Gravel Calculator (Tons)
Enter your area and depth to get the cubic feet and tons of gravel you need.
What your result means
Tons is the figure to order by, since bulk gravel is priced by weight and it's more accurate than yards. Gravel runs about 100 lbs a cubic foot, so a yard is roughly 1.35 tons. Go 4 to 6 inches deep for a driveway, 2 to 3 for landscape, and add 10% for compaction.
How to use this calculator
- Measure area length, width in feet.
- Choose depth.
- Read tons of gravel needed.
- Order in tons from bulk supplier.
- Add 10% for compaction.
The formula
Volume in cubic feet is length times width times depth in feet. Gravel weighs about 100 lbs a cubic foot, so multiply by 100 over 2,000 for tons.
Worked example
Say you've got a 30 by 12 ft driveway at 4 inches deep. That's 120 cubic feet, or 6 tons. Order by the ton and add 10% for compaction.
Gravel coverage (1 ton)
| Depth | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in | ~134 sq ft |
| 4 in | ~67 sq ft |
| 1 cubic yard | ~1.35 tons |
| Driveway depth | 4 – 6 in |
Tips & gotchas
- Gravel runs about 100 lbs a cubic foot.
- One cubic yard is about 1.35 tons.
- Go 4 to 6 inches deep for a driveway.
- 2 to 3 inches is enough for landscape gravel.
- Order by the ton for more accurate pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
About 67 sq ft at 4 inches deep, or 134 sq ft at 2 inches.
How many tons in a yard of gravel?
About 1.35 tons.
How much does gravel cost per ton?
$15 to $50 delivered in bulk; less common types cost more.
Is gravel cheaper by the ton or the yard?
Ton pricing is usually more accurate.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
4 inches for cars, 6 for trucks.
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Estimates only — see our full disclaimer.