Quick answer
To find how much gravel you need, multiply the area by the depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.4 to get tons, since a cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons. A 100 square foot path at 3 in deep is 25 cubic feet, which is 0.93 cubic yards, or about 1.3 tons.
How to use the gravel calculator
- Measure the ground to cover, then enter its length and width, or type the total area.
- Enter the depth, or use a typical depth for a driveway, path or base.
- Add a price per ton or per cubic yard, and a bag size if you are buying bags.
- The result lists tons, cubic yards, cubic metres, bags and cost.
- Work in feet and inches or in metres, and the tons and yards update together.
Worked example
A path is 25 ft long and 4 ft wide, for 100 square feet, at 3 in deep.
- 1.Depth in feet: 3 / 12 = 0.25 ft
- 2.Cubic feet: 100 x 0.25 = 25
- 3.Cubic yards: 25 / 27 = 0.93
- 4.Tons: 0.93 x 1.4 = about 1.3 tons
When to use this
The formula
Two steps take you from area to tons:
cubic yards = area (sq ft) x depth (ft) / 27, then tons = cubic yards x 1.4.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, though this varies with the stone and how wet it is. Inches of depth become feet by dividing by 12, and the answer also appears in cubic metres and tonnes.
Gravel per 100 square feet by depth
Scale up by your area in hundreds of square feet. Tons use 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.62 | 0.86 |
| 3 in | 0.93 | 1.30 |
| 4 in | 1.23 | 1.73 |
| 6 in | 1.85 | 2.59 |
Swipe sideways to see all columns
Choosing a stone and layering a driveway
Gravel comes in several forms, and the choice affects both the look and how it holds together. Crushed stone with sharp edges locks tightly and makes a firm base, while rounded pea gravel is softer underfoot but shifts more, so it suits paths and borders rather than a driveway surface. Angular stone in the 3/4 in range is a common all-round choice. A driveway is built in layers: a coarse sub-base of larger stone 4 to 6 in deep for strength, then a finer top layer 2 to 3 in deep for the surface. Work out each layer separately and add them, since they use different stone and different depths. On soft or wet ground, add a landscape fabric under the base to stop the stone sinking, and allow extra depth. Compact each layer before adding the next so the finished level is right.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Work out the area and the depth, then read the tons and cubic yards. A 100 square foot path at 3 in deep needs about 0.93 cubic yards, or roughly 1.3 tons.
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet and divide by 27. For 100 square feet at 3 in, that is 100 x 0.25 / 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
As a guide, a path is about 2 in, a top layer on a driveway 2 to 3 in, and a driveway base 4 to 6 in. Deeper is needed on soft ground. Pick the depth for your job and the calculator does the rest.
A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons and covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 in deep, or about 160 square feet at 2 in. Wet gravel weighs more.
Yes. Pea gravel uses the same area and depth method. It is rounded and loose, so keep the depth modest for paths, around 2 in, and treat the weight as an estimate.
References. The formulas and figures here follow standard construction references. See our Methodology for how we check them. Gravel volume uses standard geometry (a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet).
Related calculators
Estimates only. Check supplier specs and local codes before you order or build.