Gravel Calculator
Gravel by volume and by delivered weight for driveways, paths and fill.
Result appears here
Fill in the fields and press Calculate.
Formula, calculation, assumptions and sources
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
Weight = Volume × bulk density
Run the calculation to see each step with your own numbers.
A 20 ft × 10 ft parking pad, 4 in of gravel, default 10% allowance.
Volume = 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 ft³ = 2.47 yd³ exact
Weight = 2.47 yd³ × ~1.5 tons/yd³ ≈ 3.7 tons exact
With 10%: order ≈ 2.72 yd³ / ≈ 4.1 tons
- A rectangular area at one uniform depth — for an irregular driveway or bed, break it into rectangles and add the results.
- Bulk density is a typical loose figure for the selected material — confirm with your supplier and adjust if you know the exact product.
- The depth you enter is treated as loose (pre-compaction). If it is the finished compacted depth, raise the waste allowance to cover compaction.
- Weight is delivered weight, not compacted-in-place density.
- Why does the calculator ask for the material?
- Because weight depends on the aggregate's bulk density, which differs between gravel, sand, road base and decorative rock. The volume is the same regardless; the tonnage is not.
- Tons or cubic yards — which do I order in?
- Most suppliers sell by weight (tons or tonnes). The calculator shows both so you can order in whichever your supplier uses and check the other.
- The density looks off for my gravel.
- It's a typical figure. If your supplier gives you a density (or a tons-per-yard figure), that's more accurate — the industry range is roughly 1.2–1.7 tons/yd³ depending on stone type and moisture.
Volume
Standard geometry: Volume = L × W × D. Unit conversions per NIST SP 811.
Bulk density (gravel/stone)
Typical compacted crushed gravel ≈ 1.5 US tons/yd³ (≈1,680 kg/m³). Engineering ToolBox, DOT aggregate specs. Varies with gradation and compaction.
Bulk density (sand)
Typical dry masonry/concrete sand ≈ 1,600 kg/m³ (≈1.35 t/yd³). Engineering ToolBox 'Densities of common materials'.
Bulk density (road base)
Compacted dense-graded aggregate base ≈ 2,100–2,200 kg/m³ (≈140 lb/ft³). State-DOT base-course specifications.
Bulk density (limestone / landscape rock)
Crushed limestone ≈ 1.3–1.5 t/yd³ loose (≈1,550 kg/m³). Aggregate producer data / Engineering ToolBox. / Decorative landscape rock ≈ 1.25–1.35 t/yd³ (≈1,500 kg/m³). Landscape-supply industry figures. Varies by rock type and size.
About the Gravel Calculator
The Gravel Calculator gives both the volume and the estimated delivered weight of gravel or crushed stone for a driveway, path, drainage layer or fill, from the area and depth. Weight comes from the material's bulk density, which you can override with your quarry's figure. For a layered driveway build see the Gravel Driveway Calculator; for a plain volume-to-yards conversion see the Cubic Yard Calculator.
What you enter
- Length
- Width
- Depth — 2–3 in for a top layer; 4–6 in for a full driveway base.
- Material — Sets the default density — you can fine-tune it below.
- Waste allowance — Default 10%. Adjust to your own allowance — the exact figure is always shown too.
What you get back
- Volume — shown as the exact figure and, separately, a recommended figure with your waste allowance added.
- Delivered weight — Suppliers usually sell aggregate by weight. Weight uses the material's bulk density (adjustable).
The formula, a worked example, the assumptions behind it and the sources are shown in full below the calculator.
Related calculators
- Cubic Yard Calculator — Convert a length, width and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet or cubic metres.
- Crushed Stone Calculator — Crushed stone by volume and weight. Shares the density question with the Gravel Calculator.
- Gravel Driveway Calculator — Gravel for a driveway of a given length, width and depth, by layer.
- Road Base Calculator — Road base / crusher-run quantity for a sub-base layer.
Part of the Landscaping & Driveway calculators.