Updated · Built and checked by the PlinzoTools team, formulas tested against published sources
Calculate how much gravel you need in cubic yards and tons from your area and depth.
This calculator turns an area and a fill depth into two numbers you actually need when buying gravel: cubic yards (what most suppliers quote a price by) and tons (what most suppliers actually deliver and weigh a truckload by). Gravel is sold by weight far more often than by volume, so having both numbers side by side avoids a common surprise at checkout.
Enter the area you're covering in square feet and how deep you want the gravel layer in inches. A typical path or bed uses 2 inches, a driveway base layer is often 4 inches or more (see the Gravel Driveway Calculator for a proper two-layer driveway build). Open "Advanced" to adjust the density if you know your specific gravel type's weight per cubic yard -- crushed stone, pea gravel, and river rock all pack differently.
Cubic Yards = (Area in sqft × Depth in inches) ÷ 324
Tons = (Cubic Yards × Density in lb/cu yd) ÷ 2000
324 comes from converting square feet at an inch depth into cubic yards in one step: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and there are 12 inches in a foot, so 12 × 27 = 324. The weight step then multiplies by density (crushed gravel commonly runs around 2,800 lb per cubic yard, though it varies by stone size and moisture) and divides by 2,000 to convert pounds to tons.
Use this for a garden path, a drainage bed, a shed pad base, or filling a low spot -- anywhere a single uniform layer of gravel is being placed. For a full driveway build with a base and top layer, use the Gravel Driveway Calculator instead, and for the topsoil or sand that often gets layered with gravel, see the Topsoil Calculator and Sand Calculator.
Gravel density varies meaningfully by stone type and size -- pea gravel, crushed granite, and river rock don't weigh the same per cubic yard. If your supplier can tell you their specific product's density, enter it in the Advanced section for a more accurate ton estimate; otherwise 2,800 lb/cu yd is a reasonable general-purpose default.
The calculator wants a single area, so break a curved path or irregular bed into rectangles and triangles, work out each, and add them. For example, a hypothetical path 30 feet long and 3 feet wide is 90 sqft, and a 6ft x 8ft pad beside it is 48 sqft, giving 138 sqft in total. Enter 138 and your chosen depth. Measure the width at several points on a curved path and use the average.
Loose gravel settles once it is raked, walked on, or driven over, so a layer that measures three inches at delivery may be somewhat thinner after a few weeks. Some people order a little extra to top up later. Because this tool does not add a compaction allowance, consider adding a modest margin yourself if the surface will see traffic.
If you are comparing prices, look at whether a quote is per ton or per cubic yard. With the worked figures above, 2.47 cubic yards at 2,800 lb per cubic yard is about 3.46 tons. Two suppliers selling similar-looking stone may list different weights per yard because of stone size, moisture, and fines. Ask the supplier what weight they assume and enter that in the advanced section, then order by the unit they bill in.
Many projects put landscape fabric or a compacted base under the gravel. The calculator does not include those, and the depth you enter should be the gravel layer only. If you are excavating to make room, remember that digging out an inch of soil and replacing it with an inch of stone does not change the volume of stone needed, but the spoil still has to go somewhere.
It depends on your depth and the gravel's density -- this calculator handles that conversion for you rather than using a single flat rate, since depth and density both change the answer significantly.
Gravel trucks are typically weighed, not volume-measured, so tons is the unit that matches how delivery is actually billed -- this calculator gives you both so you can order confidently either way.
2 to 3 inches is typical for a walking path; a driveway or an area that needs to support vehicle weight usually needs a thicker base layer -- see the Gravel Driveway Calculator for that case.
Yes, wet gravel weighs more than dry gravel of the same volume -- suppliers usually quote density for typical delivered (slightly damp) material, which is what the 2,800 lb/cu yd default assumes.
A small margin is common because of settling, spillage, and uneven ground. How much depends on the site, so ask the supplier if they recommend a specific cushion.
Yes, the volume is the same geometry. Just change the density in the advanced section to match your stone, since the ton figure will differ.
Convert to square feet first by multiplying square meters by about 10.76, and convert depth to inches, before entering the values.