Gravel Calculator
Calculate tons and cubic yards of gravel, crushed stone, or road base for a driveway or project area.
Your details
Material & cost
This calculator runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or sold. How this works
Material needed
13.20 tons
9.78 cubic yards covering 720 ft² at 4.0 inches deep
Includes your inputs, the full breakdown, and every row of the table.
Cubic yards
9.78
Coverage area
720 ft²
Estimated cost
$714
Including $120 delivery
Dump truck loads
1
At ~20 tons per load
- Volume
- 240.0 ft³
- Cubic yards (with waste)
- 9.78
- Density (1.35 t/yd³)
- 13.20 tons
- Material cost
- $594
- Delivery
- $120
- Total
- $714
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 2" | 4.89 | 6.60 |
| 3" | 7.33 | 9.90 |
| 4" | 9.78 | 13.20 |
| 6" | 14.67 | 19.80 |
| 8" | 19.56 | 26.40 |
What this means
- A new gravel driveway typically needs 4 inches of road base topped with 2-3 inches of surface stone. A refresh over existing gravel only needs 2 inches.
- Suppliers sell by the ton but quote coverage by the yard. One cubic yard of crushed stone covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
How the gravel calculation works
Gravel is priced by the ton and measured by the cubic yard, so every order requires a density conversion. Crushed stone runs about 1.35 tons per cubic yard; lighter materials like topsoil and mulch weigh considerably less for the same volume.
Depth drives the whole calculation, and it is where people under-order. Two inches looks like plenty spread on the ground and disappears the first time a vehicle drives over it. For driveways, build a base layer of angular crusher run that locks together, then top with decorative stone.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
About 160 square feet at 2 inches, 100 square feet at 3 inches, or 80 square feet at 4 inches deep.
What gravel is best for a driveway?
Crusher run or road base for the sub-layer because the angular fines compact into a solid surface, topped with #57 stone. Avoid round pea gravel as a driving surface — it never locks together and migrates constantly.
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Disclaimer. This calculator is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, medical, or engineering advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions described above. Confirm any figure with a qualified professional before acting on it.