How to use the gravel calculator calculator
- 1
Pick a shape
Choose the shape that matches your project: rectangle, square, circle, triangle, trapezoid, a border, or a known area. Add a section for each separate area.
- 2
Enter the measurements
Type the dimensions in the unit you select. For a known area, enter the square footage directly.
- 3
Set the gravel depth
Enter how deep the gravel layer will be and choose the depth unit. Driveway and base layers are usually entered in inches.
- 4
Add density for tons
To estimate weight, enter a density in pounds per cubic foot from your supplier or material specification. There is no universal gravel density.
- 5
Review the result
Read the cubic yards, optional weight, and optional cost. Confirm available order increments, material specification, and final weight requirements with your supplier.
Formula
Cubic yards = square feet x depth (in) / 324
The number 324 is 27 cubic feet per cubic yard times 12 inches per foot. To estimate weight, pounds equals cubic yards times 27 times the density in pounds per cubic foot, and US short tons is pounds divided by 2,000.
Worked example
A rectangular gravel driveway measures 30 feet by 12 feet and will be 4 inches deep.
- 1Find the area: 30 x 12 = 360 square feet.
- 2Apply the formula: 360 x 4 / 324 = 4.44 cubic yards.
- 3In cubic feet that is 360 x (4 / 12) = 120 cubic feet.
- 4Round up for ordering and confirm increments with your supplier.
The driveway needs about 4.44 cubic yards, or roughly 120 cubic feet of gravel.
Worked examples
Circular landscaping section
A 10 foot diameter gravel circle, 3 inches deep.
- 1Circle area = 3.14159 x (10 / 2)^2 = 78.54 square feet.
- 278.54 x 3 / 324 = 0.73 cubic yards.
- 3In cubic feet: 78.54 x 0.25 = 19.63 cubic feet.
About 0.73 cubic yards, or roughly 19.6 cubic feet.
Drainage trench
A trench 40 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, filled 8 inches deep.
- 1Area = 40 x 1.5 = 60 square feet.
- 260 x 8 / 324 = 1.48 cubic yards.
- 3In cubic feet: 60 x (8 / 12) = 40 cubic feet.
The trench needs about 1.48 cubic yards of drainage gravel.
Two-section project
A 200 square foot pad and a 120 square foot path, both 3 inches deep.
- 1Total area = 200 + 120 = 320 square feet.
- 2320 x 3 / 324 = 2.96 cubic yards.
- 3Add the sections before converting, not after rounding each.
The two sections together need about 2.96 cubic yards.
Mathematical example using a user-entered density
Converting 4.44 cubic yards to tons using a hypothetical 100 lb/ft³ density.
- 1Pounds = 4.44 x 27 x 100 = 11,988 pounds.
- 2US short tons = 11,988 / 2,000 = 5.99 tons.
- 3Metric tonnes = 11,988 x 0.00045359237 = 5.44 t.
At a user-entered 100 lb/ft³, 4.44 cubic yards is about 5.99 US short tons. This is a math example, not a universal gravel density.
How gravel volume is calculated
Gravel is sold by volume, so length and width alone are not enough. You also need a depth, because volume is area multiplied by thickness. The calculator finds the area of each shape, multiplies by the depth, and adds the sections together.
Once you have cubic feet, dividing by 27 gives cubic yards, the unit most suppliers use for bulk gravel. You can also work from square feet and inches directly by dividing area times depth in inches by 324, since 27 times 12 is 324.
How gravel weight is estimated
Weight is a separate step from volume. To estimate tons, the calculator multiplies the cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, multiplies by the density in pounds per cubic foot, and divides by 2,000 for US short tons. Metric tonnes use the factor 0.00045359237 per pound.
Because no single density fits all gravel, the calculator uses a density you enter rather than a built-in value. Use the figure from your supplier or material specification.
Why density changes tonnage
Two loads with the same volume can weigh different amounts. Material weight can vary with material type, particle size, moisture, compaction, supplier specifications, and loading conditions, so the tonnage for a given cubic yardage shifts with the density.
This is why YardCalc keeps volume and weight separate. The cubic yards are exact from your measurements, while the tons depend entirely on the density you provide. When weight matters for delivery or a spreadsheet, confirm the density with your supplier.
Gravel for driveways, paths, drainage, and landscaping
The same volume method works across common gravel projects:
- Driveways and parking pads, often built in layers
- Walkways and garden paths
- Drainage trenches and French drains
- Paver and slab base layers
- Decorative beds with pea gravel or river rock
- Backfill and pipe bedding to a specified depth
Multiple areas and irregular projects
For projects that are not one tidy rectangle:
- 1Add a section for each separate area.
- 2Pick the shape that best matches each one.
- 3Use the quantity field when several areas are identical.
- 4Split an irregular area into rectangles, circles, and triangles, then add the sections.
