Gravel Calculator
Enter your area's length, width, and target depth — the volume and weight update as you type, and the link in your address bar always reflects your numbers. Four inches is typical for a compacted base layer; driveways under heavier loads often go 6-8 inches.
How this calculator works
Gravel is sold and priced by volume, but often quoted and hauled by weight, so this calculator gives you both. Multiply length by width to get your area's square footage, then multiply by the depth (converted from inches to feet) to get cubic feet. Dividing by 27 converts that to cubic yards, the standard unit gravel suppliers use for pricing and delivery. To estimate weight, we apply a widely-cited rule of thumb that gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard — but that figure is a common average, not an exact constant. Crushed stone packs denser than rounded pea gravel or river rock, so if your supplier lists a specific weight for your material, use that instead for a more precise order.
Worked example
A 20 ft × 10 ft area filled 4 inches deep covers 20 × 10 = 200 square feet. At 4 inches (1/3 ft) deep, that's 200 × (4 ÷ 12) ≈ 66.67 cubic feet, or 66.67 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.47 cubic yards. Using the 1.4 tons-per-cubic-yard average, that's about 2.47 × 1.4 ≈ 3.46 tons of gravel to order — remember that's before any extra you add for compaction, as covered in the FAQ below.
Frequently asked questions
Why does gravel weight vary by type?
The 1.4 tons-per-cubic-yard figure this calculator uses is a common average, but it isn't a fixed constant — it depends on the density of the material. Crushed stone has angular, interlocking pieces with fine dust packed between them, so it compacts tighter and weighs more per cubic yard. Pea gravel and river rock are smooth and rounded, so they settle more loosely with more air gaps between pieces, and typically weigh a bit less for the same volume. If your supplier lists a specific weight for the material you're buying, use that number instead of the average for a more accurate order.
How deep should a driveway base be?
A typical gravel base layer under pavers, a shed, or a walkway runs about 4 inches deep. Driveways that carry vehicle weight usually call for more — commonly 4 to 6 inches, and up to 6-8 inches for driveways under heavier or more frequent vehicle loads, sometimes compacted in two separate layers rather than dumped and packed all at once. Local soil conditions and climate can shift that range, so check with a local contractor or your municipality's paving guidance for anything load-bearing.
Should I add extra for compaction?
Yes, and it's a genuinely useful thing to plan for even though this calculator doesn't build it into the base formula. Loose gravel settles once it's spread, driven over, or rained on, and it's common for a loose pile to compact down by roughly 10-20% of its original volume. If you're ordering gravel to fill a space to a specific finished depth, ordering a bit extra — rather than the bare minimum this tool reports — helps you avoid a second delivery once everything settles.
Can this be used for a paver base too?
Yes. A compacted gravel base under pavers uses the exact same volume math as any other gravel project — length times width gives you the area, and multiplying by your target depth gives you the volume. Just enter the footprint of your paver patio or walkway and the base depth you're planning (4 inches is a common starting point for a paver base) and the cubic yards and tons come out the same way.