Gravel Calculator

Gravel is ordered by the ton but measured by the cubic yard, and getting between those two units is where most driveway and path orders go wrong. This calculator works out the volume from your dimensions, then converts it to weight using the density of the stone you have chosen, so you can order with confidence from a supplier who sells by the ton.

How gravel quantity is calculated

As with all volume jobs, the depth is in inches while the area is in feet, so it must be converted first. A 4 inch layer is one-third of a foot deep.

Measuring the area

• Rectangular driveways and patios: length × width.
• Curved or irregular areas: split into rectangles, or measure an average length and width.
• Round depth up to the nearest inch — gravel settles and compacts, so a slightly generous depth is sensible.

How deep should the gravel be?

A worked example

A 30×10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep in crushed stone (1.4 tons/yd³):

• Volume = 30 × 10 × 0.333 = 100 cu ft
• Cubic yards = 100 ÷ 27 = 3.7 yd³
• Tons = 3.7 × 1.4 = about 5.2 tons

Building a driveway in layers

A gravel driveway that lasts is built in layers, not one deep pour of the same stone. A typical build uses a base of larger crushed rock (3–4 inches), a middle layer of medium stone, and a top dressing of finer gravel that locks together and drives well. Calculate each layer separately and add them. A geotextile fabric under the base stops the gravel sinking into soft soil over time.

Ordering and delivery

Because gravel is heavy, delivery is almost always the practical option for anything beyond a few wheelbarrow loads. Suppliers deliver by the ton, and most have a minimum order. Round your tonnage up to the nearest half-ton, and have somewhere firm for the truck to tip the load. For the sand bedding or concrete that often accompanies a gravel project, the related calculators use the same volume approach.

Matching the stone to the job

Gravel is a family of products, not one material, and choosing the right one matters as much as the quantity. Crushed stone with sharp edges and a range of sizes (often sold as a road-base or paver-base blend) locks together and compacts hard, making it ideal for driveways and bases under pavers. Rounded pea gravel is comfortable underfoot and attractive for paths but shifts and will not compact, so it is poor for driving on. Larger drainage stone is used in trenches and French drains where water needs to move freely. Tell your supplier what the gravel is for, and they will steer you to the right grade.

Why a driveway is built in layers

A durable gravel driveway is never a single deep layer of one stone — it is a graded system. A base of larger crushed rock spreads the load and provides drainage; a middle layer of medium stone fills and stabilises; a top dressing of finer angular gravel locks together to give a firm driving surface. Each layer is compacted before the next goes down. Calculate each layer's volume separately and add them, and lay a geotextile fabric over soft subsoil first so the stone does not slowly sink and disappear into the ground — the single most common reason gravel driveways need topping up year after year.

Compaction and edging

Loose gravel spreads and migrates without containment. Edging — timber, steel, concrete or a paver border — keeps the stone where you want it and gives a clean line. Compaction with a plate compactor after each layer turns loose stone into a firm surface and dramatically reduces future settling and ruts. Skipping compaction is a false economy: the gravel settles unevenly under traffic instead, leaving low spots that collect water and potholes that need repair. Budget for both edging and a day with a rented compactor on any driveway-scale job.

Ordering and delivery realities

Because gravel is heavy — over a ton per cubic yard — delivery is almost always the sensible choice beyond a few wheelbarrow loads. Suppliers sell by the ton and usually have a minimum order and a delivery fee, so it is often worth rounding up slightly rather than ordering a second small load later. Have a firm, accessible spot for the truck to tip the pile, ideally close to where the gravel is going, and clear access for a wheelbarrow. Confirm the stone's density with the supplier if you want the tonnage exact, since it varies between quarries and stone types.

Estimating cost and delivery

Gravel is inexpensive by the ton but the weight makes delivery the dominant cost consideration. A cubic yard of crushed stone weighs well over a ton, so even a modest driveway is several tons that no car can carry — budget for bulk delivery, which usually carries a fee and a minimum order. Pricing varies widely by stone type and region, with decorative and washed gravels costing more than plain crushed base stone. The calculator's tonnage figure lets you get accurate quotes, since suppliers price by the ton. Rounding up to the nearest half-ton is sensible, both to avoid a second small delivery and because gravel compacts and settles, consuming slightly more than the bare calculation suggests. Have a firm, accessible spot for the truck to tip the load, and the willingness to barrow and rake it — the material is cheap, but spreading several tons by hand is the real work of a gravel project.