How much gravel do you need?
Gravel is sold by volume (cubic yards or cubic metres) or by weight (tons or tonnes), and ordering too little means a second delivery fee. The amount depends on three things: the area you are covering, how deep the layer will be, and how heavy your chosen stone is.
This gravel calculator turns a rectangle or circle and a depth into cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic metres and tons, adds a margin for settling, and counts the small bags you would need instead of a bulk load. There is a metric mode too.
How to use it
- Measure the length and width of the area, or the diameter for a round bed. Split odd shapes into rectangles and run each one.
- Choose the depth. Paths and decorative beds are often about 2 to 3 inches deep; driveways usually need more, over a compacted base.
- Leave the extra at 5%, or raise it for loose ground that will settle.
- Set the weight per cubic yard from your supplier if you have it, then read the volume, weight and bag count.
The gravel formula
volume (cu ft) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard
metric: m³ = length × width × depth (cm) ÷ 100; tonnes = m³ × tonnes per m³Depth is measured in inches but the area in feet, which is why it is divided by 12. A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet, so it holds 27 cubic feet.
Worked example: a 20 by 10 foot path, 3 inches deep
- Volume: 20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50 cubic feet
- Plus 5% extra: 50 × 1.05 = 52.5 cubic feet
- In cubic yards: 52.5 ÷ 27 = 1.94 cubic yards
- Weight at 1.5 tons per cubic yard: 1.94 × 1.5 = 2.92 tons
- In 0.5 cubic foot bags: 52.5 ÷ 0.5 = 105 bags
Order about 1.94 cubic yards, roughly 2.92 tons, or 105 small bags. At that size a bulk delivery is usually far cheaper than bags, and suppliers often round up to the nearest half or whole yard.
Coverage by depth
| Depth | One cubic yard covers | Depth | One cubic metre covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² | 5 cm | 20 m² |
| 3 in | 108 ft² | 8 cm | 12.5 m² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² | 10 cm | 10 m² |
| 6 in | 54 ft² |
Each extra inch of depth cuts the coverage sharply, so measure the depth you really need rather than guessing high. The weight figures are estimates; washed pea gravel, crushed stone and recycled aggregate all differ, and wet stone weighs more.
Before you order
- Lay a weed membrane under decorative gravel.
- Edge paths and beds so the stone stays put.
- For a slab instead of loose stone, use the concrete calculator. For garden beds of bark or soil, see the mulch calculator and topsoil calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply the length by the width in feet, then by the depth in inches divided by 12, to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 by 10 foot area at 3 inches deep needs 50 cubic feet, about 1.85 cubic yards, before any extra for settling.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
Often about 1.4 to 1.7 tons, but it depends on the stone, its size and how wet it is. Supplier figures are the ones to trust, since they sell by their own measure. The calculator lets you change the weight per cubic yard to match your quote.
How deep should gravel be?
Decorative beds and garden paths are often laid about 2 to 3 inches deep. Driveways usually need a deeper build, with a compacted base layer of larger stone and a top layer of smaller stone. A local supplier or contractor can advise for your soil and traffic.
How much area does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one cubic yard covers 162 square feet. At 3 inches it covers 108 square feet, and at 4 inches it covers 81 square feet. Divide 324 by the depth in inches to get the coverage for any other depth.
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