Gravel & rock calculator · v1.0
Gravel Calculator
Calculate gravel, rock or aggregate from your project dimensions. See cubic yards, approximate tons, rounded bulk orders, bag equivalents and optional material cost without hiding the density or allowance assumptions.
✓No signup
✓Cubic yards + tons
✓Editable density
✓Irregular areas
Step 1
Project details
Choose the closest material, measure the area, check the project preview and enter the finished gravel depth. The density and ordering allowance remain visible and editable.
Project measurement
Ordering & pricing
Advanced assumptions
How to calculate how much gravel you need
Measure the project area, multiply by the gravel depth to get volume, then convert that volume to cubic yards. If your supplier sells by weight, multiply the cubic yards by the material density in US tons per cubic yard. JobsiteMeasure keeps the volume and weight calculations separate so you can match the way your supplier quotes material.
Area (ft²) × depth (in) ÷ 12 = volume (ft³)
Volume (ft³) ÷ 27 = cubic yards
Cubic yards × material density (US tons / yd³) = approximate US tons
Gravel cubic yards vs tons
Cubic yards measure volume; tons measure weight. There is no single exact yards-to-tons conversion for every gravel product because stone type, gradation, moisture and compaction change the bulk density. The calculator therefore uses an editable density rather than pretending every rock weighs the same.
| Material preset | Planning density | Use the preset for |
|---|---|---|
| General gravel | 1.40 US tons / yd³ | Mixed landscape or construction gravel when supplier data is unavailable |
| Pea gravel | 1.40 US tons / yd³ | Paths, patios, drainage and decorative areas |
| Crushed stone | 1.40 US tons / yd³ | Driveways, base layers and general aggregate |
| River rock | 1.35 US tons / yd³ | Decorative landscape rock and drainage stone |
| Crusher run | 1.35 US tons / yd³ | Compactable driveway and base material |
Supplier conversion wins: if your quarry or landscape yard states a tons-per-cubic-yard figure for the exact product, enter that value in Advanced assumptions.
How much area does one cubic yard of gravel cover?
Coverage depends entirely on depth. These values are pure geometry before any ordering allowance:
| Gravel depth | Approximate coverage from 1 yd³ |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 162 ft² |
| 3 in | 108 ft² |
| 4 in | 81 ft² |
| 6 in | 54 ft² |
Gravel driveway calculator example
A 20 ft × 10 ft area at 3 in deep has a geometric volume of about 1.85 yd³. With a 10% ordering allowance that becomes about 2.04 yd³. If the supplier sells in 0.5 yd³ increments, the practical volume order rounds up to 2.5 yd³. At a planning density of 1.4 US tons per yd³, that rounded volume is equivalent to about 3.5 US tons.
For an actual driveway, use the layer depths and aggregate specification required for that construction — the calculator estimates quantity, not pavement design.
Gravel calculator FAQs
How much gravel do I need?
Enter the area and finished depth above. The calculator returns geometric cubic yards, an optional allowance, a rounded bulk-volume order and an approximate tonnage using the selected gravel density.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
It depends on density. At 1.4 US tons per cubic yard, one US ton is about 0.71 yd³. Use the exact supplier conversion whenever it is available.
Can I use this as a pea gravel calculator?
Yes. Select Pea gravel to load the planning density, then enter the project dimensions and depth. You can overwrite the density if your supplier gives a different value.
Does it work for crushed stone, river rock and crusher run?
Yes. Those materials are available as presets. The geometry is the same; the weight conversion changes with the selected or user-entered density.
Should I add extra gravel for compaction or site variation?
That depends on the project and material. The calculator starts with an editable 10% planning allowance, but you can set it to zero or another value to match your specification or supplier guidance.