Waste, compaction, and settling
Gravel compacts and settles, and some is lost to spillage and uneven ground. A waste allowance adds a margin so you do not run short. The calculator lets you set your own percentage rather than forcing one value, because the right amount depends on the material and the site.
Keep the unrounded figure while planning and round up only when you order. Compaction in particular can change how much loose material you need, so confirm the final amount with your supplier.
Gravel cost estimate
Gravel cost depends on the prices you are quoted, so the calculator never assumes a price. Enter a price per cubic yard, plus any delivery and fixed fees, to see a material subtotal and an estimated total.
Prices vary by region, season, supplier, and material, so treat the estimate as a planning figure. To convert a supplier ton quote into volume, the cubic yards to tons and tons to cubic yards tools use a density you enter.
Common mistakes
A few errors cause most wrong gravel estimates:
- Leaving out depth and treating square feet as a volume
- Assuming all gravel weighs the same instead of using a real density
- Mixing units, such as feet for width and a different system for depth
- Adding rounded per-section figures instead of summing areas first
- Confusing loose and compacted volume
- Treating a calculator result as a final supplier order quantity
Gravel Volume from Square Feet and Depth
Cubic yards needed for each area and depth. Read your area on the left and depth across the top. Every value is square feet times depth in inches divided by 324.
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in | 8 in | 12 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.309 | 0.463 | 0.617 | 0.926 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 100 sq ft | 0.617 | 0.926 | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.7 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.7 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
| 300 sq ft | 1.85 | 2.78 | 3.7 | 5.56 | 7.41 | 11.11 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
| 750 sq ft | 4.63 | 6.94 | 9.26 | 13.89 | 18.52 | 27.78 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 | 24.69 | 37.04 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 9.26 | 13.89 | 18.52 | 27.78 | 37.04 | 55.56 |
Cubic Yards to Coverage by Depth
Square feet that each cubic-yard amount covers at common depths, from cubic yards times 324 divided by depth in inches.
| Cubic yards | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in | 8 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 81 sq ft | 54 sq ft | 40.5 sq ft | 27 sq ft | 20.25 sq ft |
| 1 | 162 sq ft | 108 sq ft | 81 sq ft | 54 sq ft | 40.5 sq ft |
| 2 | 324 sq ft | 216 sq ft | 162 sq ft | 108 sq ft | 81 sq ft |
| 3 | 486 sq ft | 324 sq ft | 243 sq ft | 162 sq ft | 121.5 sq ft |
| 5 | 810 sq ft | 540 sq ft | 405 sq ft | 270 sq ft | 202.5 sq ft |
| 10 | 1,620 sq ft | 1,080 sq ft | 810 sq ft | 540 sq ft | 405 sq ft |
Density Mathematics by Entered Density
Mathematical examples by entered density. These are not material recommendations. Each row shows pounds, US short tons, and metric tonnes for one cubic yard at that density.
| Entered density (lb/ft³) | Pounds per cubic yard | US short tons per cubic yard | Metric tonnes per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1,350 | 0.675 | 0.612 |
| 75 | 2,025 | 1.01 | 0.919 |
| 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1.22 |
| 125 | 3,375 | 1.69 | 1.53 |
| 150 | 4,050 | 2.03 | 1.84 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much gravel do I need?
- Measure each area, multiply by the gravel depth, and divide square feet times depth in inches by 324 to get cubic yards. The calculator does this for one or many sections.
- How do I convert gravel cubic yards to tons?
- Multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, multiply by the density in pounds per cubic foot, then divide by 2,000 for US short tons. The density is not universal, so use your supplier's figure.
- How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
- It depends on the gravel and its moisture and compaction, so there is no single answer. Enter a density from your supplier to estimate the weight of a cubic yard.
- How many square feet does a yard of gravel cover?
- It depends on depth. One cubic yard covers about 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches, and 81 square feet at 4 inches.
- How deep should gravel be?
- Depth depends on the project and the specification, so there is no universal value. Use your project plan or local guidance, then enter that depth in the calculator.
- Does the calculator account for compaction?
- It calculates the geometric volume from your measurements. Compaction and settling vary, so add a waste allowance and confirm the loose volume to order with your supplier.
- Can I estimate gravel cost?
- Yes. Enter your own price per cubic yard plus any delivery and fixed fees. The calculator uses only the prices you provide.
- Is a calculator result a final order amount?
- No. Treat it as a planning estimate. Confirm available order increments, material specification, and final weight requirements with your supplier.
Gravel volume uses the exact factors of 27 cubic feet per cubic yard and 324 square feet per cubic yard inch. Weight uses your entered density with pounds divided by 2,000 for US short tons and 0.00045359237 per pound for metric tonnes. Density tables are mathematical examples, not material specifications. Cost uses only prices you enter. See the YardCalc calculation methodology.
Results are planning estimates. Last reviewed 2026-06-25.