Free landscaping calculator
Gravel Calculator — yards & tons
For driveways, paths, drainage, and rock beds. Pick your material and get the order weight in tons.
Weight varies with moisture and stone size — densities here match typical supplier quotes.
How much gravel do I need?
Gravel is calculated by volume but usually sold by weight. First find the volume: length × width × depth (in feet), divided by 27 for cubic yards. Then convert to tons using the stone's density — that's why the calculator asks what material you're buying. The same 3-inch-deep path can weigh half a ton more in decomposed granite than in river rock.
| Material | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Sand | 1.30 |
| River rock | 1.35 |
| Pea gravel | 1.40 |
| Crushed stone (#57) | 1.50 |
| Decomposed granite | 1.65 |
How deep should gravel be?
Decorative rock beds and walking paths do well at 2–3 inches over landscape fabric. Gravel driveways need real structure: a 4-inch compacted base of larger crushed stone topped with 2–3 inches of smaller stone. For French drains, plan on filling the entire trench depth around the pipe, not just a surface layer.
Tons vs. cubic yards
Suppliers quote both, which causes most ordering mistakes. A cubic yard is a volume (a 3×3×3 ft cube); a ton is 2,000 pounds. For most landscaping stone, one cubic yard weighs about 1.3 to 1.65 tons. The calculator shows both numbers so you can order in whichever unit your supplier uses.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
Most landscaping gravel weighs 1.3 to 1.65 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel runs about 1.4 tons per yard, crushed stone about 1.5, and decomposed granite up to 1.65.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one ton of typical gravel covers roughly 100 square feet. At 3 inches, coverage drops to about 65 to 70 square feet.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A durable gravel driveway uses at least 6 inches of material in two layers: about 4 inches of larger compacted base stone, topped with 2 to 3 inches of smaller surface gravel.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
For decorative beds and paths, fabric helps keep gravel from sinking into soil and slows weeds. Under driveways, a woven stabilization fabric is worth it on soft ground but isn't always necessary on firm, well-drained soil.