Gravel Calculator
Free gravel calculator for driveways, paths, and patios. Enter length, width, and depth to get cubic yards, a bulk order size, and tons from your supplier's density.
- Free, no signup
- Formula shown
- Rounds up to whole units
- Updated October 2026
Gravel needed · 10% allowance
5.43cubic yards
Bulk order
5.5 yd³
½ cubic yard steps
Cubic meters
4.15 m³
with allowance
- Before allowance
- 4.94 yd³
- Cubic feet
- 146.7 ft³
Enter your supplier's density to estimate weight. Gravel density varies by stone, size, and moisture, so no default is assumed.
AnswerA 40 ft × 10 ft area 4 in deep needs 4.94 cubic yards of gravel (5.43 with a 10% allowance), so order 5.5 cubic yards.
How to use this gravel calculator
- Enter the length and width of the area in feet or meters. For a driveway, measure the full length and the usable width.
- Enter the depth of gravel you plan to place, in inches or centimeters. The default 4 in is only an example. Base and surface depths come from your project plan.
- Set an allowance for uneven grade, spreading losses, or top-ups. It is applied before rounding.
- Choose the increment your supplier sells bulk gravel in.
- If your supplier sells by weight, enter the density they give you for that specific product. The calculator will estimate tons. Leave the field blank to skip weight.
How to calculate gravel: the formula, shown
Gravel is ordered by volume (cubic yards or cubic meters) or by weight (tons). Volume is length × width × depth, all in feet, divided by 27 to get cubic yards. Weight is volume × density, and density depends on the stone, its size grading, and how wet it is, so the calculator only shows weight when you enter a density.
Default example. A 40 ft × 10 ft area, 4 in deep, with a 10% allowance and no density entered. Change the inputs above and the result panel recalculates; this worked example always shows the default.
Area = 40 ft × 10 ft = 400 ft² Depth = 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.3333 ft Volume = 400 ft² × 0.3333 ft = 133.3333 ft³ Cubic yards = 133.3333 ÷ 27 = 4.9383 yd³ Allowance = 4.9383 × (1 + 10/100) = 5.4321 yd³ Metric = 5.4321 yd³ × 0.764555 = 4.1531 m³ Bulk order = 5.4321 ÷ 0.5 = 10.864 → 11 steps = 5.5 yd³ Weight = 5.4321 yd³ × D tons/yd³ (only if you enter D)
If your supplier quotes, for example, a density of D tons per cubic yard, multiply the cubic yards (with allowance) by D. If they quote pounds per cubic foot, multiply cubic feet by that figure and divide by 2,000 for US tons.
How much gravel for common areas
Cubic yards of gravel for common areas at 2, 3, and 4 inches deep, computed with the same formula as the calculator. These figures have no allowance for compaction or uneven ground. Add yours before you order.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 yd³ | 0.93 yd³ | 1.23 yd³ |
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 yd³ | 1.85 yd³ | 2.47 yd³ |
| 12 × 24 ft | 1.78 yd³ | 2.67 yd³ | 3.56 yd³ |
| 10 × 40 ft | 2.47 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 4.94 yd³ |
| 12 × 50 ft | 3.7 yd³ | 5.56 yd³ | 7.41 yd³ |
| 20 × 20 ft | 2.47 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 4.94 yd³ |
Volume only. To convert to tons, multiply cubic yards by the density your supplier quotes for that product.
How much gravel to order: yards or tons
The default 40 × 10 ft area at 4 in needs 5.43 cubic yards with allowance, which rounds up to 5.5 yd³ in ½ cubic yard steps.
- Sold by the yard: order the rounded-up volume. Ask whether the price is for loose volume as loaded.
- Sold by the ton: ask for the supplier's density for that exact product and enter it. Two gravels with the same name can weigh differently depending on rock type, size, and moisture.
- Compaction: compacted gravel takes up less volume than the loose gravel delivered, so a compacted base needs more loose material than its finished volume. Ask your supplier or installer how much extra to order for the compaction you plan. This calculator does not assume a compaction factor; raise the allowance to cover it.
- Bags: for small jobs, divide cubic feet by the volume printed on the bag. The bagged vs bulk guide covers the trade-off.
