Last updated October 8, 2026 · Report an error
Ordering the wrong amount of gravel means either an expensive extra delivery or a pile of leftover material — getting the volume and weight right up front avoids both.
This calculator finds the cubic yards and tons of gravel needed for a driveway, path, or landscaping area.
How it works
Enter the length, width, and depth of the area you're covering. The calculator finds the total volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, then converts to tons using a standard density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
- Enter length (ft).
- Enter width (ft).
- Enter depth (inches).
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
A 20×10 ft path
A 20 ft by 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep needs about 2.47 cubic yards of gravel — roughly 3.46 tons.
Who should use it
- Estimating material for a gravel driveway or walking path.
- Planning a landscaping project that uses decorative gravel.
Industry applications
- Landscaping and hardscaping
- Driveway and pathway construction
Advantages
- Converts area and depth directly into both volume and weight.
- Uses a standard, widely-accepted density figure.
Limitations
- Uses one standard density — very heavy or very light gravel types will vary somewhat from the estimate.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to convert depth from inches to feet before calculating volume — this calculator handles that conversion automatically.
- Using a generic weight-per-yard figure without checking whether the specific gravel type is notably heavier or lighter than average.
Best practices
- For a driveway, plan for a compacted sub-base layer in addition to the finished top layer of gravel — this calculator estimates the visible layer, not any base material.
Tips
- Ask your gravel supplier for the specific density of the material you're ordering if precision matters — river rock and crushed stone can differ noticeably from the 1.4 tons/yd³ average.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with no signup and no limit on how many calculations you run.
That's a standard, widely-used approximation for general-purpose gravel — actual density varies somewhat by material type (crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock), but 1.4 is accurate enough for typical estimates.
A typical gravel driveway uses 4-6 inches of depth, sometimes with a compacted base layer beneath the top layer of decorative gravel.
Many contractors add 10% extra to account for compaction settling and uneven ground — consider rounding up, especially for larger orders.