Gravel is sold by weight and by volume, which makes it one of the easiest materials to under-order. This calculator turns the size of your area and the depth you want into three numbers: the volume in cubic yards, the weight in tons, and — for small jobs — the number of standard 0.5 cu ft bags.
Use it for driveways, garden paths, drainage (French drain) trenches, shed bases, and the gravel bed under pavers or a small patio. Enter the area in square feet and the finished depth in inches, and adjust the density if your supplier quotes a different figure for the stone you are buying.
Worked example: a 20 × 10 ft driveway top-up
Say you are topping up a small driveway that measures 20 ft by 10 ft, so the area is 200 sq ft, and you want a finished depth of 4 inches.
- Volume: 200 sq ft × (4 ÷ 12) ft = 66.7 cu ft, which is 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards.
- Weight: at the default density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 2.47 × 1.4 = 3.46 tons. Most suppliers sell in half-ton or one-ton steps, so you would order about 3.5 tons.
- In bags: the same job takes 134 bags of 0.5 cu ft — a clear sign that bulk delivery is the sensible option at this size.
How the calculation works
The math is basic volume geometry, with one material constant:
- Volume (cu ft) = area (sq ft) × depth (ft), and cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Weight (tons) = cubic yards × density. We use 1.4 tons per cubic yard as the default — the mid-range of the widely published figure of roughly 1.3–1.5 tons per cubic yard for common gravel and crushed stone. Dense stone (such as granite) sits at the top of that range, lighter stone at the bottom, so the calculator lets you change it.
- Bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5, rounded up, based on the standard 0.5 cu ft retail bag sold at US home centers.
Our How We Calculate page explains where every constant on this site comes from and how the calculators are tested.
Typical gravel costs
Material prices vary by region and quarry, so treat these as planning ranges, not quotes. Typical US prices, checked November 2026:
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bulk gravel / crushed stone | $30–$60 per ton |
| Bulk pea gravel | $35–$65 per ton |
| Bagged gravel, 0.5 cu ft | $4–$7 per bag |
| Bulk delivery fee | $50–$150 per load |
Delivery is a flat fee per load in most areas, which is another reason one bulk order usually beats dozens of bags.
Before you order
- Measure length × width for each section and add them up. For an L-shaped or curved area, break it into rectangles first — our Square Footage Calculator handles multi-part and L-shaped areas.
- Choose a realistic depth: about 2–3 inches for paths and decorative cover, and 4 inches or more for a driveway surface layer over a compacted base.
- Ask your supplier whether they sell by the ton or by the cubic yard, what their minimum delivery is, and what density they use for the stone you picked.
- Order slightly more than the estimate. Gravel compacts, spreads into soft spots, and settles — running short means paying a second delivery fee.
- Prepare the base before delivery day: grade the area, and consider landscape fabric under paths to slow weeds and keep stone from sinking into soil.
- Plan where the truck can dump. A 3.5-ton pile is bigger than most people expect.
Frequently asked questions
How deep should gravel be on a driveway?
A full driveway build is usually 4–6 inches of stone in total, laid in layers over a compacted base. If you are just refreshing the surface, a single 2–3 inch layer is typical. Enter the depth of the layer you are actually buying into the calculator.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 1.3–1.5 tons (about 2,600–3,000 lb), depending on the stone. Our default of 1.4 tons per cubic yard is the middle of that range, and you can change it in the calculator if your supplier gives you a different figure.
How many 0.5 cu ft bags make a cubic yard?
54 bags: a cubic yard is 27 cu ft, and 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54. Bags make sense below about half a cubic yard; above that, bulk is almost always cheaper per unit.
How much gravel do I need for 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep?
100 sq ft × 3 in = 25 cu ft = 0.93 cubic yards, which weighs about 1.3 tons at standard density. The calculator above will confirm it if you enter 100 sq ft and 3 inches.
Should I order gravel by the ton or by the yard?
Either works if you know the density, because the two are linked by it: tons = cubic yards × density. Suppliers in most regions quote by the ton. If yours quotes by the yard, order the cubic-yard figure and you will get the same pile.
Related calculators
Planning a garden bed refresh instead? The same area × depth math applies to mulch — see our Mulch Calculator for bag and yard figures in mulch sizes. If the gravel is a base for a small slab or paver patio, our Concrete Calculator will work out the slab itself once the base is in.
Estimates only: actual quantities vary with compaction, ground conditions, and the specific stone. Confirm measurements and your supplier’s figures before ordering. This calculator estimates material quantities for common DIY projects; it does not cover structural, load-bearing, electrical, gas, or plumbing design.