Gravel Calculator
Cubic yards and tons, at the density you were quoted.
Work out Gravel. Cubic yards and tons, at the density you were quoted. Shows the volume in every unit a yard might quote in.
Dry pea gravel is near 1.25, crushed limestone nearer 1.5. Ask the quarry.
Leave at zero for a bulk order.
Density varies with material, stone size and how wet it is, and you are charged for what crosses the weighbridge. Use the supplier's own figure rather than a general one — it moves the tonnage proportionally.
Cubic yards needed
1.85
2.59 tons · 50.0 cu ft
That is 1.85 cubic yards, or about 2.59 tons at the density entered. Aggregate settles under its own weight and under traffic, so a driveway ordered to exact volume looks thin once it has been driven on — a small extra allowance is normal rather than cautious.
How the Gravel Calculator works
Gravel is ordered by volume and delivered by weight, so the conversion between them is where the mistake happens. That conversion is density, and it is not one number: dry pea gravel runs near 1.25 tons per cubic yard, crushed limestone nearer 1.5, and wet material heavier still. This asks for the figure rather than assuming one, because the supplier knows it and a wrong guess arrives as a second delivery.
Also known as: how much gravel do I need · crushed stone calculator · aggregate calculator · gravel calculator tons
The calculation itself
Area in square feet times depth in inches, divided by twelve, gives cubic feet. Divide by twenty-seven for cubic yards — that conversion is exact, since a yard is three feet and volume scales with the cube.
Multiply cubic yards by the density in tons per cubic yard for the weight, which is what the supplier will quote and charge against.
The depth is asked for in inches deliberately. That is how aggregate depth is specified, and converting it in your head is where the factor-of-twelve errors come from.
In practice
200 square feet at three inches deep is 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is 2.59 tons.
Change only the density — to 1.25 for dry pea gravel, or 1.5 for crushed limestone — and the tonnage moves to 2.31 or 2.78 for the identical hole. That spread is why the density is an input rather than a constant.
Depth drives everything. Doubling from three inches to six doubles the order, so settling the depth before measuring anything is the useful first step: two to three inches suits a decorative bed, four or more a driveway over a compacted base.
Why the delivery weighs more than you calculated
Moisture, almost always. Aggregate stored outdoors after rain can be noticeably heavier than the dry density quoted, and the weighbridge charges for water.
Stone size matters too. Larger stone packs with more void space, so it weighs less per cubic yard than a well-graded crushed material that fills its own gaps.
The practical answer is to order by volume where you can, and to treat any tonnage figure as conditional on the material actually delivered.
Acting on it
Ask the quarry for the density of the specific product rather than using a general figure. They know it and it is the input that moves the answer most.
Add a little for compaction. Aggregate settles under its own weight and under traffic, so a drive ordered to exact volume looks thin once it has been driven on.
Check access before ordering by the ton. A delivery that cannot reach the site becomes a second handling job, which usually costs more than the material.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?
Area in square feet times depth in inches, divided by twelve for cubic feet, then by twenty-seven for cubic yards. Multiply by the density in tons per cubic yard for the weight the supplier will quote.
How deep should gravel be?
Commonly two to three inches for a decorative bed and four or more for a driveway, often over a compacted base. Depth drives the whole order, so it is worth settling before measuring anything.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
Usually between 1.25 and 1.5, depending on stone size, type and moisture. It varies enough that it is an input here — ask the quarry rather than trusting a general figure.
Why does my delivery weigh more than I calculated?
Almost always moisture. Aggregate stored outdoors after rain can be noticeably heavier than the dry density quoted, and you are charged for what crosses the weighbridge.
Should I add waste?
A little, for compaction and for spreading losses. Aggregate settles under its own weight and under traffic, so a driveway ordered to exact volume will look thin once it has been driven on.
Put this calculator on your own site
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