Gravel Calculator (Tons and Cubic Yards)

Pick your stone, enter the area and depth, and get exactly how much to order.

Project Details
Enter your measurements and requirements
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Results
Calculated estimates for your project
Area500 sq ft
Volume6.17 cu yd (167 cu ft)
Weight9.26 tons (18,519 lb)
Order this much10.5 tons or 7.0 cu yd
Hauling11 pickup loads, 1 dump truck, or 105 wheelbarrow trips
Estimated cost$420

How much to buy

Low, 5% waste
10.0 tons
Typical, 10% waste
10.5 tons
High, 15% waste
11.0 tons

Formula: 500 sq ft x 0.33 ft deep / 27 = 6.17 cu yd, x 1.5 tons per cu yd, plus 10% waste, rounded up to the half ton.

  • Density varies by quarry. Ask your yard what it weighs.

Turn these numbers into a build plan.

  • 500 sq ft area
  • 6.2 cu yd volume
  • 10.5 tons order
Materials List
Recommended materials and quantities
Crusher run / road base / DGA10.5 tons
Crusher run / road base / DGA, 4 in deepCompacted soil
Depth is measured after compaction, so loose stone goes in a little higher.

Tons to cubic yards: crusher run / road base / dga

1 ton = 0.67 cu yd. 1 cu yd = 1.50 tons (111 lb/cu ft, 1,780 kg/m3).

1 t
0.7 yd
5 t
3.3 yd
10 t
6.7 yd
15 t
10.0 yd
20 t
13.3 yd

Setting pavers on it? The concrete slab calculator sizes the base for a slab, and the paver patio guide covers base and sand depths. Bark for the beds is in the mulch calculator.

Next you will need

Concrete Slab CalculatorMulch Calculator (Yards and Bags)

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Project plan · built from your numbers

Gravel pad, 500 sq ft

500 sq ft of gravel at 4.0" deep: 6.2 cubic yards, about 9.3 tons. Order 10.5 tons to cover compaction, with fabric underneath and edging to hold it in place.

Materials
$902
Time
2 weekends
Level
Easy
8 steps 9 tools 6 materials
  1. 1

    Order and plan delivery

    Order 10.5 tons (about $420 delivered at $40 per ton) and pick a dump spot on a tarp or plywood close to the work. Call 811 if you will dig more than a few inches.

    • Gravel ordered
    • Dump spot protected
    • Utilities marked if digging
  2. 2

    Mark the outline

    Stake and string the 50 x 10 ft area and spray the outline. Curves are easiest laid out with a garden hose.

    • Corners staked
    • Outline painted
    • Check that it is square or curves look even
  3. 3

    Excavate 4" deep

    Strip turf and dig out 4" across the area so the gravel finishes flush with the surrounding grade. Slope it slightly away from buildings.

    • Depth checked at 4" every few feet
    • Roots and rocks removed
    • Slight slope for drainage
01 · Your numbers
Area
500 sq ft
Volume
6.2 cu yd
Order
10.5 tons
Est. cost
$902
02 · The plan

8 steps · 9 tools · 6 materials

5 more steps, the full tool list and a shopping list you can check off as you go.

03 · Finished

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Gravel pad, 500 sq ft

Finished in 2 weekends · $902 DIY

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How to calculate gravel in tons

Tons = length (ft) x width (ft) x depth (in) / 12 / 27 x density (tons per cu yd). Worked example: a 50 x 10 ft driveway topped with 4 in of crusher run is 500 x 4 / 12 = 167 cu ft, / 27 = 6.17 cu yd, x 1.5 = 9.26 tons. Add 10% and round up: order 10.5 tons.

  1. Measure the area. Measure length and width in feet (or the diameter of a circle, or base and height of a triangle) and work out the square feet.
  2. Choose the material. Each stone weighs differently: pea gravel is about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, crusher run about 1.5, lava rock 0.6.
  3. Set the depth. 2 to 3 in for paths and beds, 4 in for a pad, 8 to 12 in in layers for a new driveway. Divide inches by 12 to get feet.
  4. Convert to cubic yards and tons. Square feet x depth in feet / 27 = cubic yards. Cubic yards x the material's tons per yard = tons.
  5. Add 10% and order. Add about 10% for compaction and uneven ground, then round up to the half ton or half yard the supplier sells.

