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Gravel Calculator

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Reference value for gravel or crushed stone, loose: 1.35 tons per cu yd. Sources give 1.30 to 1.42 tons per cu yd (loose and dry in one source; the other does not state the condition). Weight depends on the rock and how wet it is, so replace it with your supplier's figure if you have one.

Starts at 10%. The only published figure we found is in a Washington State highway design manual, which adds 10% when material is stockpiled. It is one source and it is about road work, so change it to suit the job.

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How to calculate gravel in tons

Gravel is sold by weight, so there is one more step here than in a volume calculation.

The volume comes first. Multiply the area of the space by the depth of the layer to get cubic feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards.

Then the weight: cubic yards × density, where density is the number of tons one cubic yard of the material weighs. That number is not fixed. It changes with the kind of rock, the size and mix of the stones, whether the material is loose or compacted, and how wet it is.

So the calculator shows the density it used and where it comes from, and lets you type in another. The weight is rounded up to a hundredth of a ton.

Examples

Driveway: 40 ft × 10 ft × 4 in

  1. Area: 40 ft × 10 ft = 400 sq ft = 37.16 m²
  2. Volume: 400 sq ft × 4 in = 133.3 cu ft = 4.94 cu yd
  3. With 10% waste: 133.3 cu ft + 10% = 146.7 cu ft = 5.43 cu yd
  4. Weight: 5.43 cu yd × 1.35 tons per cu yd, rounded up to 0.01 ton = 7.34 tons
  5. Cost: 7.34 tons × $45.00 = $330.30

7.34 tons with 10% waste. Volume: 5.43 cu yd. Estimated cost: $330.30.

Compacted patio base: 12 ft × 10 ft × 4 in

  1. Area: 12 ft × 10 ft = 120 sq ft = 11.15 m²
  2. Volume: 120 sq ft × 4 in = 40.0 cu ft = 1.48 cu yd
  3. With 10% waste: 40.0 cu ft + 10% = 44.0 cu ft = 1.63 cu yd
  4. Weight: 1.63 cu yd × 1.90 tons per cu yd, rounded up to 0.01 ton = 3.10 tons

3.10 tons with 10% waste. Volume: 1.63 cu yd.

With a supplier's density: 20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in

  1. Area: 20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft = 18.58 m²
  2. Volume: 200 sq ft × 4 in = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd
  3. With 10% waste: 66.7 cu ft + 10% = 73.3 cu ft = 2.72 cu yd
  4. Weight: 2.72 cu yd × 1.50 tons per cu yd, rounded up to 0.01 ton = 4.08 tons

4.08 tons with 10% waste. Volume: 2.72 cu yd.

Pea gravel path: 20 ft × 3 ft × 2 in

  1. Area: 20 ft × 3 ft = 60 sq ft = 5.57 m²
  2. Volume: 60 sq ft × 2 in = 10.0 cu ft = 0.37 cu yd
  3. With 10% waste: 10.0 cu ft + 10% = 11.0 cu ft = 0.41 cu yd
  4. Weight: 0.41 cu yd × 1.35 tons per cu yd, rounded up to 0.01 ton = 0.55 tons

0.55 tons with 10% waste. Volume: 0.41 cu yd.

Trapezoid pad: Base 16 ft, top 10 ft, height 8 ft, depth 4 in

  1. Area: (16 ft + 10 ft) ÷ 2 × 8 ft = 104 sq ft = 9.66 m²
  2. Volume: 104 sq ft × 4 in = 34.7 cu ft = 1.28 cu yd
  3. With 10% waste: 34.7 cu ft + 10% = 38.1 cu ft = 1.41 cu yd
  4. Weight: 1.41 cu yd × 1.35 tons per cu yd, rounded up to 0.01 ton = 1.91 tons

1.91 tons with 10% waste. Volume: 1.41 cu yd.

Tons of gravel by area and depth

Shape and sizeTons neededVolume
Rectangle: 10 ft × 10 ft × 2 in0.92 tons0.68 cu yd
Rectangle: 10 ft × 10 ft × 3 in1.38 tons1.02 cu yd
Rectangle: 10 ft × 10 ft × 4 in1.84 tons1.36 cu yd
Rectangle: 20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in3.67 tons2.72 cu yd
Rectangle: 20 ft × 20 ft × 6 in11.00 tons8.15 cu yd
Circle: 12 ft × 3 in1.56 tons1.15 cu yd

Density used: 1.35 tons per cu yd, the reference value for gravel or crushed stone, loose. Sources give 1.30 to 1.42 tons per cu yd. Weight depends on the rock and how wet it is.

Questions

How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?

It varies. For each material type the note under the density field gives the figures two public tables publish and the value the calculator uses between them. A supplier's own figure for the product you are buying is better than either, and you can type it into the density field.

Why are river rock, decomposed granite and

A material type is offered only when two sources give its density. For river rock and decomposed granite we found one supplier's chart each, and for

Do I enter the loose depth or the compacted depth?

Enter the depth the layer will have when the job is finished. If it will be compacted, choose the compacted base type as well, so the density matches. In the one table we have that lists both states, the same crushed surfacing weighs about a quarter more per cubic yard once compacted than it does loose in the truck.

Does wet gravel weigh more?

Yes. The densities here are for dry material. One of the tables behind them says to add 20% for wet gravel, and gravel is billed by weight on a scale, so a wet load holds less stone per ton. Leave yourself room if the pile has been rained on.

My sand is damp. How do I allow for that?

Choose sand as the material type and tick "Sand is damp". Unticked, sand is counted at its loose, dry weight. Ticked, 20% is added, which is what one public table gives for damp sand. That table says 30% for wet or compacted sand, and the calculator does not apply that. Once you type a density of your own the box switches off, because your figure already describes your sand.

Which ton does the result use?

The US short ton of 2,000 lb, which is how gravel is sold in the United States. With the page set to metric, a second line gives metric tons as well.

Is delivery part of the estimated cost?

No. The estimate is the tons, waste included, times the price per ton you type in. Delivery charges and minimum loads differ between suppliers and are not in any source we use, so add them yourself.

My area is a ring, a trapezoid or an odd shape. Which shape do I pick?

Ring is for a border around a tree trunk or a round feature. Enter the outer and inner diameters, each measured straight across through the centre. Trapezoid is for a area with two parallel sides. Enter both sides and the distance between them, measured at a right angle. If you already know the area in square feet, choose Known area and type it in with the depth. Any other outline can be split into pieces, each added with "Add another area".

Related tools

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Sources

The volume is plain geometry. Density is a reference value. Every material type offered has two public sources, mostly state transportation and mining agencies, with a bagged-gravel data sheet and a supplier's coverage chart for pea gravel and

Methodology and sources

Last reviewed: October 8, 2026