Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width, and depth of your area to find how many cubic yards and tons of gravel you need. Gravel weighs about 105 lb/ft³ (≈1.42 tons per cubic yard).
How to calculate gravel
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Gravel weighs about 105 pounds per cubic foot, so multiply cubic feet by 105 and divide by 2,000 to get tons. A driveway is usually 4 inches deep; order 10–15% extra for compaction.
Cubic yards = (L ft × W ft × Depth ft) ÷ 27 · Tons = ft³ × 105 ÷ 2,000
Worked example
A 20 ft × 10 ft driveway covered 4 inches deep with gravel.
- Depth = 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- Volume = 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 ft³
- Cubic yards = 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 yd³
- Tons = 66.7 × 105 ÷ 2,000 = 3.5 tons
Result: 2.47 cubic yards (about 3.5 tons)
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For tons, multiply cubic feet by 105 and divide by 2,000. A 20×10 driveway at 4 inches needs about 2.5 yd³ (≈3.5 tons).
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,835 pounds, roughly 1.42 tons, when dry (27 ft³ × 105 lb/ft³). Wet gravel weighs more.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one ton of gravel covers about 100 ft². At 4 inches deep it covers about 50 ft².
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Plan on at least 4 inches of gravel for a driveway, often in two layers over a compacted base. Paths and decorative areas can be 2–3 inches.