Landscape & Groundwork
Gravel Calculator
Find the cubic yards, tons and material cost for your gravel project.
Enter your measurements
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
Works for gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel and river rock. Enter dimensions, an area with depth, or a known volume; add an optional order allowance and your supplier's bulk density to see the weight in US short tons, metric tonnes and kilograms.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the area and the depth of gravel you want.
- Choose an extra order allowance if your project needs one. It increases the order volume once and does not model compaction.
- Check the editable supplier-example density for weight, or clear it for volume only.
- Compare the net volume with the order volume before buying.
Formula
Net volume = length × width × depth (or area × depth, or entered volume)
Order volume = net volume × (1 + allowance ÷ 100)
Weight = order volume × supplier density — only when density is supplied
Assumptions
- The allowance is additional order volume, applied exactly once; it is not a geotechnical compaction or settlement model.
- US short ton (2000 lb), metric tonne (1000 kg) and imperial units are never mixed silently.
- The editable density is a named supplier example. Grading, moisture and compaction can change the weight.
Volume reference: 100 ft² of level area
| Depth | Volume before allowance |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.309 yd³ |
| 2 in | 0.617 yd³ |
| 3 in | 0.926 yd³ |
| 4 in | 1.235 yd³ |
Computed as area × depth ÷ 27 with depth in feet. Values are rounded for reference.
Common mistakes
- Mixing depth in inches with area in square feet before converting units.
- Using a loose or dry supplier density for a different compacted or wet material.
- Applying extra order volume twice, or treating it as a compaction model.
Worked example
Try it: press “Load example” above the form.
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Limitations
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
The editable supplier example is 1.4 US short tons per cubic yard. That is not a universal material property. Moisture, grading and compaction affect weight; use the value on your supplier quote. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg, while a US short ton is 2,000 lb.
How much gravel covers a 12 by 9 ft path at 3 in?
The volume is 12 × 9 × (3/12) = 27 ft³, exactly 1 yd³ before any allowance. At the example density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, the estimated weight is 1.4 US short tons.
What does the worked example show?
12 ft × 9 ft × 3 in is exactly 1 yd³. At the illustrative density of 1.4 US short ton/yd³, weight is 1.4 US short tons before any allowance.
Which assumptions should I check before using the result?
Quantities are geometric planning estimates. Confirm the material, dry/loose or compacted basis, delivery minimum and density with your own supplier. The allowance is extra volume, not a compaction model.
Sources
Sources explain the methods and any named product presets. Check your product label where coverage, yield or density differs.
- Inch Calculator: Gravel
- NIST: Revised Unit Conversion Factors
- Triangle Landscape Supplies: dry bulk weights
Named supplier examples: rock 2,800 lb/yd³, sand 2,500 lb/yd³, soil 2,000–2,600 lb/yd³. These do not specify every material. Checked 8 November 2026.
Calculation documentation · Updated 2026-11-11 · Version 1.6.4. Estimates are planning aids. Confirm quantities, coverage and prices with your supplier before purchasing. Found an error? Report it.
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