Skip to content
ToolLantern

Gravel Calculator

Turn the size and depth of a driveway, path or garden bed into tons and cubic yards of gravel.

Quick answer

Volume = length × width × depth; most gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Driveways typically need 4–6 inches, paths 2–3 inches. Pouring a slab on top? Use the concrete calculator.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Home
  • Updated October 2026
ft
ft
in

Paths: 2–3 in. Driveways: 4–6 in in layers.

Gravel needed

2.59 tons

Volume
1.85 yd³
In metric tonnes
2.35 t
Show the working
  1. Volume = 1.852 yd³ × 1.4 t/yd³ = 2.59 US tons

About the Gravel calculator

Suppliers sell gravel by weight (tons) or by volume (cubic yards), and the conversion depends on the material. Most gravels weigh 1.2–1.5 tons per cubic yard; the calculator lets you pick a material so the tonnage matches what the yard will load.

Depth matters more than people expect: 2–3 inches for a decorative path, 4 inches for a patio base, and 4–8 inches for a driveway built in compacted layers. Compaction reduces volume, so buy a little extra for compacted bases.

How to use it

  1. Choose units.
  2. Enter the length and width of the area.
  3. Enter the depth.
  4. Choose the material to convert volume into weight.

The formula

Tons = Length × Width × Depth ÷ 27 × Density

  • Volume in cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
  • Density is tons per cubic yard (≈1.4 for typical gravel).

Worked example

A 20 × 10 ft path, 3 in deep

  1. 20 × 10 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feet.
  2. 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards.
  3. 1.85 × 1.4 = 2.6 tons of gravel.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?

Roughly 1.4 tons for typical gravel, but anywhere from 1.2 to 1.5 depending on stone type and moisture. Ask your supplier for their figure.

How deep should driveway gravel be?

Plan for 4–8 inches in layers: a coarse compacted base, then a finer top layer. Soft ground may need geotextile fabric underneath.

How much does a ton of gravel cover?

At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton covers about 115 sq ft at 2 inches deep, or about 77 sq ft at 3 inches.

Results are estimates for planning — check critical figures with a professional or the official source.

Popular tools

Image Converter

Convert any image to JPG, PNG or WebP, with quality and size controls.

Image

JPG to PNG Converter

Turn JPG files into PNG right in your browser — drag in one image or thirty.

Image

PNG to JPG Converter

Turn PNG files into JPG right in your browser — drag in one image or thirty.

Image

WebP to JPG Converter

Turn WebP files into JPG right in your browser — drag in one image or thirty.

Image