Tons of gravel by area and depth
Tons needed at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, before any extra for compaction.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.7 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 5.2 |
| 300 sq ft | 2.6 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 7.8 |
| 500 sq ft | 4.3 | 6.5 | 8.6 | 13.0 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 8.6 | 13.0 | 17.3 | 25.9 |
How the gravel calculator works
Gravel is sold by the ton in bulk and by the cubic foot in bags, so the calculator works out the volume first and then converts it both ways.
Cubic feet = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + extra %)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × weight per cubic yard
Bags = cubic feet ÷ 0.5, rounded up
Example
A 20 × 10 ft area 3 inches deep is 200 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet. With 10% extra that is 55 cubic feet, or 2.04 cubic yards, which weighs 2.85 tons at 1.4 tons per yard.
Why the weight per yard matters
Stone is quarried rock broken into pieces, and the air between the pieces changes with size and shape. Rounded pea gravel packs differently from angular crushed stone, and wet stone is heavier than dry. A 0.2 ton difference per yard adds up to about half a ton on a 2½ yard driveway order, so if your supplier quotes a weight, use it.
Choosing the stone
Angular crushed stone locks together and is the usual choice for driveways, drainage and bases. Rounded pea gravel is comfortable underfoot for paths and play areas but moves around. Fine stone dust or screenings is used as a leveling layer, and crusher run — a mix of stone and fines — compacts into a firm base. See our concrete calculator if the gravel is going under a slab, and gravel types explained for a side-by-side comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the weight of a cubic yard. Most gravel and crushed stone weighs about 1.4–1.5 tons per cubic yard. A 10 × 10 ft area 3 inches deep is 25 cubic feet, or 0.93 cubic yards, which is about 1.30 tons before any extra.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
HomeGuide puts a cubic yard of stone at 1.4 to 1.5 tons. Suppliers list crushed stone anywhere from about 1.35 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard and pea gravel from about 1.25 to 1.6, depending on the rock and how wet it is. Ask your supplier for their figure and type it into the calculator.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 19.3 cubic feet. That covers roughly 116 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 77 sq ft at 3 inches or 58 sq ft at 4 inches.
Is bagged gravel cheaper than bulk?
Only for small jobs. A 0.5 cubic foot bag averages $6.48, which is about $350 per cubic yard, while bulk crushed stone runs around $34 per ton plus delivery. Bags make sense for a few square feet of path or post-hole drainage; for anything bigger, compare the two lines in the calculator.
How deep should gravel be?
It depends on the job. Decorative paths and beds are often 2–3 inches, while driveway and patio bases are usually thicker and laid in compacted layers. Follow the base depth in your paver or driveway product's instructions, and add extra for compaction when the stone will be tamped.
Sources
Prices are national shelf prices and cost-guide ranges read on September 17, 2026. The calculator uses the typical price (the median of the shelf prices we saw) and shows the low–high range; type your own local price to update the total.
All sources for this page (9)
Coverage, yield and building specs
- Stone Center — Stone calculator accessed 2026-09-16
- Select Sand & Gravel — Crushed stone weight per yard accessed 2026-09-16
- Inch Calculator — Gravel calculator accessed 2026-09-16
Prices
- HomeGuide — Gravel prices accessed 2026-09-16 · page dated 2025-12-19
- Gravel Monkey — Crushed stone prices accessed 2026-09-16
- Angi — Pea gravel cost accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Bagged pea pebbles accessed 2026-09-16
- The Home Depot — Paver base accessed 2026-09-16
- Ace Hardware — QUIKRETE All-Purpose Gravel 50 lb accessed 2026-09-16
Estimates for planning purposes only, not professional construction advice. Check local building codes and your product's instructions before you build. Prices are national averages collected from public retail listings and cost guides and will differ in your area. BuildHowMuch is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or paid by any retailer or manufacturer mentioned on this page. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.