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Gravel Calculator (Driveway & Landscaping)

Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel needed for a driveway, walkway, or landscaping project. Supports rectangle or circle areas, six gravel types with US densities, and estimated material cost.

CONSTRUCTION

Estimate exactly how much gravel to order for a driveway, walkway, or landscape bed. Enter the area dimensions and depth, pick a gravel type (pea gravel, crushed stone #57, crushed limestone, river rock, decomposed granite, or bank run), and get cubic yards, tons, 50-lb bag equivalents, and estimated delivered cost.

The math is area × depth ÷ 27 = cubic yards, then yards × density = tons. Worked example: a 20 ft × 30 ft driveway at 4 inches deep covers 600 ft² of surface area. Volume = 600 × (4/12) = 200 cubic feet = 7.41 cubic yards. With crushed stone #57 at 1.5 tons per cubic yard, you need about 11.1 tons. At $35 per ton delivered that is roughly $389 in material - and works out to 444 fifty-pound bags if you bought it bagged instead of bulk (which would cost 3-4x more). Always add 10-20% extra to the calculated quantity to account for compaction and supplier moisture variance.

Disclaimer: Density varies by supplier and moisture content. Always quote your local supplier for exact yardage and delivery cost before ordering.

Gravel Calculator (Driveway & Landscaping)

Calculate cubic yards and tons of gravel needed for a driveway, walkway, or landscaping bed. Includes 50-lb bag equivalents and estimated material cost.

Project Shape

RectangleCircle

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)Driveways: 4-6 in. Walkways: 2-3 in. Drainage layer: 2-3 in.

Gravel Type

Cost per Ton ($, optional)Typical delivered cost runs $30-$60 per ton in most US markets.

Tons Needed (Crushed Stone #57)

11.11 tons

Surface Area600.0 ft²

Cubic Feet200.0 ft³

Cubic Yards7.41 yd³

50-lb Bag Equivalents444 bags

Estimated Material Cost$389

1 ton is roughly 40 bags. Bagged gravel costs more per ton than bulk delivery.

Buying Gravel by Yard vs Ton

In the US, landscape gravel is sold either by the cubic yard (volume) or by the ton (weight). Yards are easier to visualize for planning - one cubic yard fills a 9-square-foot area at 3 inches deep. Tons are how trucks weigh out the load. Convert between them with the material density: pea gravel and decomposed granite run about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone #57 and river rock about 1.5, crushed limestone and bank run about 1.55.

Pick the gravel type for the job. Pea gravel is smooth, rounded, and decorative - great for borders and play areas but it migrates underfoot and is poor for driveways. Crushed stone #57 (3/4-inch angular stone) is the workhorse for driveways and French drains - the angular faces lock together and stay put. Decomposed granite packs into firm walkways and patios. River rock is decorative for dry creek beds and drainage. Crushed limestone is common where it is locally quarried and compacts well for base layers.

Always order 10-20% more than the geometric calculation. Loose gravel settles and compacts under traffic, and supplier moisture content can shift the weight per yard by 5-10%. For driveways, install a geotextile fabric underneath and a 2-3 inch base of larger crushed stone before topping with the finished gravel - this prevents the rock from sinking into the subsoil over the first few winters.

Density varies by supplier and moisture content. Always quote your local supplier for exact yardage and delivery cost before ordering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

For a typical 20 ft × 30 ft driveway at 4 inches deep, you need about 7.4 cubic yards or roughly 11 tons of crushed stone #57. Multiply length × width × depth (in feet), divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by the gravel density (1.4-1.55 tons per yard) to get tons. Add 10-20% extra for compaction.

What's the difference between gravel types?

Pea gravel is smooth, rounded, decorative - good for borders and play areas, poor for driveways because it migrates. Crushed stone #57 is 3/4-inch angular stone - the standard driveway and French drain material because the angular faces lock together. Decomposed granite packs into firm walkways. River rock is decorative drainage. Crushed limestone is a common compactable base material. Bank run is unprocessed mixed-size gravel often used as fill.

How deep should gravel be?

Driveways need 4-6 inches total, usually a 3-4 inch base of larger crushed stone topped with 2-3 inches of finish gravel. Walkways need 2-3 inches. Drainage layers (French drains, dry wells) are typically 2-3 inches of #57 stone around the perforated pipe. Decorative ground cover beds work at 2-3 inches over landscape fabric.

How much does a yard of gravel cost?

In most US markets in 2025-2026, bulk gravel runs $30-$60 per ton delivered, which works out to $42-$93 per cubic yard depending on the density. Pea gravel and decomposed granite tend to be on the higher end, plain crushed limestone on the lower end. Delivery fees add $50-$150 depending on distance from the quarry. Bagged gravel from a big-box store costs 3-4x more per ton.

Should I buy gravel by yard or by ton?

It does not matter financially - suppliers convert between them using the standard density. Tons are what the truck weighs out, yards are easier to picture (one cubic yard fills a 9 ft² area at 3 inches deep, roughly a small pickup bed). Order in tons if your supplier prices that way, in yards if they price that way. This calculator gives you both.

Gravel Calculator (Driveway & Landscaping)

Gravel Calculator (Driveway & Landscaping)

Buying Gravel by Yard vs Ton

Frequently Asked Questions

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