Gravel calculator.
Enter the area and depth you want to cover. The calculator converts it to cubic yards, cubic metres and tons for gravel, crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, sand or topsoil, and tells you how many one-tonne bulk bags or 50 lb bags that is.
How the calculation works
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × density. Typical densities are about 1.4 short tons per cubic yard for gravel and pea gravel, 1.35 for crushed stone and river rock, 1.3 for dry sand and 1.1 for topsoil (wet material is heavier). One cubic yard is 0.765 m³; one metric tonne is 1.102 short tons.
Bulk bags = tonnes ÷ 1 (one-tonne bags), and 50 lb bags = pounds ÷ 50, both rounded up. Add 5–10% for compaction and uneven ground; driveways are best built in compacted 2–3 in layers.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A 50 × 10 ft single driveway with 4 in of gravel is 6.2 cubic yards — about 8.6 short tons at 1.4 t/yd³ before the 10% allowance. Heavy-use driveways are usually built 6–8 in deep in layers: coarse base first, then a finer top.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Typically 1.3–1.5 short tons (about 1.2–1.4 metric tonnes). A common planning figure is 1.4 tons per cubic yard for dry gravel; washed river rock and crushed stone are often slightly lighter per yard, wet material heavier.
How many square feet does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in (324 ÷ depth in inches).
How many 50 lb bags of gravel make a ton?
Forty 50 lb bags make one short ton (2,000 lb). For more than about a ton, a single bulk bag delivered on a pallet is usually cheaper and quicker to place than loose small bags.
Do you sell gravel?
No. We manufacture the woven polypropylene bulk bags (FIBC) and 25–50 kg sacks that quarries and landscape yards pack aggregates in. See our guide to bulk bags for sand and gravel.
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