery charge. Estimated delivered total: $165.00. The bagged alternative is $672.00.
Project quantity: 2 cubic yards of gravel
Smart Buy Planner
Bags or bulk?
2 cu yd at $50.00/yd + $65.00 delivery
112 50-lb bags at $6.00 each
Bulk is about $507.00 less with the entered delivery charge.
Cost comparison only. Local prices, taxes, access, pickup capacity, product grade, and delivery terms vary.
Printable material list
Estimate- Gravel2 cu yd8% waste included
- Typical bulk cost$50–$130regional planning range; edit the price field for a local rate
- Delivery vs DIY haulAbout 6 pickup loads, so book a deliveryroughly 18 wheelbarrow loads to move it; heavy material, so confirm your truck's payload before hauling
- Gravel by weight2.8 tons1.4 tons/cu yd density
- Bagged gravel112 50-lb bagsround up before buying
- Cost at your price$100.00at $50/cu yd — edit the price field
- Coverage at 2 inches324 sq ftspread thinner or deeper to change coverage
Estimate only. Gravel type, stone size, moisture, and supplier density change the weight and the amount you need.
Visible defaults
Assumptions
- Each gravel type carries a default density: general gravel 1.4, pea gravel 1.5, crushed stone 1.5, river rock 1.45 tons per cubic yard.
- Leave the density override at 0 to use the type default, or enter a supplier value.
- Cubic yards equal cubic feet divided by 27; tons equal cubic yards times density.
- Bag count converts tons to pounds, divides by the bag weight, and rounds up.
Math
Calculation details
- Area = length x width.
- Cubic feet = area x depth in feet.
- Cubic yards = cubic feet / 27.
- Tons = cubic yards x selected density.
- Bag count = tons x 2,000 / bag weight.
What this gravel calculator does
Gravel is priced three ways that rarely line up: bagged by the pound, bulk by the cubic yard, and delivered by the ton. This calculator keeps them together for one measured space. Enter the footprint, depth, and gravel type, and it converts the same volume into cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, bag count, coverage, and an optional cost, so the number on your order matches the number on the scale.
It is the general-purpose gravel tool. If you already know the exact product or project, the specific pages below go deeper; if you just need to know how many yards or tons of gravel a patch of ground takes, start here and get a printable list with every assumption visible.
How many yards of gravel do I need?
Yards is the unit most suppliers price bulk gravel in, and it comes straight from the space you are covering: length times width gives square feet, depth in inches sets how fast that area turns into cubic yards, and one cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. A rough anchor is that a single cubic yard of gravel covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, or about 160 square feet at 2 inches.
Depth moves the order more than people expect. A 200 square foot area at 2 inches is about 1.2 cubic yards, while the same area at 4 inches is about 2.5 cubic yards, twice the gravel for the same footprint. Enter your real depth rather than a guess so the yardage matches what you actually spread.
Gravel calculator for a shed foundation
For a gravel shed foundation, enter the outside length and width of the prepared pad, including any border beyond the shed footprint, then enter the planned compacted depth. Choose crushed stone when the base uses angular aggregate. The calculator returns loose cubic yards and tons with the selected waste allowance, giving you a planning quantity to discuss with the supplier.
This tool sizes material; it does not decide the foundation design. Shed size, floor system, soil, drainage, frost, slope, and local requirements can change the pad dimensions, excavation, fabric, stone gradation, and compacted depth. Confirm the base specification with the shed manufacturer or a qualified local professional before ordering. For a two-layer patio or walkway system that also needs bedding sand, use the paver base calculator instead.
Gravel by the yard versus by the ton
The yard is a volume and the ton is a weight, and the bridge between them is density. Loose gravel runs roughly 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so a 3 cubic yard order is somewhere near 4.2 to 4.5 tons. This page shows both units side by side, and switching the gravel type adjusts the density because pea gravel, crushed stone, and river rock do not weigh the same per yard.