How many tons of gravel in a cubic yard

Loose bulk weights; your quarry's numbers can differ by 10%
MaterialTons per cu ydCu yd per tonlb per cu ftkg per m3
Pea gravel1.350.741001,602
Crushed stone #571.420.701051,685
Crusher run / road base / DGA1.500.671111,780
River rock1.350.741001,602
Decomposed granite1.300.77961,543
Crushed limestone1.500.671111,780
#3 stone (1.5 to 2.5 in)1.400.711041,661
Sand1.350.741001,602
Topsoil1.100.91811,305
Lava rock0.601.6744712
Mulch0.402.5030475

How much area does a ton of gravel cover

Square feet covered by one ton
Material2 in3 in4 in6 in
Pea gravel120 sq ft80 sq ft60 sq ft40 sq ft
Crushed stone #57114 sq ft76 sq ft57 sq ft38 sq ft
Crusher run / road base / DGA108 sq ft72 sq ft54 sq ft36 sq ft
River rock120 sq ft80 sq ft60 sq ft40 sq ft
Decomposed granite125 sq ft83 sq ft62 sq ft42 sq ft

Recommended gravel depth by project

ProjectDepthStone
Driveway (new)8 to 12 in in three layers#3, #57, crusher run
Driveway top-up2 inCrusher run or #57
Walkway or path2 to 3 in over fabricPea gravel, DG, 3/8 in crushed
Patio base (pavers)4 to 6 in plus 1 in sandCrusher run or 21A, then sand
French drainFill the trench, 12 to 24 in#57 washed stone
Shed pad4 to 6 in#57 or crusher run
Decorative bed2 to 3 inRiver rock, pea gravel, lava rock

A new driveway is built in three layers: about 4 in of #3 stone for the base, 3 in of #57 in the middle and 2 in of crusher run on top, each compacted. Switch the calculator to driveway mode for the tons in each layer, and see the driveway repair guide for keeping one in shape. A paver patio base is covered in the paver patio installation guide.

Gravel types and sizes

NameSizeUse
#3 stone1.5 to 2.5 inDriveway base over soft ground
#57 stone1/2 to 1 in, washedMiddle layer, French drains, shed pads
#8 stone3/8 to 1/2 inPaver joints, walkways, concrete mix
Crusher run (2A, 21A, DGA, QP)Up to 3/4 in with finesDriveway top and base, compacts like a road
Pea gravel1/4 to 3/8 in, roundPaths, play areas, patios that stay loose
River rock3/4 to 3 in, roundDry creek beds, beds, drainage swales

Names change by region: crusher run is 2A or 21A in Pennsylvania and Virginia, DGA (dense graded aggregate) in the Midwest and QP (quarry process) in New Jersey and New York. Ask the yard for the size and whether it has fines.

Gravel calculator FAQ

How many yards in a ton of gravel?

About 0.7 cubic yards. A ton of crusher run is 0.67 cu yd and a ton of pea gravel 0.74 cu yd; lighter lava rock is about 1.7 cu yd per ton.

How many tons of gravel for a 50 ft driveway?

A 50 x 10 ft driveway topped with 4 in of crusher run is 6.17 cu yd, 9.3 tons; order 10.5 tons. A new three-layer driveway of the same size takes about 23.0 tons in all.

How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 area?

At 3 in deep, 100 sq ft takes 0.93 cu yd, about 1.25 tons of pea gravel, or 56 bags of 0.5 cu ft. At 4 in it is 1.23 cu yd.

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

2,600 to 3,000 lb for most crushed stone and pea gravel (1.3 to 1.5 tons). Wet gravel and fines weigh more; lava rock is about 1,200 lb.

Is it cheaper to buy gravel by the ton or yard?

Neither by itself. Compare the price per ton with the price per yard times the material's tons per yard. For bulk loads both beat bags by a wide margin: 0.5 cu ft bags work out to $200 to $300 per yard.

How many tons of gravel fit in a dump truck?

A single-axle dump truck carries 10 to 14 tons (about 7 to 10 cu yd), a tandem 15 to 20 tons. A half-ton pickup is safe with about 1 ton.

Do I need to add extra for compaction?

Yes. Crushed stone with fines compacts 10 to 20% when rolled or driven on, so order about 10% over the loose volume. Round stone like pea gravel barely compacts but spreads.

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