Gravel Calculator

How much gravel to order, in tons, cubic yards and bags, for any rectangle, circle or measured area.

Gravel to order 2.89 tons That's 2.04 cubic yards (55 cu ft) to cover 200 sq ft, including 10% extra.

Volume

Cubic yards: 2.04 cu yd
Cubic feet: 55 cu ft
Weight: 5,775 lb

Area

Area covered: 200 sq ft
Cubic yards before extra: 1.85 cu yd

Bags

Or 50 lb bags (0.5 cu ft): 110 bags

Cost

Estimated cost: –

How much gravel do I need?

Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. To get tons, multiply cubic yards by the gravel's weight, about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for dry gravel. Add about 10% for settling. A 20 × 10 ft area 3 inches deep needs 2.04 cubic yards, or about 2.89 tons.

Worked example: a 20 × 10 ft gravel path, 3 inches deep

Area: 20 ft × 10 ft = 200 sq ft.
Volume: 3 in is 0.25 ft, so 200 × 0.25 = 50 cu ft. Add 10% for settling: 55 cu ft.
Cubic yards: 55 ÷ 27 = 2.04 cu yd.
Tons: dry gravel weighs about 105 lb per cu ft, which is 2,835 lb (1.42 tons) per cubic yard. 2.04 × 1.42 = 2.89 tons, or 5,775 lb.
Bags: a 50 lb bag holds 0.5 cu ft, so 55 ÷ 0.5 = 110 bags. At this size, a bulk delivery is far cheaper and easier.

How far a cubic yard and a ton of gravel go

Area covered by one cubic yard and by one ton of dry gravel (1.42 tons per cubic yard), at common depths. No extra allowance is included.

Depth	1 cubic yard covers	1 ton covers
1 in	324 sq ft	229 sq ft
2 in	162 sq ft	114 sq ft
3 in	108 sq ft	76 sq ft
4 in	81 sq ft	57 sq ft
6 in	54 sq ft	38 sq ft
8 in	40.5 sq ft	29 sq ft

One cubic yard is 27 cu ft, which is 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep. One ton of dry gravel is about 0.71 cubic yards.

Tons or cubic yards: which do you need?

Quarries and landscape yards sell gravel by the ton (weighed on a scale) or by the cubic yard (measured by the bucket). The calculator gives both. To convert, multiply cubic yards by the gravel's weight per yard.

That weight varies. Dense crushed stone weighs more than rounded pea gravel, and wet gravel can weigh about 20% more than dry. Our default is 105 lb per cubic foot for dry gravel. If your supplier gives a tons-per-yard figure for their product, choose "My supplier's figure" and enter it. That is always the most accurate number.

Measuring odd shapes

L-shapes and odd outlines: split the area into rectangles, work out each one, and add them. Then choose "I know the area".
Round beds and tree rings: choose Circle and enter the diameter (the distance straight across).
Curved paths: measure the length along the middle of the path and multiply by the average width.
Depth: measure the finished depth you want after the gravel is raked and tamped, not the depth of the hole.

Bags or bulk delivery

A 50 lb bag holds about 0.5 cu ft, so it takes 54 bags to make one cubic yard. Bags make sense for small jobs like a tree ring, a drainage trench or topping up a path. Once you need more than about half a cubic yard, bulk gravel delivered by the ton or yard usually costs much less, even after the delivery fee.

A cubic yard of dry gravel weighs around 2,800 lb, which is more than many pickup trucks are rated to carry. Check your truck's payload before hauling it yourself.

Before you order

Ask your supplier for their tons-per-yard figure for the exact product, and enter it in the calculator.
Ask about minimum delivery and the delivery fee. Small loads sometimes cost nearly as much to deliver as large ones.
Check access: a dump truck needs firm ground and overhead clearance. Have a spot ready where it can tip.
Round up, not down. A little left over is cheap; a second delivery for half a ton is not.
Driveways need layers. A gravel driveway is usually built from a compacted base of larger crushed stone with a finer top layer. Use the calculator once for each layer, with that layer's depth.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?

About 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) for dry gravel, based on 105 lb per cubic foot. Wet gravel is heavier, about 3,375 lb (1.69 tons) per cubic yard at 125 lb per cubic foot. The exact figure depends on the stone, its size and how much water it holds.

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

About 1.4 tons of dry gravel. To convert any amount, multiply cubic yards by 1.4 (or by your supplier's figure). For example, 5 cubic yards is about 7 tons.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

About 114 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 76 sq ft at 3 inches, and 57 sq ft at 4 inches, for dry gravel at 1.42 tons per cubic yard.

How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?

54 bags of the common 50 lb, 0.5 cu ft size, because a cubic yard is 27 cu ft.

How do I convert cubic yards of gravel to tons?

Multiply cubic yards by the weight per cubic yard in tons. For dry gravel that is about 1.42, so 3 cubic yards × 1.42 = 4.26 tons. To go from tons to cubic yards, divide by the same number.

How deep should gravel be?

It depends on the job. Decorative paths and patios are commonly 2 to 3 inches of finished gravel, while driveways are built thicker, in compacted layers. Less than 2 inches tends to scatter and show the ground through it. Use the depth you plan to finish at, and run the calculator once for each layer.

Guides

Related calculators

Landscape Rock CalculatorTons, cubic yards and bags of river rock or decorative stone for beds.Cubic Yard CalculatorTurn feet, inches or meters into cubic yards, cubic feet, m³ and tons.Sand CalculatorTons, cubic yards and 50 lb bags of sand for pavers, sandboxes and more.Paver CalculatorPavers, base gravel, bedding sand and edging for a patio or driveway.

Sources and method

Engineering ToolBox — densities of dirt, sand, gravel and other materials — gravel, dry 105 lb/ft³; gravel, wet 125 lb/ft³
Quikrete All-Purpose Gravel, 0.5 cu ft / 50 lb (No. 115150) — bag volume

Last checked October 12, 2026. How we build and test every calculator: methodology.