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Generator Hut

Gravel Calculator

Gravel for a path or driveway, in tons and cubic yards.

Your measurements

2–3 in for a path, 4 in or more for a driveable surface.

Crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel is lighter.

Gravel required

2.59tons

2.59 tons — 1.85 cu yd

Area to cover20 ft × 10 ft
200 sq ft
Volume requiredat 3 in deep
50 cu ft
In cubic yards
1.85 cu yd
Weight to orderat 1.4 tons per cubic yard
2.59 tons

Aggregate is sold by weight in some yards and by volume in others. Both figures are given above so you can order either way without converting.

Density varies with stone type, size and how wet it is. If the yard publishes a figure for the exact product, use theirs — the selector above covers the common ranges.

A driveway needs a compacted sub-base under the visible layer. This calculates one layer only; run it again for each layer at its own depth.

Enter the area and depth and it returns both the volume and the weight, because aggregate yards quote in either with no consistency. Density is selectable, since pea gravel and crusher run differ enough that using the wrong figure can leave you a quarter short.

Why use this tool?

Tons and cubic yards

Suppliers sell by weight in some regions and volume in others. Both figures are given so you can order either way.

Density by material

Pea gravel, crushed stone, crusher run and wet aggregate all weigh differently per cubic yard. Pick the one you are buying.

Depth guidance built in

Two to three inches for a path, four or more for anything a car drives on — stated next to the field rather than buried in the copy.

Layer by layer

A driveway needs a sub-base under the visible stone. Run it once per layer at that layer's depth and material.

How this gravel calculator works

Volume is area times depth, converted to cubic yards by dividing by 27. Weight is that volume multiplied by the material's density in tons per cubic yard.

Density is the input worth getting right. Pea gravel runs around 1.25 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone about 1.4, and compacted crusher run closer to 1.5. Wet material is heavier still. Ordering 3 tons when you needed 3.6 leaves a visible shortfall across a driveway, and the second delivery costs another charge.

No waste allowance is applied, because loose aggregate is spread rather than cut and nothing is lost to offcuts. What does happen is compaction — a driveway settles noticeably in the first months, so if you want a specific finished depth on a driveable surface, order for a little more than the nominal figure.

How to use it

  1. Step 1: Measure the area

    Length and width of the path or drive. For a curved drive, break it into segments and calculate each.

  2. Step 2: Set the depth

    Two to three inches for a garden path or decorative area. Four inches or more for a surface that will carry a vehicle.

  3. Step 3: Choose the material

    Pick the density that matches what you are buying. If the yard publishes a figure for that specific product, enter theirs instead.

  4. Step 4: Repeat for each layer

    A driveway is normally a compacted sub-base with a finish layer over it. Calculate them separately and add the orders.

Example usage

A garden path
20 by 3 feet at 2 inches is 10 cubic feet, 0.37 cubic yards, or about half a ton of pea gravel. Comfortably a bagged purchase.
A parking area
20 by 10 feet at 4 inches is 66.7 cubic feet, 2.47 cubic yards, or 3.46 tons of crushed stone. That is a delivery.
A two-layer driveway
The same 200 square feet with a 4 inch crusher run base and a 2 inch crushed stone top: 3.7 tons for the base and 1.73 for the surface, ordered as two different materials.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

It depends on the stone. Pea gravel is around 1.25 tons per cubic yard, crushed stone about 1.4, and crusher run closer to 1.5. Wet material weighs more than the same volume dry.

How deep should gravel be?

Two to three inches for a decorative area or a footpath. At least four inches for anything a vehicle uses, and that should sit on a compacted sub-base rather than directly on soil.

Is gravel sold by weight or volume?

Both, depending on the supplier and region. This gives you the figure either way so you can order without converting — and so you can compare two quotes priced in different units.

Do I need a sub-base under a gravel driveway?

Yes, for anything carrying vehicle weight. A finish layer laid straight onto soil will work itself into the ground and rut within a season. Calculate the sub-base as its own layer.

Should I order extra for compaction?

For a driveable surface, yes — loose aggregate settles noticeably once traffic starts. If a specific finished depth matters, order somewhat above the nominal figure rather than exactly it.

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