TOOL_06 · Earth & Landscaping
Gravel calculator
Tons, cubic yards, and 50 lb retail bags. Calculated with accurate densities for pea gravel, crushed stone, and river rock.
① Area & material
Weight to order
0.0tons
US Short Tons (1 ton = 2,000 lbs) · 1.4 t/yd³
Volume (bulk)
0.0cu yd
60 cubic feet total volume
50 lb bags (retail)
0bags
If purchasing from big box retail home center
Coverage area
0sq ft
24 ft × 10 ft at 3″ depth
Material Cost Estimator
Estimated Total for Pea Gravel (3/8") (Bulk Delivered)
$192.00
3.2 units × $60.00 per ton
Shopping list — next stepAmazon Hardware & Supplies
Recommended job supplies on Amazon:
How the math works
Volume in cubic feet: Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 12.
Cubic yards: Volume in cubic feet divided by 27, rounded up to the nearest quarter yard (standard quarry scoop).
Tons: Cubic yards multiplied by material density (1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard depending on stone type).
Pro tip: Compaction settling
Crushed stone and base gravel compact by approximately 15% to 20% after mechanical plate tamping or rolling. If you are building a load-bearing driveway base, add 15% to your order.
Frequently asked questions
- How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
- On average, one cubic yard of gravel weighs approximately 1.4 US short tons (2,800 lbs). The exact weight depends on rock type and compaction: dense crushed stone #57 weighs about 1.45 tons/yd³, river rock weighs around 1.35 tons/yd³, and dense graded base (crusher run with stone dust) weighs up to 1.5 tons/yd³.
- How deep should gravel be for driveways and walkways?
- For pedestrian walkways and patio bases, 2 to 3 inches of gravel is ideal. For standard residential driveways, plan on 4 inches of surface gravel over a 4 to 6-inch compacted crushed stone base to support vehicle weight without rutting.
- Should I buy gravel in 50 lb bags or bulk delivery by the ton?
- Under about half a ton (20 bags of 50 lb) bagged gravel is the practical call — you can carry it and you don't need to schedule a delivery. Past roughly a ton (40 bags) bulk takes over, because a landscape yard or quarry sells you one truckload instead of forty individual bags, and it removes the same number of bag lifts between the driveway and the hole. Have the delivered total quoted on your exact yardage rather than comparing a shelf price per bag against a rate per ton; the calculator returns tons and the matching 50 lb bag count from the same volume, so you can compare like for like.
- Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
- Yes. High-quality non-woven geotextile landscape fabric prevents the gravel from sinking into the subsoil over time, prevents mud from bubbling up, and stops stubborn weeds from taking root from beneath.