Pea gravel, crushed rock, landscape rock, and driveway gravel
The volume math is the same for every loose aggregate: length × width × depth. What changes between products is the weight per cubic yard, the price, and how the material behaves once it is placed. Use this calculator for the volume and ask your supplier for the figures that depend on the exact product.
Pea gravel calculator
Enter the area and depth of the path or bed. Pea gravel is small and rounded, so it tends to shift underfoot. Edging that holds it in place affects how much you lose over time. If you buy it by the ton, enter the supplier's density for that pea gravel.
Crushed rock calculator
Crushed rock is angular and is often used where the material needs to lock together when compacted. Because compacted volume is smaller than loose volume, ask your supplier how much extra to order for the compaction you plan, and set the allowance to match.
Landscape rock calculator
Decorative landscape rock comes in many sizes. Larger stones leave bigger gaps between them, which affects how deep a layer must be to cover the ground. Choose the depth from the product or your design, then calculate the volume here.
Driveway gravel calculator
Driveways are often built in layers with different stone sizes. Run the calculator once per layer with its own depth, and add the results. Base depth and layer design depend on your soil, traffic, and local practice, so take them from your plan or contractor. See planning a delivery before the truck arrives.
Tips for measuring and ordering gravel
- Measure depth after any excavation, from the bottom of the dig to the finished surface height you want.
- For a curved path or bed, use the average width. See measuring irregular areas.
- Driveways are often built in layers of different stone. Run the calculator once for each layer with its own depth.
- Tell the supplier where the load should be dumped and check access for the truck before delivery. See planning a delivery.
- Pea gravel, crushed rock, and landscape rock all use the same volume math. Only density and price differ.
Gravel calculator FAQ
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply length × width × depth with every measurement in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Add an allowance for uneven ground and round up to the increment your supplier sells.
How much gravel do I need for a 10 x 40 ft driveway 4 inches deep?
It is 133.3 cubic feet, or 4.94 cubic yards, before any allowance. With a 10% allowance it is 5.43 cubic yards, which rounds up to 5.5 yd³ in half-yard steps.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
There is no single answer. Weight per cubic yard depends on the type of rock, the size grading, and moisture. Ask your supplier for the density of the exact product, then enter it in the calculator to convert cubic yards to tons.
Why doesn't the calculator assume a gravel density?
Published densities vary by product and condition. A wrong default could make a tonnage order meaningfully short or long. The calculator shows weight only when you supply the density your supplier uses.
Is the volume loose or compacted?
The calculator gives the finished volume of the space you are filling. Compacted gravel occupies less volume than the same gravel loose in a truck, so you may need more loose material than the finished volume. Use the allowance to cover the extra your supplier or installer recommends.
Does this work for pea gravel, crushed rock, and landscape rock?
Yes. The volume calculation is the same for any loose aggregate. Only the density (for weight) and the price change between products.
Can I use meters and centimeters?
Yes. Switch the length unit to meters and the depth unit to centimeters. Results are always shown in both cubic yards and cubic meters, and you can choose a cubic-meter order increment.
How do I figure gravel for a round or curved area?
For a circle, area is π × radius². For a curved bed, measure the width at several evenly spaced points and use the average width times the length. Then multiply the area by depth as usual.
Related calculators and guides
Calculators
- Concrete Calculator — Slab volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters, with ready-mix order size and bag counts for documented products.
- Topsoil Calculator — Topsoil volume in cubic yards and meters for lawns, beds, and fill, with an optional weight from your supplier's density.
- Mulch Calculator — Mulch volume in cubic yards for any bed, plus a whole-bag count for the bag size you are buying.
Guides
- What Is a Cubic Yard? — What a cubic yard is, how to convert area × depth into yards, and how much ground one yard covers.
- How to Plan a Bulk Material Delivery — Rounding to supplier increments, questions to ask, and a checklist before bulk material arrives.
- How to Measure an Irregular Area — Split odd shapes into rectangles, triangles, circles, and trapezoids, then average width and depth.
- Bagged vs. Bulk Materials: Which Should You Buy? — How to compare bags and bulk delivery using bags per cubic yard and your own local prices.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9: Factors for units listed by kind of quantity — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact); 1 in = 2.54 cm (exact). Checked 2026-10-03.
- NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³; 1 US gal = 231 in³. Checked 2026-10-03.