Gravel Calculator
Cubic yards, tons, and bags for any drive or bed.
Gravel Calculator
Volume (cu yd) = Area × (Depth in / 12) / 27; Weight = Volume × density
Calculated instantly
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What This Calculator Does
The Gravel Calculator converts a coverage area and depth into cubic yards, tons, and bags. It handles driveways, paths, drainage beds, and decorative borders, where the supplier may quote in any of those three units.
How It Works
Depth in inches is converted to feet and multiplied by area for cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. Multiplying volume by bulk density gives weight in tons, and dividing cubic feet by bag volume gives the bag count.
Example
A 300 sq ft path at 3 inches deep needs 75 cubic feet, or 2.78 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is 3.89 tons, or 150 bags at 0.5 cubic feet each.
Formula
Cubic yards = Area (sq ft) × (Depth in / 12) / 27Tons = Cubic yards × bulk density (tons/cu yd)Bags = ceil(Cubic feet / bag volume)Reading the Results
Volume
Loose volume in cubic yards, the unit bulk suppliers use for delivery.
Weight
Tonnage at your chosen bulk density. Use the supplier’s density if they quote one, because moisture and stone size change it.
Bags needed
Sealed bags to buy when a bulk delivery is impractical. Bag counts are rounded up.
Sources and References
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) — aggregate specifications
Aggregate gradation and compacted density
Bulk density varies with gradation, moisture, and compaction; the supplier’s figure is authoritative.
References identify the method or data behind this calculator. Where a standard or tariff changes, the current edition applies, and the assumptions stated above take precedence over a remembered figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.35–1.5 tons for crushed stone, depending on the gradation and moisture. This calculator defaults to 1.4 tons per cubic yard; ask your supplier for the exact figure.
How deep should gravel be?
A decorative path needs about 2 inches, a footpath 3–4 inches, and a driveway 6–12 inches of compacted base depending on traffic and subsoil. Drainage beds are sized by water volume, not just area.
Should I buy bags or bulk?
Bulk is usually cheaper above roughly 2 cubic yards (about 54 bags at 1 cu ft). Bags make sense for small repairs and for carrying in a car.
Does the calculator account for compaction?
No. It returns loose volume. Compacted base courses and gravel that will be vibrated need 10–20% more material, so order at the upper end of your waste allowance.