Gravel Calculator
Estimate the amount of gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel, or river rock needed for driveways, pathways, and drainage in cubic yards, tons, and retail bags.
Calculation Results
Total cubic yards required for bulk delivery ordering.
Total volume in cubic feet.
Total weight of aggregate in short tons (2,000 lbs).
Number of standard 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) bags if buying at retail store.
Standard commercial 15-ton tri-axle dump truckloads.
Estimated material cost based on entered per-ton price.
How This Calculator Works
Follow these contractor steps to calculate your gravel order:
- Enter Dimensions: Input length and width of the driveway, pathway, or patio base.
- Specify Depth: 2 to 3 inches is standard for garden paths and top dressing; 4 to 6 inches is required for car driveways.
- Select Gravel Aggregate: Choose #57 crushed limestone, crusher run base, pea gravel, or decorative river rock.
- Review Delivery Takeoff: Get exact cubic yards, weight in tons, dump truckloads, and cost estimates.
Formula & Calculations
Gravel requirements are calculated by converting volumetric coverage to weight based on specific mineral density:
1. Volume Calculation
Volume (cu ft) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
Cubic Yards = Volume (cu ft) / 27
2. Weight Tonnage Formula
Aggregate quarries sell crushed stone by the ton (2,000 lbs). Weight depends on particle size and compaction:
Tons = (Cubic Feet × Density lbs/cu ft) / 2,000
- Crushed Stone #57: ~100 lbs/cu ft (1.35 tons per cubic yard)
- Crusher Run / Base with Fines: ~111 lbs/cu ft (1.50 tons per cubic yard)
- Pea Gravel: ~104 lbs/cu ft (1.40 tons per cubic yard)
- River Rock: ~96 lbs/cu ft (1.30 tons per cubic yard)
3. Compaction and Subgrade Press Loss
When gravel is spread over soft ground or tamped with a plate compactor, loose stones press into the subgrade, causing a 10% to 15% loss in depth. Adding a 10% waste buffer prevents running short.
Step-by-Step Calculation Examples
Residential Driveway Top Layer (25ft x 10ft x 3in)
Spreading #57 crushed stone over an existing driveway with a 10% compaction allowance.
- length: 25
- width: 10
- depth: 3
- gravel_type: 100
- waste: 10
- cost_per_ton: 45
- volume: 2.55 cu yd
- volume_cuft: 68.8 cu ft
- weight: 3.44 tons
- bags_50lb: 138
- dump_trucks: 1
- total_cost: $154.69
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick should gravel be for a residential driveway?
A new gravel driveway should be 4 to 6 inches thick, constructed in two distinct layers: a 4-inch base layer of dense grade aggregate (crusher run with stone dust) compacted solidly, capped with a 2-inch top dressing layer of #57 crushed stone for drainage.
How many square feet does 1 ton of gravel cover?
At a 2-inch depth, 1 ton of standard crushed stone covers approximately 90 to 100 square feet. At a 3-inch depth, it covers about 65 to 70 square feet. At a 4-inch depth, it covers roughly 45 to 50 square feet.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
On average, one cubic yard of gravel weighs between 1.35 and 1.50 tons (2,700 to 3,000 lbs). Finer, compactable aggregates with stone dust (like crusher run) are denser and weigh close to 1.5 tons per yard.
What is #57 stone?
#57 stone refers to crushed aggregate that has been mechanically screened to uniform sizes ranging from 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Because it has no fine dust, water drains through it freely, making it the top choice for driveways, RV pads, and French drains.
How many tons can a standard dump truck carry?
A standard tandem-axle dump truck carries approximately 10 to 12 tons (7 to 9 cubic yards), while a large tri-axle commercial dump truck carries up to 15 to 20 tons (10 to 14 cubic yards) of crushed rock.
Should I install landscape fabric under my gravel driveway?
Yes. Laying a heavy-duty woven geotextile fabric beneath the gravel base prevents the stones from sinking into the soft dirt subgrade under vehicle tire loads, doubling the lifespan of the driveway.