Gravel Calculator — Cubic Yards and Tons
A 20×10 ft area (200 sq ft) at 3 inches deep needs about 1.85 cubic yards of gravel — roughly 2.6 tons of crushed stone. One cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons and covers around 100 square feet at 2 inches deep.
Enter the area you want to cover and the gravel depth. This calculator gives you the volume in cubic yards and the weight in tons, since gravel is often sold by the ton.
How to use this calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
- Choose a depth — 2–3 inches for walkways, 4 inches or more for driveways.
- Leave density at 1.4 tons/yd³ for crushed stone, or adjust for your material.
- Order by the cubic yard or the ton, whichever your supplier uses.
The formula
Gravel is sold by volume (cubic yards) or weight (tons), so we calculate both.
Volume (cubic feet) = length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
Weight (tons) = cubic yards × density. Crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so multiply your cubic yards by 1.4.
Worked example
A 20 ft × 10 ft path at 3 inches deep, crushed stone at 1.4 tons/yd³.
Area = 20 × 10 = 200 sq ftVolume = 200 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cubic feetCubic yards = 50 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.85 cubic yardsTons = 1.85 × 1.4 ≈ 2.59 tons
You need about 1.85 cubic yards of gravel — roughly 2.6 tons.
Reference tables
| Depth | Coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in | ~115 sq ft |
| 3 in | ~77 sq ft |
| 4 in | ~58 sq ft |
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 tons of crushed stone per cubic yard. Pea gravel is a little lighter (≈1.3 tons), and sand is heavier (≈1.5 tons) per cubic yard.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one ton of gravel covers about 100 square feet. At 3 inches it covers roughly 65 sq ft, and at 4 inches about 50 sq ft.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A gravel driveway should be at least 4 inches deep, ideally built up in layers over a compacted sub-base. For a new driveway, 6–8 inches total across layers is common.
How much gravel do I need for a 20x10 area?
A 20×10 area (200 sq ft) at 3 inches deep needs about 1.85 cubic yards, or roughly 2.6 tons of crushed stone.