Gravel Calculator
Work out the volume and weight of gravel for a driveway, path or base layer.
Last reviewed September 19, 2026
Result
Enter length and width to see the result.
https://calcgallery.com/landscaping/gravel-calculator/
Results are estimates for planning only. Actual needs vary with site conditions, products and workmanship. Always confirm quantities with your supplier and follow local building codes and manufacturer instructions. Read the full disclaimer
How to use it
- Measure the area, or enter it directly if you already know it.
- Set the depth. A path is usually 75 to 100 mm; a driveway wants more.
- Read the volume in cubic yards or metres, and the weight in tons or tonnes.
- Order by whichever unit your supplier quotes in. Both are the same load.
How it is calculated
Volume first, from the area and the depth:
Volume = area × depthThen weight, from the volume and the bulk density:
Weight = volume × densityDensity is the number that varies most. The default is a typical figure for crushed stone. Pea gravel is lighter, granite chippings heavier, and anything wet is heavier than the same material dry. Your supplier knows their own figure and it is worth asking, because the difference across common materials is about 20%.
Both the volume and the weight are shown, because suppliers quote in either. They describe the same load.
Practical tips
Order by weight if the supplier delivers by lorry. They weigh the load; they estimate the volume. Ordering in tons removes one conversion and one argument.
Compaction is not waste, but it is real. Loose gravel settles by roughly 10 to 20% when it is compacted. If you want a finished depth of 100 mm on a driveway, you are laying more than 100 mm loose.
Get the sub-base right before buying the surface. Decorative gravel over soft ground disappears into it. A compacted hardcore layer underneath costs less than replacing the top layer twice.
Think about where the lorry can tip. A ton of gravel on a driveway you then have to barrow round the back is an afternoon you did not plan for. Agree the tipping spot before delivery.
Edging holds the job together. Gravel migrates. Without a physical edge it ends up in the lawn, the flowerbed and the road, and you buy more to replace what walked off.
With your numbers
- Volume = 200 ft² × 3 in
- Weight = that volume × 2,798 lb/yd³
- Order 1.8519 yd³, about 2.59 ton
Quick reference
Bulk aggregate settles and spreads, and a supplier will usually top up a short load, so nothing extra is added by default.
| Job | Gravel to order |
|---|---|
| 20 × 10 ft path, 3 in deep | 1.8519 yd³ |
| 30 × 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep | 3.7037 yd³ |
| 40 × 12 ft driveway, 6 in deep | 8.8889 yd³ |
| 100 ft² of path, 3 in deep | 0.9259 yd³ |
| 500 ft² of drive, 4 in deep | 6.1728 yd³ |
| 6 × 3 m path, 75 mm deep | 1.35 m³ |
| 10 × 4 m driveway, 100 mm deep | 4 m³ |
| 50 m² of drive, 100 mm deep | 5 m³ |
Common questions
- How many tons of gravel do I need?
- Multiply the area by the depth for a volume, then by the density. A 20 by 10 ft path at 3 in deep is 1.85 cubic yards, which is about 2.6 US tons at a typical gravel density.
- How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
- Around 2,800 lb, or about 1.4 US tons, for common crushed stone. It varies with the stone type, the size of the pieces and how wet it is. A wet load can be 10% heavier than a dry one.
- How deep should gravel be?
- 75 to 100 mm, or 3 to 4 in, for a footpath or a decorative bed. A driveway carrying cars usually wants 100 to 150 mm over a compacted sub-base, and more on soft ground. Local guidance varies.
- Why do suppliers quote in tons when I measured in yards?
- Bulk aggregate is weighed on the way out of the yard, because that is what the lorry can measure. This gives both figures so you can order either way without converting.
- Should I order extra?
- Gravel compacts as it is walked and driven on, so a bed laid to exactly 3 in reads thinner within a month. Most suppliers will top up a short load, so ordering exactly and adding later is usually cheaper than over-ordering.
- Does this include the sub-base?
- No. This is one layer at one depth. A driveway with a sub-base and a surface layer is two calculations, one per layer, because they are different materials at different depths.