Gravel Calculator

Multiply length × width × depth to get volume, then convert to cubic yards (÷27 if measuring in feet and inches) and multiply by the material's density to get tons. This calculator does that conversion for you and lets you switch between cubic yards/tons (US) and cubic metres/tonnes (metric).

A typical residential driveway uses a 4-6 inch base layer plus a 2-3 inch top layer of finish stone, for 6-9 inches total (8-12 inches under heavy vehicles). Calculate each layer separately with its own depth, since a compactable base and a decorative top layer usually use different, differently-priced material.

These are the same size class of crushed stone — roughly 3/4 to 1 inch graded angular stone — sold under different regional naming conventions: "#57" and "3/4 inch" in the US, "20mm gravel" or "20mm shingle" in the UK. This calculator's default "Crushed stone / gravel" option covers all three names.

At the default crushed-stone density (1.4 tons/yd³), one ton covers roughly 108 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 72 sq ft at 3 inches, or 54 sq ft at 4 inches. Lighter or heavier materials — pea gravel or crusher run — cover a different area per ton, which is exactly why this calculator uses the density you select rather than one fixed coverage number.

Yes — switch the Units field to metric to enter length and width in metres and depth in centimetres, and get results in cubic metres and tonnes. The default 20mm gravel density (≈1.66 t/m³) is cross-checked against a UK supplier's own figure of ~1.7 tonnes per cubic metre.

Select "Pea gravel" from the Material dropdown — it defaults to 1.35 tons per cubic yard (about 2,700 lb), lighter than angular crushed stone of the same volume. Pea gravel is rounder and settles differently, so lean toward the higher end of the waste factor range for pathways and beds.

French drains typically use 6-12 inches of depth filled with angular crushed stone (not rounded pea gravel, which packs too tightly and restricts water flow) along the trench length. Enter the trench length as "length," the trench width, and your fill depth to get the volume.

A compacted base layer (crusher run or road base) is usually 4-6 inches under a driveway or paver patio. Select "Crusher run / road base" for its own, denser default figure, and calculate the base layer as a separate pass from any decorative top layer.

A typical 0.5 cubic foot bag covers about 2 sq ft at 3 inches deep. For small jobs under roughly half a cubic yard, bagged material is often cheaper and easier than arranging bulk delivery — this calculator flags that in a warning once your result drops below that threshold.

Bulk gravel and crushed stone are usually sold by weight (tons or tonnes), while some suppliers quote by volume. This calculator gives you both from the same inputs, so you can match whichever figure your supplier quotes — and use the density field to match their specific product if it differs from the default.