What your result means
Cubic yards is how most suppliers sell bulk gravel; tons is how quarries and landscape yards often price it, and the conversion depends on the stone. The 10% extra covers compaction and uneven ground, so you don’t run short. For small jobs, the bag count tells you how many 0.5 cubic foot bags to buy instead.
How to use the Gravel Calculator
- Choose rectangle or circle and enter the dimensions in feet.
- Enter the depth in inches for the layer you are ordering.
- Pick the gravel type, which sets a generic weight per cubic yard (or choose Custom and type your supplier’s figure), and keep or change the 10% extra.
- The cost starts at a typical US price per ton plus delivery. Pick your currency and enter your supplier’s prices for your own estimate.
Formula and worked example
volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %)cubic yards = cu ft ÷ 27tons = cubic yards × weight (tons per cubic yard)bags = cu ft ÷ 0.5 (rounded up)cost = tons × price per ton + delivery fee
Worked example ("figuring gravel"): a 40 ft × 10 ft driveway at 3 inches deep is 400 sq ft. 400 × 3 ÷ 12 = 100 cu ft, plus 10% for compaction = 110 cu ft. ÷ 27 = 4.07 cubic yards. At a generic 1.4 tons per cubic yard of pea gravel, that's 5.70 tons. At a typical US $37.50 a ton plus $75 delivery, about $288.89.
Driveway gravel depth
As a generic starting point, a new gravel driveway is built in layers: a base of larger crushed stone, then a finer top layer, about 4 to 6 inches in total and more on soft ground. Top-ups and paths often take 2 to 3 inches. These are planning figures, not an engineering specification: your supplier or contractor sets the depth for your ground. Use the depth of the layer you are ordering, and order each layer separately if they are different stones.
Tons of gravel per 100 sq ft (including 10% extra)
| Gravel type | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 0.95 | 1.43 | 1.90 | 2.85 |
| #57 crushed stone | 0.95 | 1.43 | 1.90 | 2.85 |
| River rock | 0.92 | 1.38 | 1.83 | 2.75 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.02 | 1.53 | 2.04 | 3.06 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.15 | 1.73 | 2.31 | 3.46 |
Computed by the calculator above from generic weights; your supplier’s figure for their stone is the one to trust.
Typical US gravel prices per ton (published cost guides)
| Gravel type | Typical price per ton | Calculator starts at | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | $25–$50 | $37.50 | LawnStarter, Oct 2026 |
| #57 crushed stone | $30–$75 | $52.50 | LawnStarter (crushed limestone $30–40), Oct 2026; Fixr (#57 stone $65–75), Aug 2022 |
| River rock | $35–$100 | $67.50 | LawnStarter ($35–50), Oct 2026; Fixr ($45–100), Aug 2022 |
| Decomposed granite | No published range found | Your price | — |
| Crusher run / road base | $25–$35 | $30.00 | Fixr, Aug 2022 |
Delivery is extra: about $50–$100 an order (Fixr, Aug 2022). Prices vary by region, quarry and order size; a local quote is the real figure.
Assumptions and limits
- Weights per cubic yard are generic figures for loose, dry stone and vary with rock type, size and moisture. Choose “Custom” and type your supplier’s figure for their product.
- Compacted stone weighs more per cubic yard than loose: Wisconsin DOT’s estimating factors for compacted aggregate run 1.5 to 2.2 tons per cubic yard, and its specification uses 1.85 for compacted dense-graded base.
- Prices start at the midpoint of published US ranges, in US dollars. Pick your currency and enter your supplier’s prices for your own estimate.
- The 10% default allowance covers compaction and uneven ground; increase it for very soft or uneven sites.
- Gravel is usually sold by the ton or by the cubic yard; bagged gravel (0.5 cu ft) is practical only for small jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for my driveway?
Multiply the driveway’s length by its width, then by the depth in inches ÷ 12, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 40 ft by 10 ft driveway at 3 inches deep needs about 3.7 cubic yards, or about 4.1 with 10% extra for compaction.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the stone, its size, moisture and how compacted it is. The calculator uses generic figures of 1.35 to 1.7 tons for loose stone; compacted base is heavier, and Wisconsin DOT’s estimating factors for compacted aggregate run 1.5 to 2.2 tons per cubic yard. Choose Custom and type your supplier’s figure for their product.
How deep should gravel be?
As a generic starting point, paths and top-ups take about 2–3 inches, and a new driveway is built in layers of about 4–6 inches or more, with larger crushed stone at the bottom and finer gravel on top. These are planning figures: your supplier or contractor sets the depth for your ground.
How much pea gravel do I need?
Use the same formula with pea gravel selected: area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27 gives cubic yards, then about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. For a 10 ft × 10 ft area at 2 inches, that’s about 0.68 cubic yards with 10% extra.
How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it takes 54 bags of 0.5 cubic feet. Bags make sense for small jobs; for anything over about a cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper.
How much does gravel cost?
Published US cost guides put pea gravel at about $25–50 a ton (LawnStarter, 2026) and crusher run at about $25–35 a ton (Fixr, 2022), plus delivery of about $50–100 an order. The calculator starts at the middle of the range for your type; change it to your supplier’s price, in your currency.
Should I add extra gravel for compaction?
Yes. Gravel settles and compacts, and ground is rarely perfectly flat, so ordering about 10% extra is common. Increase it for soft or uneven ground.
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About this calculator
Written and maintained by Ahsan Khan. See how every number is calculated, and the test cases checked on every update, on the methodology page.
Sources
- Standard Specifications, Section 305 Dense-Graded Base (305.4: 1.85 tons per cubic yard for in-place base), Wisconsin Department of Transportation (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- Facilities Development Manual 19-5, Estimates (Table 3.1: Compacted Aggregate Conversion Factors), Wisconsin Department of Transportation (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost in 2026? (cost per ton by gravel type), LawnStarter (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
- Gravel Driveway Cost (cost per ton by gravel type; delivery), Fixr (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
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