This gravel calculator tells you how much gravel you need for a driveway, patio base, walkway or French drain. Enter the length and width in feet and the depth in inches, pick your material, and it returns the volume in cubic yards and cubic feet plus the weight in tons, which are the two units suppliers actually quote.
It doubles as a pea gravel calculator, a crushed stone calculator and a stone calculator for river rock, sand and fill dirt, since each material has its own density and the volume maths is identical.
The conversions people need before ordering are all below: how much a yard of gravel weighs, how many yards are in a ton, what gravel costs per ton and per yard, and which type of gravel goes where.
How to Figure Out How Much Gravel You Need
Gravel is sold by volume in cubic yards or by weight in tons, so the calculation has two steps.
- Volume: cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Convert depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12 first
- Weight: tons = cubic yards × density. Most gravel and crushed stone runs about 1.35 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard
Worked example, a 20 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep: 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards, which weighs roughly 2.6 tons in crushed stone.
The shortcut worth remembering is the same one used for mulch and concrete: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Divide 324 by your depth in inches for coverage at that depth, so 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, and 81 at 4 inches.
If the area is irregular, split it into rectangles, work out each, and add the results.
How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Weigh, and How Many Yards in a Ton?
The two figures that answer most ordering questions: a cubic yard of gravel weighs about 2,700 pounds, roughly 1.35 tons, and one ton is therefore about 0.74 of a cubic yard, or roughly three quarters.
That ratio is why suppliers quoting in tons and calculators working in yards can seem to disagree. If a quarry quotes you 4 tons, you are getting about 3 cubic yards. If you calculated 3 cubic yards, ask for 4 tons.
Hauling is where the weight matters. A full-size pickup can legally carry about half a ton to one ton of gravel, which is well under a cubic yard, so a 3-yard order means five or six trips or one delivery. A tandem dump truck carries 10 to 14 cubic yards and a tri-axle 15 to 20, so almost any residential job fits in a single load.
Compare that with mulch at 400 to 800 pounds a yard, where the same truck takes 2 to 3 yards comfortably. If you have hauled mulch and are judging gravel by it, you will overload the vehicle badly.
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard | Yards per ton | Coverage per ton at 2" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,800 lb | 1.40 | 0.71 | 116 sq ft |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4") | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 0.74 | 120 sq ft |
| Crusher run / crush and run | 2,900 lb | 1.45 | 0.69 | 112 sq ft |
| River rock | 2,700 lb | 1.35 | 0.74 | 120 sq ft |
| Sand | 2,600 lb | 1.30 | 0.77 | 125 sq ft |
| Fill dirt (loose) | 2,200 lb | 1.10 | 0.91 | 148 sq ft |
Weights are typical dry figures. Wet material weighs 5 to 15% more, and crusher run is heavier than clean stone because the stone dust in it fills the voids. If you are near a vehicle weight limit, weigh rather than estimate.
How Much Does Gravel Cost per Ton and per Yard?
Because delivery is a flat fee, the cost per ton drops sharply with order size. One ton delivered might cost $40 for the stone and $100 for the truck. Ten tons costs $400 for the stone and the same $100, so the effective price per ton nearly halves.
Gravel driveway cost for a full install, rather than material dropped on the verge, runs roughly $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot, which covers excavation, geotextile fabric, a base layer and a top layer, compacted. A 12 × 50 ft driveway at 600 square feet therefore lands around $900 to $1,800 installed, against $250 to $450 for the gravel alone. Driveway gravel prices for the material itself follow the table above, with crusher run the cheapest option.
One budgeting note specific to gravel: a driveway needs topping up every few years as stone migrates and works into the subgrade. Budget a ton or two annually for a typical driveway, rather than treating the first order as the whole cost.
| Material | Per ton | Per cubic yard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher run / crush and run | $20 to $35 | $30 to $50 | Cheapest option, compacts hard, the standard driveway base |
| Crushed stone (#57) | $30 to $50 | $40 to $70 | Clean, drains well, the general-purpose choice |
| Pea gravel | $35 to $60 | $50 to $85 | Decorative, comfortable underfoot, migrates without edging |
| River rock | $50 to $120 | $70 to $160 | Decorative, sized and washed, the most expensive common option |
| Sand | $20 to $40 | $25 to $55 | Bedding under pavers |
Material only. Delivery is usually a separate flat fee of $50 to $150 depending on distance, and most yards set a minimum order of 1 to 3 tons. Prices vary substantially by region, since aggregate is heavy and hauling distance from the quarry dominates the cost.
Pea Gravel: Sizes, Uses and Coverage
Pea gravel is small, rounded stone roughly 3/8 inch across, named for the size rather than any particular rock type. It is the most popular decorative aggregate in the US and behaves differently from crushed stone in ways that matter.
