Gravel Calculator
Enter your area, depth, and gravel type — get tons, cubic yards, bags, and bagged-vs-bulk cost in seconds.
A typical loose dry density. Suppliers vary — ask for yours, or pick Custom.
Add 10% for compaction & settling (recommended for driveways and bases)
Bags are convenient for small areas; bulk by the ton is dramatically cheaper once you pass a fraction of a cubic yard. Enter your local prices — we'll show which wins and by how much.
At a 2″ depth, one ton of this gravel covers roughly 114 sq ft. Coverage halves as you double the depth — about 57 sq ft per ton at 4″. Computed from the selected density. Driveways usually want about 6″ total over firm ground.
Round, smooth stone is comfortable underfoot and good-looking, but it shifts under load. Angular crushed stone locks together and stays put. Pick the type above to see specific guidance for driveways, paths, and drainage.
Compare gravel types.
The stone most US homeowners actually buy — size, typical weight, rough cost by the ton, and what each is for.
| Gravel type | Stone size | ~ Tons / yd³ | ~ Cost / ton | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 3/8" | ~1.3 | $30–50 | Patios, paths, play areas — not driveways |
| Crushed stone #57 | 3/4" | ~1.4 | $25–40 | Driveways, drainage, base layers |
| Crusher run / #411 | 0–3/4" | ~1.4 | $20–35 | Driveway base — compacts tight (has fines) |
| River rock | 1–3" | ~1.35 | $50–100 | Dry creek beds, drainage, decorative borders |
Cost ranges are typical US bulk prices and vary by region, stone, and haul distance. Weights are typical loose densities — confirm with your supplier.
How gravel is sold & measured.
Gravel is sold two ways. In small amounts it comes in bags — the standard retail bag at Home Depot and Lowe's holds 0.5 cubic feet. For anything larger, you buy it loose by the ton, delivered from a local stone yard. That's the key difference from mulch: gravel is heavy, so the trade is priced by weight, not volume.
To estimate either, you start from volume. Measure your area, pick a depth, and the calculator works out the cubic feet, converts to cubic yards (27 cubic feet to a yard), and then to tons using the stone's density. From there it counts bags and prices both ways.
How deep should gravel go?
Depth depends on the job. For a decorative bed or a walking path, 2–3 inches is plenty. A patio base wants about 4 inches of compacted stone. A driveway needs the most: about 6 inches of gravel total on firm ground and more on soft ground, where it's built in layers — a coarse base stone underneath and a finer stone on top.
Going deeper than you need is the most common way to overspend, because every extra inch is more tons. Going too shallow on a driveway is the most common way to get ruts. When in doubt for a drive, plan for a compacted base plus a 2-inch surface layer rather than one thick blanket.
Round vs. angular stone.
The single most important choice is shape. Pea gravel and river rock are round and smooth — comfortable underfoot and attractive, but they roll and shift under a car's weight, which is why they make poor driveways on their own. Crushed stone is angular: the jagged faces lock together when compacted, so it holds a firm surface. That's why driveways and bases use crushed stone (#57) or crusher run, while pea gravel and river rock stay in patios, paths, and drainage features.
Size matters too. Smaller stone packs into a smoother surface; larger stone drains better but is rougher to walk on. The comparison table above lines up the common types against the jobs they suit.
Why add a compaction allowance?
Loose gravel settles. When you compact a base or when traffic and rain pack down a fresh layer, the same stone takes up less space — so the amount you order should be a little more than the bare geometric volume. For driveways and bases, adding roughly 10% covers compaction and settling and saves a second delivery. Decorative beds that won't be compacted need little or none. The toggle in the calculator applies that 10% when you want it.
Frequently asked questions.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
For most gravel, roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard (about 2,800 lbs). It varies by type: pea gravel is a little lighter at about 1.3 tons, crushed stone runs about 1.4–1.5 tons, and dense crushed limestone can be heavier. The calculator uses the density of the type you pick, and you can enter a custom density if your supplier gives you one.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
At a 2-inch depth, one ton covers roughly 114–122 square feet, depending on the stone. Coverage roughly halves each time you double the depth, so expect about 57–61 sq ft per ton at 4 inches. The calculator shows the exact figure for your chosen type and depth.
Can I use pea gravel for a driveway?
It's not recommended on its own. Pea gravel is round, so it shifts and ruts under tires and migrates off the edges. If you want a pea-gravel look for a drive, it has to sit on a compacted base of angular crushed stone and be edged firmly — and it will still need topping up. For a low-maintenance driveway surface, crushed stone #57 or crusher run is the standard choice.
Should I buy gravel in bags or in bulk?
Bags make sense only for very small areas. By the ton, bulk gravel is far cheaper per unit — often several times less than the bagged price once you include that a cubic yard is 54 bags. The break-even comes quickly, usually well under one cubic yard even after a delivery fee. The cost panel above does this comparison with your local prices and tells you which wins and by how much.
How much extra should I order for compaction?
For a driveway or a compacted base, adding about 10% covers settling and compaction so you don't come up short. Decorative beds that won't be compacted need little to none. Use the compaction toggle to add the allowance when it applies.
Methodology & sources
Volumes are standard geometry; the cubic-feet result is divided by 27 for cubic yards and multiplied by the selected density for weight. Per-type densities are typical loose-dry values that sit inside the authoritative aggregate bulk-density range; where a project needs a precise figure, the custom-density field accepts a supplier's number. All arithmetic was verified with Python's Decimal to avoid floating-point drift.
Density & aggregate references (.edu / .gov):
- Pennsylvania State University — Aggregate Technician Certification Program (bulk density / unit weight, AASHTO T19) — link
- Michigan Department of Transportation — Standard Specifications for Construction, Section 902: Aggregates — link
- U.S. Federal Aviation Administration — AC 150/5370-10, Item P-208 Aggregate Base Course — link
Pricing: bagged 0.5 cu ft gravel from Home Depot and Lowe's (US), checked June 2026. Bulk $/ton and delivery are editable planning defaults — local stone-yard quotes vary, so the fields are yours to change.
Last methodology review: June 2026.
Independence: Sources are cited for reference only. The universities, agencies and retailers named on this page do not sponsor or endorse MaterialCalcs, and we are not affiliated with them. Retail prices were checked by hand and vary by store and region.