About the Gravel Calculator
This gravel calculator estimates how much loose stone you need for a path, driveway, patio base or drainage trench. Enter the length, width and depth, and it gives the volume in cubic yards or cubic metres and the weight in tons or tonnes, using a density you can adjust to match your material. It adds a percentage for settling and waste, and if you enter a price per ton or tonne it works out the cost. You can switch between feet and inches and metres and centimetres.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Gravel Calculator
- 1Choose imperial (feet, inches, tons) or metric (metres, centimetres, tonnes).
- 2Enter the length, width and depth of the area.
- 3Check the material weight; change it if your supplier gives a different figure.
- 4Add an allowance for settling and waste, 10 percent is typical.
- 5Add a price per ton or tonne if you want a cost, then read the amount to order.
From area to order quantity
Suppliers sell gravel by weight or by volume depending on where you are, and you need to speak their language when you order. This calculator shows both so you can ask for either. Weight is what a truck is loaded to, while volume is what you can picture spread over the area. The conversion between them is the density.
Typical depths
- Garden path: 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) over a base
- Patio or shed base: 4 inches (10 cm) compacted
- Driveway: 6 inches (15 cm) or more in layers
- Drainage trench: depends on the pipe and design
- Decorative cover: 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm)
Preparing the ground
Gravel works best over a firm, level surface with a weed membrane where needed. Edging keeps it from spreading. Compact the base in layers, and allow for the depth of the compacted layer rather than the loose depth. This calculator treats the depth you enter as the finished thickness, so enter what you want the finished layer to be.
Related tools
Size concrete with the Concrete Calculator, plan beds with the Mulch Calculator, and measure odd shapes with the Area Calculator and Volume Calculator. The Unit Converter handles pounds, tons and tonnes, and the Tile Calculator helps if part of your project is a hard-surface patio.
Features
- Volume in cubic yards or cubic metres
- Weight in tons or tonnes from an adjustable density
- Extra allowance for settling and waste
- Optional cost from your price per ton or tonne
- Imperial and metric units
- Also shows cubic metres for imperial jobs
- Currency symbol picker
- Runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply length by width by depth to get the volume. In feet and inches, divide inches by 12 and the total cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply by the material's weight per cubic yard to get tons. For a 20 by 10 foot area 4 inches deep that is about 2.5 cubic yards, or around 3.5 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
It depends on the stone and on how wet it is. Common gravel and crushed stone weigh roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, which is 2,600 to 3,000 pounds. Sand and fine materials differ. Ask your supplier for the figure for the product you are buying and enter it in the calculator.
How deep should a gravel path or driveway be?
Garden paths are often 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) on top of a prepared base. Driveways typically use a compacted base layer plus a top layer, in total 6 inches (15 cm) or more depending on traffic and soil. Follow your local advice or a contractor's recommendation.
Why add extra to the quantity?
Loose gravel compacts when you rake and walk or drive on it, and some is lost at edges. Ten percent extra is common. If you will spread a thick layer over soft ground, a bit more may be sensible.
Tons or tonnes: what is the difference?
A US ton is 2,000 pounds, about 907 kilograms. A metric tonne is 1,000 kilograms. The imperial mode uses US tons and the metric mode uses tonnes, so make sure you are comparing the same unit when you read a supplier's quote.
Can I use it for sand or crushed rock?
Yes, as long as you set the weight per cubic yard or cubic metre for that material. The volume figure is the same for any loose material, and only the weight depends on density.