Gravel & Aggregate Calculator (Yards & Tons)
Enter the area you're covering and how deep you want the gravel, and this calculator returns the volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, then converts it to tons using the bulk density of your aggregate. Use it to size a bulk delivery whether your supplier sells by the cubic yard or by the ton, and to sanity-check a quote before it lands in your driveway.
Coverage area
Material density
Dry crushed stone & pea gravel ≈ 1.4 · wet or dense aggregate ≈ 1.7. Confirm with your supplier.
Gravel needed
2.47 yd³
66.67 ft³ · 3.46 tons at 1.40 tons/yd³
Weight
3.46 tons
Cubic feet
66.67
Volume & weight detail
Cubic yards vs tons
Compare scenarios
Run the same calculation with two or three input sets side by side. Differences are highlighted; every number comes from the same tested formula as the calculator above.
| Input | Scenario A | Scenario B |
|---|---|---|
| Area Sq Ft | ||
| Depth Inches | ||
| Density Tons Per Yard |
How it works
Volume comes from area and depth. Depth is entered in inches and converted to feet (depthInches ÷ 12), then volume in cubic feet is your area in square feet × that depth. Cubic yards — the unit many suppliers price and deliver by — is the cubic-foot figure divided by 27, since a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. A 400 sq ft area at 2 inches deep works out to about 66.7 cubic feet, or roughly 2.47 cubic yards.
Tonnage is volume × density. Because aggregate is often sold and hauled by weight, the calculator multiplies your cubic yards by a bulk density in tons per cubic yard. The default of 1.4 tons/yd³ is a common figure for dry crushed stone and pea gravel, but density is material-specific: it varies with stone type, particle size, and moisture. Change the density to match your product and the tonnage updates directly.
A typical coverage depth is 2 inches for a decorative top layer and 3–4 inches for a functional driveway or drainage bed; deeper base courses go further still. The tool holds your inputs unrounded through the whole calculation and only rounds the displayed cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons to two decimals, so the volume and weight figures stay internally consistent when you compare a yard order against a ton order.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to know the density of my gravel?+
Because tonnage depends entirely on it. A cubic yard of light, dry pea gravel weighs far less than a cubic yard of dense, wet crushed stone, so the same volume can translate to noticeably different tonnages. The default of 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a reasonable middle-of-the-road figure for common dry aggregates, but real values range from roughly 1.2 to 1.7 tons/yd³ depending on the stone type, gradation, and how wet it is. For an order you're paying for by weight, get the actual density from your supplier's product sheet rather than relying on a generic default.
Does this account for compaction?+
No — the figures are for loose, delivered material, not compacted-in-place volume. Gravel settles and compacts as it's spread, rolled, or driven on, which reduces its final depth. As a rough rule, a compacted base can lose on the order of 10–20% of its loose volume, so if you need a specific finished depth over a base course you should order somewhat more than the bare calculation suggests. This tool intentionally does not bake in a compaction factor, because it varies with the aggregate, the equipment, and the subgrade; add your own allowance on top of the result.
Should I order by the cubic yard or by the ton?+
It depends on how your supplier sells and hauls the material, which is why this calculator gives you both. Many landscape-supply yards price bagged and bulk gravel by the cubic yard, while quarries and trucking operations often quote and bill by the ton because their trucks are weighed. The two are linked only through density, so a yard figure and a ton figure for the same pile can look very different. Match the unit your supplier uses, confirm their assumed density if they convert between the two, and remember delivery trucks have minimum loads and weight limits.