Gravel Calculator
US & CanadaMeasure the area, pick a depth and a stone, and get the answer in tons, tonnes and cubic yards. Densities are adjustable, because every supplier's gravel weighs something slightly different.
Work out your gravel
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How the calculation works
Gravel is spread over an area at a depth, so the volume is simple. Turning that volume into tons is where it gets slippery, because it depends on what the stone actually weighs.
- Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (inches) ÷ 12
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Tons = cubic feet × weight per cubic foot ÷ 2,000
- Tonnes = tons × 0.907
Density is the weak link in every gravel calculator, including this one. Published figures for the same material range from about 1.2 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard. The values below are mid-range typicals for planning. Before you order by weight, ask your supplier what their stone actually weighs and type that number into the calculator.
Typical weights by material
| Material | Lb per cu ft | Tons per yd³ | Tonnes per m³ | Normally used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 100 | 1.35 | 1.6 | Paths, patios, play areas |
| Crushed stone (#57, ¾") | 104 | 1.4 | 1.67 | Drainage, paver base, driveways |
| Crushed limestone | 111 | 1.5 | 1.78 | Driveways, compacted bases |
| Crusher run / road base | 115 | 1.55 | 1.84 | Compacts hard, for driveway and shed bases |
| River rock | 100 | 1.35 | 1.6 | Decorative beds, dry creek beds |
| Sand | 100 | 1.35 | 1.6 | Paver bedding layer |
How deep should the gravel be?
| Job | Depth | Stone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shed base | 4" | Crusher run / road base | Compacted, over a level excavation |
| Under pavers | 4" | Crushed stone (#57, ¾") | Plus about 1 inch of bedding sand on top |
| Driveway | 6" | Crushed limestone | More for soft ground or heavy vehicles |
| Garden path | 3" | Pea gravel | Edging stops it migrating into the lawn |
| French drain | 12" | Crushed stone (#57, ¾") | Washed stone only, so it does not clog |
| Under a concrete slab | 4" | Crusher run / road base | Compacted in layers before the pour |
Depths are common practice for residential work, not code. Anything structural, including a slab sub-base, should follow your local building department's requirement.
Gravel for common areas
Crushed stone at 104 lb per cubic foot, including a 10% waste allowance.
| Area | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 sq ft | 2" | 0.43 | 0.61 | 0.55 |
| 64 sq ft | 3" | 0.65 | 0.92 | 0.83 |
| 64 sq ft | 4" | 0.87 | 1.22 | 1.11 |
| 64 sq ft | 6" | 1.3 | 1.83 | 1.66 |
| 100 sq ft | 2" | 0.68 | 0.95 | 0.86 |
| 100 sq ft | 3" | 1.02 | 1.43 | 1.3 |
| 100 sq ft | 4" | 1.36 | 1.91 | 1.73 |
| 100 sq ft | 6" | 2.04 | 2.86 | 2.59 |
| 144 sq ft | 2" | 0.98 | 1.37 | 1.25 |
| 144 sq ft | 3" | 1.47 | 2.06 | 1.87 |
| 144 sq ft | 4" | 1.96 | 2.75 | 2.49 |
| 144 sq ft | 6" | 2.93 | 4.12 | 3.74 |
| 200 sq ft | 2" | 1.36 | 1.91 | 1.73 |
| 200 sq ft | 3" | 2.04 | 2.86 | 2.59 |
| 200 sq ft | 4" | 2.72 | 3.81 | 3.46 |
| 200 sq ft | 6" | 4.07 | 5.72 | 5.19 |
| 400 sq ft | 2" | 2.72 | 3.81 | 3.46 |
| 400 sq ft | 3" | 4.07 | 5.72 | 5.19 |
| 400 sq ft | 4" | 5.43 | 7.63 | 6.92 |
| 400 sq ft | 6" | 8.15 | 11.44 | 10.38 |
| 600 sq ft | 2" | 4.07 | 5.72 | 5.19 |
| 600 sq ft | 3" | 6.11 | 8.58 | 7.78 |
| 600 sq ft | 4" | 8.15 | 11.44 | 10.38 |
| 600 sq ft | 6" | 12.22 | 17.16 | 15.57 |
Ordering in Canada? Suppliers quote metric tonnes, not US short tons, and a tonne is about 10% heavier. The calculator shows both so you can match whichever number is on the quote.
Before you order
- Angular stone for anything load-bearing. Crushed stone locks together when compacted. Rounded pea gravel stays loose and shifts underfoot, which is fine for a path and wrong under pavers.
- Compact in layers. Three inches at a time, compacted each time, beats six inches tipped in and rolled once.
- Washed stone for drainage. Anything with fines or dust in it will silt up and stop draining.
- Check access before booking delivery. A tandem load is around 10 cubic yards and needs room to tip. Many suppliers charge a minimum regardless of how little you order.
- Landscape fabric underneath stops gravel disappearing into soft ground over a few seasons.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.3 to 1.6 tons, depending on the stone. Crushed stone works out near 1.4 tons per cubic yard, and denser crusher run nearer 1.55. This is genuinely variable: stone size, moisture and how tightly it is packed all move the number, so ask your supplier for their own conversion before ordering by weight.
How much gravel do I need under pavers?
Plan on 4 inches of compacted base for a patio or walkway, and 6 or more inches for a driveway or anywhere vehicles go. Use an angular crushed stone such as #57, not rounded pea gravel, because angular stone locks together when compacted. Add about 1 inch of bedding sand on top of the base, which is a separate order.
How much gravel do I need for a shed base?
For an 8 ft by 8 ft shed at 4 inches deep, about 1.35 tons (1.22 tonnes, or 0.87 cubic yards) of crusher run including 10% waste. Extend the pad about a foot past the shed on every side so rain running off does not wash out the edges.
How much gravel do I need for 100 square feet?
At 4 inches deep, 100 sq ft takes about 1.91 tons of crushed stone (1.36 cubic yards). At 2 inches it is half that. Depth drives the answer far more than area does, so decide the depth first.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A 20 ft by 10 ft driveway at 6 inches deep needs around 6.3 tons (4.1 cubic yards). On soft or clay ground you may need 8 inches or more, often laid in two layers with a coarse stone underneath and a finer one on top. Compact each layer rather than tipping it all at once.
How much gravel do I need for a french drain?
Work out the trench volume rather than an area: length by width by depth. A typical trench is 12 inches wide and 18 to 24 inches deep. Use washed stone with no fines in it, because crusher run and anything with dust will silt up and block the drain within a few years.
How much gravel goes under a concrete slab?
Usually 4 inches of compacted crusher run or #57 stone, though your local code may ask for more. The sub-base spreads the load and gives water somewhere to go. Compact it in layers of a few inches each. Loose fill settles later and cracks the slab above it.
Should I order gravel by weight or by volume?
Most North American suppliers sell by the ton, and most Canadian ones by the tonne, but some quote cubic yards. They are not interchangeable without knowing the density, which is why this calculator shows all of them at once. Order by whichever unit your supplier quotes, and read their conversion rather than assuming ours matches.