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Gravel Calculator
Your project
Example: a 20 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 inches deep, needs 66.67 cubic feet of gravel — 2.47 cubic yards, about 3.46 tons. Change the size, depth or type above to work out your own project.
Behind the numbers
How gravel is measured
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard, but you measure a driveway in feet and inches. Work out the volume in cubic feet first, divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 tons per cubic yard to get the weight. The 1.4 tons per cubic yard figure is a standard average for dry gravel; wet gravel or heavier stone can weigh a little more, so confirm with your supplier before ordering.
20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.67 cu ft
66.67 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cu yd
2.47 × 1.4 = 3.46 tons
A few comparisons
Worked examples
| Project | Result |
|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft walkway, 3 in deep | 0.93 cu yd · 1.30 tons |
| 20 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep | 2.47 cu yd · 3.46 tons |
| 30 ft × 12 ft driveway, 6 in deep | 6.67 cu yd · 9.33 tons |
| 50 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep | 6.17 cu yd · 8.64 tons |
| 12 ft × 12 ft garden bed, 2 in deep | 0.89 cu yd · 1.24 tons |
Gravel, without the guesswork.
Order 5 to 10% more than the calculator shows. Gravel settles and spreads thinner than you expect, and a short delivery costs more than a little extra stone.
Use 3 inches for walkways and garden beds, 4 inches for a standard driveway, and 6 inches where heavy vehicles park.
One cubic yard covers about 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or about 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep.
For an irregular shape, split it into rectangles, work out each one, and add the volumes together.
Good to know
Your gravel questions, answered.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply the length by the width by the depth in feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. A 20 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 inches deep, needs 66.67 cubic feet — 2.47 cubic yards, about 3.46 tons of gravel.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons. This calculator uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a standard average for dry gravel. Wet gravel and denser stone such as crushed granite can weigh a little more, so confirm the weight with your supplier before ordering.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Four inches is the standard depth for a residential driveway. Walkways and garden beds usually need 2 to 3 inches, while areas where heavy vehicles park should have 6 inches of compacted gravel.
How many cubic yards of gravel fit in a dump truck?
A standard dump truck carries about 10 to 14 cubic yards of gravel, while a smaller truck or trailer usually carries 5 to 7 cubic yards. Check with your supplier, since truck sizes vary.