Measure to Order

Gravel Calculator

Enter the project dimensions to estimate cubic yards, tons, bags and delivered cost.

View estimate
PROJECT SETUP

Tell us what you're planning

What to measureMeasure length, width and finished gravel depth for the area you are editing.
Rectangle
Diagram is a measurement guide, not an installation detail.
1 · MEASURE

Project areas

Add separate sections instead of forcing the project into one rectangle.

Material assumptionsUsing editable defaults — review before ordering
2 · MATERIAL ASSUMPTIONS

Use your supplier's numbers when you have them

Preset density is a planning value, not a product specification. Moisture, grading and compaction change actual weight.

Supplier & pricingUsing editable defaults — review before ordering
3 · SUPPLIER & BUYING

Turn the math into an order

Bagged gravel & hauling options

Payload output is only a theoretical minimum trip count. Use the vehicle's actual payload rating and account for passengers, tools, tongue weight and other cargo. Never exceed the manufacturer's rating.

GRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

How much gravel do I need?

For a rectangular area, cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. For round areas, use the circle option; for triangular sections, use base × height ÷ 2; and for irregular sections, enter a known square-foot area or split the project into multiple simple sections.

Worked example: a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 3 in deep is 50 cubic feet, or about 1.85 cubic yards. The planner then keeps density, extra material, compaction, minimum loads and sales increments visible so you can turn that geometry into an order quantity.

Use the gravel calculator with your measurements

Gravel tons to cubic yardsTons and cubic yards measure different things, so density connects them. Divide tons by tons per cubic yard to estimate volume. Example: 4 tons at 1.5 tons/yd³ is about 2.67 yd³. Reverse the calculation by multiplying yards by the same density.
Why supplier density mattersStone type, gradation and moisture can change weight per cubic yard. Use the supplier's product-specific density or yield when available instead of treating a generic conversion as exact.
Check gravel supplier quotesA low unit price can be misleading once quantity, minimum loads, order increments, delivery, fees and tax are included. Use Check my quote to compare the supplier quantity with the same project requirement and optionally add a second quote.
CHOOSE THE MATERIAL

Not sure which gravel to ask for?

Start with the job the material needs to do, then confirm the exact local product with the supplier. Names and gradations vary by quarry and region, so the options below are useful starting points rather than universal specifications.

Plan the quantity once you know the material

Driveway or structural baseCrusher run, road base and similar graded aggregates include fines that help the layer compact. Confirm the supplier's gradation and whether it is intended for base use.
DrainageClean, washed angular stone such as a locally supplied #57-type product is commonly used where open voids are needed for water movement. For a drainage project, use the French drain calculator for the full material takeoff.
Surface or walkwayCrushed stone, decomposed granite, pea gravel and river rock behave differently under foot traffic. Compare drainage, compaction, edge containment and the finish you want before choosing by appearance alone.
Patio or shed baseBase layers and decorative surface stone are different jobs. If the project supports pavers or a shed, calculate the whole assembly rather than treating every layer as the same gravel. See the paver calculator or shed gravel pad calculator.
BEFORE YOU ORDER

Make the supplier quote order-ready.

The tonnage is only part of a bulk-material order. A useful quote should make the product, delivery assumptions and purchase rules clear enough that you can compare suppliers on the same basis.

Check a supplier quote

Confirm the exact productAsk for the material name, size or gradation and the supplier's density or yield if available. Local names can describe materially different products.
Confirm how it is soldVerify whether the quote is per ton or per cubic yard, the minimum load, the order increment and any short-load or other fees.
Confirm the delivered totalSeparate material price, delivery, tax and other charges so two quotes can be normalized instead of comparing headline unit prices.
Confirm delivery accessAsk about truck access, safe dump location, overhead and width restrictions, surface limits, whether spreading is included, and what happens if the driver cannot safely reach the requested spot.
Confirm scheduling termsCheck the delivery window, call-ahead process, rescheduling or cancellation rules, and whether someone must be present.
METHOD & LIMITS

What the result means

Why does the recommended order exceed the exact tonnage?

The planner can apply extra material, a compaction allowance, a supplier minimum and the supplier's sales increment. The result shows the exact planning quantity separately from the order quantity so you can see what changed.

Why is gravel density editable?

Bulk density varies with stone type, gradation, moisture and supplier. Presets are planning values only. A supplier-provided density or yield should take priority.

Does the planner tell me the correct construction depth?

No. Project-type depths are editable starting points for planning, not structural or code recommendations. Base preparation, drainage, soil, traffic and local requirements can change the appropriate section.

Does the price include tax, labor or equipment?

No. Cost output uses only the prices and fees you enter. Tax, equipment, labor, geotextile, edging, excavation and disposal are not included unless you add them outside this planner.

How does quote checking handle different units?

The planner converts per-ton and per-cubic-yard quotes through the same editable material density. It checks the quoted quantity against the project requirement, then shows the entered delivered cost. A second quote can be compared once both quotes cover the calculated need.

How this estimate is calculatedFormula, rounding and example

How the gravel estimate is built

  1. 1Convert each measured area and depth into cubic volume, then combine the project sections.
  2. 2Apply the editable extra-material and compaction allowances before converting volume to weight with the selected density.
  3. 3Apply the supplier minimum and sales increment last so the recommendation reflects a quantity you can actually order.
Example project

Uses a 50 × 12 ft area at 4 in deep, 1.5 tons per cubic yard density, 5% extra material, 10% compaction allowance, a 3-ton minimum and 0.5-ton sales increments. It produces about 12.9 tons of calculated need and a 13-ton rounded order.

Use your own measurements and verify product coverage, local requirements and supplier terms before ordering.

Common gravel calculator questions

How do I calculate cubic yards of gravel?

Multiply area in square feet by depth in feet, then divide cubic feet by 27. In compact form: square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Apply any extra-material or compaction allowance after the base volume is known.

How much area does one cubic yard of gravel cover?

One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, or 81 sq ft at 4 inches.

How do I convert gravel yards to tons?

Multiply cubic yards by the bulk density in tons per cubic yard. Density varies by material, gradation and moisture, so a supplier value should replace a planning preset when available.

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