Gravel, Stone & Rock Calculator
Suppliers sell gravel by the ton or by the cubic yard. Enter your area and depth to get both, plus bag counts for small jobs.
- Tested formulas
- Feet or metric
- Printable shopping list
2 What to buy
Updates as you type| Material | Gravel / crushed stone |
|---|---|
| Volume | 66.7 cu ft · 2.47 yd³ · 1.89 m³ |
| Weight (estimate) | 3.46 US tons · 3.14 metric tonnes |
| 0.5 cu ft bags | 134 bags |
| Recommended depth | 2–4" |
Weights are for dry, loose material. Wet material can weigh 15–20% more, so check your truck or trailer payload before hauling it yourself.
Shopping list
Quick answer
A 20 × 10 ft area 4 inches deep needs 2.47 cubic yards of gravel, about 3.5 tons. Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Gravel for common areas
| Area | 2" deep | 4" deep | 6" deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.9 t (0.62 yd³) | 1.7 t (1.23 yd³) | 2.6 t (1.85 yd³) |
| 200 sq ft | 1.7 t (1.23 yd³) | 3.5 t (2.47 yd³) | 5.2 t (3.7 yd³) |
| 300 sq ft | 2.6 t (1.85 yd³) | 5.2 t (3.7 yd³) | 7.8 t (5.56 yd³) |
| 500 sq ft | 4.3 t (3.09 yd³) | 8.6 t (6.17 yd³) | 13 t (9.26 yd³) |
| 1000 sq ft | 8.6 t (6.17 yd³) | 17.3 t (12.35 yd³) | 25.9 t (18.52 yd³) |
Tons at about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, with cubic yards in brackets. Use the calculator above for your exact size.
From cubic yards to tons
First work out volume: area × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Then multiply by the material's density. Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb). For a 20 × 10 ft area, 4" deep: 2.47 yd³ × 1.4 = 3.46 tons.
Recommended gravel depths
| Project | Depth | Typical stone |
|---|---|---|
| Garden path / walkway | 2–3" | Pea gravel, ⅜" crushed |
| Patio base (under pavers) | 4–6" compacted | Crushed stone with fines (#21A, crusher run) |
| Under a concrete slab | 4" | Crushed stone |
| Gravel driveway | 8–12" in 3 layers | #3 base, #57 middle, top layer of crusher run or #8 |
| Drainage / French drain | Fill the trench | #57 washed stone |
Weight varies by stone
Density depends on the rock and how wet it is: from about 1.3 t/yd³ for river rock to 1.5+ for wet crushed stone with fines. When a supplier sells by the ton, ask for their figure and order a little extra. Compacted base material can settle 15–25%, so add that for driveways and patio bases.
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons. A typical half-ton pickup can safely carry only about ½ yard. Check your payload rating before hauling it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Calculate cubic yards (length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27) and multiply by about 1.4 for most gravel. A 10×10 ft area 4" deep needs 1.23 yd³, about 1.7 tons.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Between 2,400 and 3,000 lb (1.2–1.5 tons) depending on stone type and moisture. 2,800 lb is a good average for crushed stone.
How many bags of gravel equal a ton?
Bagged gravel is usually 0.5 cu ft (about 50 lb), so roughly 40 bags make a ton. For more than half a ton, bulk is much cheaper.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, about 116 sq ft, using 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone. At 4 inches deep it covers half that. Your supplier's weight per yard can differ a little.
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. See how we calculate for our sources and assumptions.