Tons
8.3
Gravel Calculator
How much gravel you need for a driveway, path, base or drain — in cubic yards and in tons.
Across the circle, not the radius.
A driveway top layer is usually 3 to 4 in. A path, 2 in.
Typical figure for the material above. Your yard's own number beats it — ask them and type it here.
5.93 cubic yards
About 8.3 tons. Most yards sell by the ton.
Cubic feet
160.0
Estimated cost
—
Area covered
480 ft²
Tons are an estimate, always. Gravel is sold by weight, and the
weight of a cubic yard changes with the stone, the size, and how wet it is. The
figures here are typical, not exact. Ring your supplier, ask what a yard of their
material weighs, and type that number in — the answer above will update.
How this is worked out
Two steps. Volume first, weight second.
Volume
Rectangle: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) = cubic feet
Circle: 3.14159 × radius (ft)² × depth (ft) = cubic feet
Then cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
Weight
cubic yards × tons per cubic yard = tons
That second number is the one that varies. It is why two calculators can give you different answers for the same driveway and both be reasonable.
Worked example — a 40 ft × 12 ft driveway, 4 in deep
- Depth in feet:
4 ÷ 12 = 0.3333 ft - Volume:
40 × 12 × 0.3333 = 160 cubic feet - In yards:
160 ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards - In tons, at 1.4 tons per yard:
5.93 × 1.4 = 8.3 tons
Typical weights per cubic yard
| Material | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone (#57) | about 1.4 |
| Pea gravel | about 1.35 |
| Crusher run / road base | about 1.5 |
| River rock | about 1.35 |
| Sand | about 1.35 |
| Decomposed granite | about 1.5 |
These are the figures the calculator uses. Treat them as a starting point. Wet material weighs more, and crusher run with a lot of fines packs heavier than clean stone.
Questions people ask
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A new driveway is usually built in layers: a 4 inch base of larger crusher run, then a 3 to 4 inch top layer of #57 or similar. That is 7 to 8 inches in total, and you work each layer out separately. Topping up an existing driveway is normally 2 to 3 inches.
Should I order by the yard or by the ton?
Most yards sell by the ton and deliver by truck. Order by the ton and use the yard figure only to check the volume looks right. If your supplier quotes by the yard, use the cubic yards number directly and ignore the tons.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, roughly 100 square feet per ton. At 3 inches, about 70. At 4 inches, about 50. Those follow from the same maths as above and shift with the material's weight.
Do I need to add extra for settling?
Gravel compacts, especially crusher run with fines in it. If it is going to be rolled or driven on, order about 10% more than the bare volume. The calculator gives you the finished volume, so add that yourself when you order.
What about a French drain or trench?
Same maths. Measure the trench length, width and depth, use the rectangle option, and subtract the space the pipe takes up if it is a large one. Clean washed stone is normal for drainage — never crusher run, because the fines clog it.