Gravel calculator
Gives cubic yards and approximate tons, since most yards sell stone by the ton. Ask your supplier for the weight of the stone you are buying.
Materials takeoff
Gravel Calculator · https://estimahome.com/gravel-calculator/
Bed or area length: 20 ftBed or area width: 10 ftDepth: 4 in
- Area
- 200 sq ft
- Volume
- 66.7 cu ft · 2.47 cu yd
- Bags
- 134 × 0.5 cu ft
- Weight
- 3.46 tons
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gravel, 0.5 cu ft bags | 134 | bag | $6.00 | $804.00 |
- Subtotal
- $804.00
- Likely range
- $683.40 – $924.60
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gravel, bulk | 2.5 | cu yd | $55.00 | $137.50 |
| 3 | Delivery | 1 | trip | $75.00 | $75.00 |
- Subtotal
- $212.50
- Likely range
- $180.63 – $244.37
- Bulk usually wins on price above two or three cubic yards; bags are easier for small beds and tight access.
- Measure irregular beds as several rectangles, or use average length × average width.
Buy these materials
Bags are listed below. Bulk is ordered from a local landscape yard.
- 134 0.5 cu ft bags of gravelAmazon search for 0.5 cu ft bags of gravel (opens in new tab)
Links open a store search for each item. Check sizes and grades against your plan.
Quick reference
- At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton of gravel is about 0.71 cu yd.
- A cubic yard of gravel covers 81 sq ft at 4 in deep.
- Gravel (cu yd) = length × width × depth in inches ÷ 324.
How it's calculated
⌈x⌉ means round up to the next whole unit; ⌊x⌋ means round down. Every quantity you buy is rounded up.
Volume (cu ft) = length × width × depth ÷ 12 × (1 + extra ÷ 100)Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27Bags = ⌈ cubic feet ÷ bag size ⌉Bulk order = cubic yards rounded up to the sale incrementWeight (tons) = cubic yards × tons per cubic yardBag cost = bags × bag price; bulk cost = bulk yards × price per yard + delivery; range = cost × (1 ± range % ÷ 100)
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft area at 4 in deep is 66.67 cu ft, or 2.47 cu yd. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that is about 3.46 tons. In 0.5 cu ft bags it would take 134 bags ($804.00); bulk is 2.5 cu yd ($212.50 with delivery).
Questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Most crushed stone and gravel runs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard dry. Wet or very dense stone weighs more. Your supplier can tell you the figure for their material.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Typically 4 to 6 in of base stone with 2 to 3 in of surface gravel on top, more on soft soil.
How many bags of gravel in a yard?
At 0.5 cu ft per bag, 54 bags. That is why anything larger than a small path is normally bought in bulk.
Cite: “Gravel Calculator.” EstimaHome, https://estimahome.com/gravel-calculator/. Updated 2026-10-20. Formulas in machine-readable form: /api/calculators.json.