Where it works well:
- Walkways and garden paths at 2 to 3 inches deep
- Patios and seating areas, where the rounded shape is comfortable underfoot
- Landscape beds over fabric at 2 inches
- Dog runs and play areas, since there are no sharp edges
- Drainage around downspouts and French drains
Where it causes trouble: pea gravel does not lock together, because the stones are round and smooth. It migrates constantly, spreads out of unbounded areas, and cannot be compacted into a stable surface. Two consequences follow:
- Always use edging. Steel, aluminium, timber or paver borders keep it in place, and without them you will be raking it back for years
- A pea gravel driveway does not work as a surface on its own. It shifts under tyres and forms ruts. Crusher run gravel or #57 stone is the right choice, with pea gravel only as a decorative top layer over a compacted base
On quantities, pea gravel weighs about 2,800 pounds a cubic yard, slightly heavier than crushed stone because the rounded stones pack more densely. At 2 inches deep, a cubic yard covers 162 square feet and a ton covers about 116.
Cost runs $35 to $60 per ton delivered in bulk, with dyed and white varieties at the upper end. Bagged pea gravel from a home centre works out several times more expensive per yard and is only worth it for very small areas.
Which Type of Gravel to Use
The single distinction that matters is whether the material contains fines, meaning stone dust.
Material with fines, such as crusher run gravel and #411, compacts into a hard, near-solid surface because the dust fills the gaps between stones. That is what you want for a driveway or a base under pavers.
Clean material with the fines washed out, such as #57 stone, stays loose and lets water pass straight through. That is what you want for drainage, French drains and anywhere water needs to move.
Using the wrong one is the most common gravel mistake: clean stone as a driveway surface never firms up and stays loose under tyres, while crusher run in a French drain clogs with its own dust and stops draining.
On depth by project:
- Walkways and paths: 2 to 3 inches
- Landscape cover over fabric: 2 inches
- Patio and paver base: 4 inches of compacted crusher run, plus 1 inch of stone dust to set the pavers
- New residential driveway: 4 to 6 inches total in two or three compacted layers, larger stone below and crusher run or #57 on top
- French drains: 3 to 4 inches of clean washed stone under and around the pipe
Going from 2 to 4 inches doubles the tonnage, so settle the depth before pricing. Add about 5% for compaction and spillage on any order.
| Type | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run (crush and run, #21A) | Dust to 3/4" | Driveway base and top, compacts to a hard surface |
| #57 stone | 3/4" clean | Drainage, French drains, paver base, general use |
| #411 | Dust to 3/4" | Similar to crusher run, driveway and patio base |
| #3 / #2 stone | 1" to 2.5" | Bottom layer of a new driveway, heavy fill, erosion control |
| Pea gravel | 3/8" rounded | Paths, patios, landscape cover, dog runs |
| River rock | 1" to 3" rounded | Decorative beds, dry creek beds, drainage features |
| Stone dust / screenings | Under 1/4" | Levelling course directly under pavers and flagstone |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,700 pounds, or 1.35 tons, for typical crushed stone. Pea gravel is slightly heavier at around 2,800 pounds because the rounded stones pack more densely, and crusher run is heaviest at about 2,900 pounds because the stone dust fills the voids. Wet material adds another 5 to 15%.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.74 of a cubic yard, roughly three quarters. So 4 tons is close to 3 cubic yards. The exact figure depends on material: 0.71 yards per ton for pea gravel, 0.74 for crushed stone, and 0.69 for crusher run.
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length by width in feet, multiply by depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply by 1.35 for tons. A shortcut: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, so divide 324 by your depth in inches to get coverage per yard.
How much is a ton of gravel?
$20 to $35 per ton for crusher run, $30 to $50 for crushed stone, $35 to $60 for pea gravel, and $50 to $120 for river rock, delivered. Delivery is usually a separate flat fee of $50 to $150, so the effective price per ton drops sharply on larger orders.
How much is a yard of gravel?
$30 to $50 per cubic yard for crusher run and $40 to $70 for crushed stone, plus delivery. Yards run higher than tons because a cubic yard is about 1.35 tons of material. Prices vary a lot by region, since hauling distance from the quarry dominates the cost of aggregate.
What is crush and run gravel?
A mix of crushed stone and stone dust, also sold as crusher run or #21A. The dust fills the gaps between stones so it compacts into a hard, near-solid surface, which makes it the standard choice for driveway bases and under pavers. It is also usually the cheapest gravel available.
What is 57 gravel?
#57 is a size designation, not a rock type: clean crushed stone around 3/4 inch with the fines washed out. Because there is no dust, water passes straight through, which makes it the standard choice for French drains, drainage layers and paver bases. It stays loose rather than compacting.
Can you use pea gravel for a driveway?
Not as the surface on its own. Pea gravel is rounded and smooth, so it does not lock together, shifts under tyres and forms ruts. Use crusher run or #57 stone for the driveway and pea gravel only as a decorative top layer over a compacted base, with solid edging to stop it migrating.
How deep should gravel be?
2 to 3 inches for walkways, 2 inches for landscape cover over fabric, 4 inches of compacted crusher run for a paver base, and 4 to 6 inches in two or three layers for a new driveway. French drains need 3 to 4 inches of clean washed stone around the pipe. Going from 2 to 4 inches doubles the tonnage.
How many yards of gravel fit in a truck?
A full-size pickup can legally carry only about half a ton to one ton, which is well under a cubic yard. A tandem dump truck carries 10 to 14 cubic yards and a tri-axle 15 to 20, so most residential orders arrive in one load. Gravel is roughly four times heavier per yard than mulch, so do not judge capacity by a mulch load.