Gravel Calculator
How Much Gravel, Sand, or Topsoil Do You Need?
Bulk materials — gravel, crushed stone, sand, topsoil, mulch — are ordered by the cubic yard or ton. Getting the estimate right saves an extra delivery trip and avoids the awkward situation of running out mid-project. This calculator handles the volume and weight conversion in one step.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your area's length and width in feet, the depth in inches, and select your material. Each material has a different density — the calculator uses these to convert volume to weight automatically. Hit Calculate to see cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and pounds needed.
How the Calculation Works
Real-World Example
Using the defaults — 20 ft × 10 ft area, 3 inches deep, standard gravel:
- Volume: 20 × 10 × (3÷12) ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards
- Cubic feet: 50 cu ft
- Weight (gravel at 1.4 t/cy): 2.59 tons (~5,185 lbs)
- Area covered: 200 sq ft
Add 10% for settling and uneven spreading: order approximately 2.05 cubic yards / 2.85 tons. Most bulk delivery minimums start at 2 tons, so this project is right at the threshold for delivery service.
Material Depths by Application
- Driveways (gravel): 4–6 inches — base layer plus 2-inch surface layer; total 6 inches for new construction
- Walkways and paths: 2–3 inches of decorative gravel over a compacted base
- Drainage areas / French drains: 6–12 inches of clean crushed stone
- Garden beds (topsoil): 6–8 inches for new beds; 2–4 inches to refresh existing beds
- Mulch: 2–3 inches — enough to suppress weeds; more than 4 inches can suffocate roots
- Decorative rock: 2–4 inches for full coverage
- Playground safety surface: 9–12 inches of loose fill for adequate fall protection
Material Densities
- Gravel (pea gravel, river rock): ~1.4 tons/cu yd (2,800 lbs/cu yd)
- Crushed stone (limestone, granite): ~1.35 tons/cu yd (2,700 lbs/cu yd)
- Sand: ~1.1 tons/cu yd (2,200 lbs/cu yd)
- Topsoil: ~0.8 tons/cu yd (1,600 lbs/cu yd)
- Mulch (wood chips): ~0.25 tons/cu yd (500 lbs/cu yd)
Densities vary with moisture content — wet sand and topsoil weigh significantly more than dry. If your material will be delivered wet, add 10–15% to the weight estimate for hauling purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I order by the ton or the cubic yard?
Most suppliers quote gravel and crushed stone by the ton; topsoil and mulch are often quoted by the cubic yard. The calculator gives you both so you can match whatever your supplier uses. When in doubt, ask your supplier whether they price by weight (ton) or volume (cubic yard) — and confirm their density assumption so you can verify the conversion.
Do I need a base layer under decorative gravel?
For driveways and paths, yes — a compacted gravel base (crusher run or road base, 4–6 inches) provides stability and drainage before the decorative surface layer. Without a base, decorative gravel shifts under vehicle weight and foot traffic. For garden beds and decorative landscaping, a weed barrier fabric under the gravel significantly reduces maintenance.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep: 162 sq ft. At 3 inches deep: 108 sq ft. At 4 inches deep: 81 sq ft. At 6 inches deep: 54 sq ft. A quick mental formula: coverage (sq ft) = 324 ÷ depth (inches). This assumes 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet and depth converted to feet.
What's the difference between gravel and crushed stone?
Gravel is naturally rounded by water erosion — pea gravel, river rock, and pebbles fall in this category. It's comfortable underfoot but doesn't compact well, making it better for decorative use than driveways. Crushed stone is mechanically broken and has angular edges — it locks together under compaction, making it better for driveways, bases, and structural applications. Crushed limestone and granite are the most common types.
How deep should I go for a new gravel driveway?
A properly built gravel driveway has two layers: a 4-inch compacted base layer of crusher run (angular crushed stone that locks together) and a 2-inch surface layer of pea gravel or decorative crushed stone. Total: 6 inches. For heavy vehicles or areas with poor drainage, increase the base to 6 inches for a total depth of 8 inches. Skipping the base layer leads to ruts and washouts quickly.