Order in whichever unit your supplier quotes, but check the other. If a yard sells by the ton, convert your yardage with the type density before you commit; a wet or dense stone can push the weight above the planning figure, so enter the supplier's density in the override when they list one.
Formula used
The calculator multiplies length by width to get square feet, then by depth in feet to get cubic feet. Cubic yards are cubic feet divided by 27. Tons are cubic yards multiplied by the density for the selected gravel type, and bag count converts tons to pounds and divides by the bag weight, rounded up to whole bags.
Density is the least universal part. The type defaults are planning values, not supplier quotes: general gravel and crushed stone near 1.5 tons per cubic yard, river rock a touch lighter, and pea gravel around 1.5. When a local yard lists a different conversion, type it into the density override and every weight and bag figure follows it.
Which gravel type, and when a specific page fits
Pick the type that matches the stone you are buying: general gravel for a mixed bulk load, pea gravel for smooth rounded stone, crushed stone for angular aggregate that locks together, or river rock for larger decorative stone. Each choice only changes the planning density and price range here; the volume in cubic yards is the same for one footprint at one depth.
For a project with its own rules, a focused page estimates it better. A driveway is a layered, compacted build, so the gravel driveway calculator adds a compaction allowance; a path or patio of pea gravel belongs on the pea gravel calculator; an angular base layer fits the crushed stone calculator; and if you already have a yardage and only need the weight, the cubic yards to tons calculator converts it by material.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is using square feet as if it were cubic feet and skipping depth, which understates the order badly. The next is treating yards and tons as interchangeable; they are linked only through density, so two suppliers can quote different tonnages for the same volume. A third is ordering the bare minimum with no waste factor for edging, low spots, and shape loss.
People also reuse one density for every stone. Pea gravel, crushed stone, and river rock pack differently, so switch the gravel type or enter a supplier density rather than assuming a single number. When in doubt, round the delivery up a little; a second delivery fee usually costs more than the extra stone.
Quick reference
Tons per cubic yard by gravel type (planning densities)
| Gravel type | Tons per cubic yard | Approx lb per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| General gravel | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Pea gravel | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| Crushed stone | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| River rock | 1.45 | 2,900 |
Planning densities only; moisture, gradation, and stone type move them. Enter a supplier density in the override when one is listed.
FAQ
Gravel Calculator FAQ
How many yards of gravel do I need?
Multiply length by width to get square feet, multiply by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. As a guide, one cubic yard of gravel covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Enter your area above for an exact figure.
How do I convert gravel yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the density in tons per cubic yard. Loose gravel runs about 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so 3 cubic yards is roughly 4.2 to 4.5 tons. The gravel-type selector sets the density, or enter your supplier's number in the override.
How many tons is a yard of gravel?
About 1.4 to 1.5 tons for most gravel at the planning defaults, with crushed stone near the top of that range and river rock slightly lighter. Wet or dense stone weighs more, so use the supplier density when ordering by the ton.
Can I use this for a gravel fill or base layer?
Yes. Enter the fill area and the depth you plan to add and it returns the cubic yards and tons for a fill or base. For a compacted driveway build with layered stone, the gravel driveway calculator adds a compaction allowance on top of the volume.
How do I calculate gravel for a shed foundation?
Enter the prepared pad length and width, including any border beyond the shed, then enter the specified compacted gravel depth and choose crushed stone. Use the result as a planning estimate and confirm pad dimensions, material, and depth with the shed manufacturer or a qualified local professional.
What depth of gravel should I use?
A decorative or top layer is often 2 to 3 inches; a base or fill layer is usually deeper. Deeper gravel over a firm, edged base holds better, while a thin layer can expose the ground beneath. Match the depth to the job, then let the calculator size it.
Which gravel type should I pick?
Pick the stone you are buying: general gravel for a mixed load, pea gravel for smooth rounded stone on paths, crushed stone for an angular base that compacts, or river rock for larger decorative stone. The type sets the density; the volume in yards stays the same for one area and depth.
Methodology
Who built and reviewed this estimate
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