Gravel Calculator

To find cubic yards of gravel, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. Multiply by 1.6 for tons.

Find Your Gravel Amount

Enter the size and compacted depth, then pick a weight per cubic yard.

Length (ft)Width (ft)Depth (in)

6.17

cubic yards of compacted gravel for this area.

500 sq ft, 166.7 cu ft

Material List

Based on the size you entered.

Compacted Gravel: 6.17 cu yd

Weight: 9.88 tons

Loose Gravel, at Least: about 7.72 cu yd

How It Works

The calculator turns your depth into feet, multiplies the three dimensions to get cubic feet, and divides by 27, the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard. It then multiplies cubic yards by the weight you picked to get tons.

Cubic yards = length x width x (depth / 12) / 27Tons = cubic yards x tons per cubic yard

The default of 1.6 tons comes from the Maine Gravel Road Maintenance Manual, which says a compacted cubic yard of gravel usually weighs around 1.6 tons. The other two buttons come from a Wisconsin Highway Research Program report, which lists 1.75 to 2.1 tons per cubic yard for compacted ¾-inch dense graded base.

See Methods and Sources

Worked Example

Here is the math for a driveway section that is 50 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 4 inches deep, at 1.6 tons per cubic yard.

50 ft x 10 ft = 500 sq ft
4 in / 12 = 0.33 ft
500 sq ft x 4 in / 12 = 166.7 cu ft
500 sq ft x 4 in / 12 / 27 = 6.17 cu yd
500 sq ft x 4 in / 12 / 27 x 1.6 = 9.88 tons

Cubic Yards of Gravel by Area and Depth

Use this table for a quick check before you enter your own numbers.

Area	2 in Deep	3 in Deep	4 in Deep	6 in Deep
100 sq ft	0.62	0.93	1.23	1.85
250 sq ft	1.54	2.31	3.09	4.63
500 sq ft	3.09	4.63	6.17	9.26
1,000 sq ft	6.17	9.26	12.35	18.52
2,000 sq ft	12.35	18.52	24.69	37.04

Tons of Gravel by Area and Depth

These figures use 1.6 tons per cubic yard. Heavier gravel will weigh more for the same area.

Area	2 in Deep	3 in Deep	4 in Deep	6 in Deep
100 sq ft	0.99	1.48	1.98	2.96
250 sq ft	2.47	3.70	4.94	7.41
500 sq ft	4.94	7.41	9.88	14.81
1,000 sq ft	9.88	14.81	19.75	29.63
2,000 sq ft	19.75	29.63	39.51	59.26

How Deep Should Gravel Be?

The right depth depends on what the gravel has to carry.

For gravel roads, the Maine manual calls for a surface layer of about 4 to 6 inches when compacted, over a base layer of 12 to 18 inches when compacted. Those figures are for gravel roads, so they do not set a depth for a garden path or other light use.

Why Loose Gravel Takes More

Gravel settles after it is spread, so the depth you get on delivery is not the depth you keep.

The Gravel Roads Maintenance and Design Manual, produced for the Federal Highway Administration, says ordinary compaction from traffic and rainfall will cause most gravels to shrink a minimum of 20 percent. The material list uses that minimum, dividing your compacted cubic yards by 0.8, so treat its loose figure as a floor, not a full allowance. The Maine manual also gives a smaller adjustment in one example, multiplying by 1.11, so ask your supplier what to expect from their gravel.

Frequently Asked Questions

These cover the questions that come up most often.

How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Weigh?

The Maine Gravel Road Maintenance Manual says a compacted cubic yard of gravel usually weighs around 1.6 tons. A Wisconsin Highway Research Program report lists 1.75 to 2.1 tons per cubic yard for compacted ¾-inch dense graded base.

How Many Square Feet Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Cover?

One cubic yard covers 162 square feet at 2 inches deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, and 81 square feet at 4 inches deep. Each figure is 324 divided by the depth in inches.

How Do I Handle Inches?

Divide inches by 12 to get feet. A depth of 6 inches is 0.5 feet, and a depth of 3 inches is 0.25 feet.

Why Divide by 27?

A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet, so dividing by 27 turns cubic feet into cubic yards.

Should I Buy by the Ton or by the Cubic Yard?

Use whichever unit your supplier quotes. The weights on this page differ by material, so ask for their weight per cubic yard, and use it in place of the default if it is different.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below.

This result is an estimate. Check your measurements before you order. If we got something wrong, please contact us.