Gravel Calculator - Tons, Cubic Yards & Driveways
Free online gravel and aggregate calculator for driveways, walkways, patios, and drainage. Calculate cubic yards, US short tons, metric tonnes, and compaction allowances across various aggregate materials with real-time cost estimation in your local currency.
Gravel Calculator (Tons & Cubic Yards)
Calculate aggregate tonnage, cubic yards, compaction waste, and cost estimates.
1. Dimensions & Gravel Depth
2. Aggregate Material & Pricing
Standard 3/4″ angular stone for driveways & drainage
Aggregate Quick Reference
• 1 US Ton = 2,000 lbs (approx. 0.74 cubic yards of standard gravel).
• 1 Cubic Yard of Crushed Stone ≈ 1.35 to 1.5 Tons depending on moisture and aggregate density.
• Most quarry dump trucks carry 10 to 14 tons per load.
Aggregate & Gravel Engineering: Tonnage, Compaction Ratios & Base Layers
Gravel driveways, walkway pathways, French drains, and concrete sub-bases require calculating both volumetric space (cubic yards) and total weight (tons). Because quarries sell aggregate by the ton, converting volume to mass requires accounting for specific aggregate material densities.
Aggregate Density & Tonnage Conversion
Standard crushed stone and gravel have an average bulk density of 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) per cubic yard. Dense crusher run road base with stone dust weighs approximately 3,000 lbs (1.5 tons) per cubic yard.
Total US Tons = (Cubic Yards × Material Density in lbs/yd³) ÷ 2,000 lbs
- Crushed Stone #57 (3/4″ Clean): 2,700 lbs/yd³ (Driveway top surfaces & drainage beds).
- Pea Gravel (3/8″ Rounded): 2,600 lbs/yd³ (Comfortable underfoot for walkways and dog runs).
- Crusher Run / Road Base: 3,000 lbs/yd³ (Compacted sub-base for driveways and paver patios).
- Decomposed Granite (DG): 2,850 lbs/yd³ (Firm, permeable paths and rustic xeriscaping).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Enter Project Area Dimensions
Input length and width of your driveway, gravel pathway, French drain, or patio sub-base in feet or meters.
Select Layer Depth
Choose gravel layer depth (e.g. 2" for walkway top dressing, 4" for driveway base, 6"-8" for heavy vehicle driveways).
Select Aggregate Material & Density
Choose gravel type (Pea Gravel, Crushed Stone #57, Crushed Granite, Road Base / Crusher Run, River Rock) with pre-calibrated material densities.
Calculate Tons & Cubic Yards
Review total required material volume in Cubic Yards and total weight in Tons (`1.4 tons per cu yd` standard) with estimated material costs.
Key Features & Capabilities
- Calculates material requirements in Cubic Yards (`yd³`), Metric Tons (`t`), and US Short Tons (`2,000 lbs`)
- Material density database: Crushed Stone (1.4 tons/yd³), Pea Gravel (1.35 tons/yd³), Road Base/Crusher Run (1.5 tons/yd³), River Rock (1.3 tons/yd³), and Sand (1.35 tons/yd³)
- Standard depth presets: Pathways (2-3 in), Patios & Walkways Sub-base (4 in), Driveway Foundation (6-8 in), and French Drains
- Compaction factor adjustment: adds 10%-15% volume allowance for settling and mechanical plate compaction
- Cost calculator estimating aggregate quarry pricing, delivery dump truck fees, and labor
- Supports rectangular, circular, and curved pathway perimeter profiles
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate how many tons of gravel you need?
1. Calculate cubic yards: `Cubic Yards = (Length_ft * Width_ft * Depth_in) / 324`. 2. Convert to tons: Multiply cubic yards by material density (standard crushed stone is ~1.4 tons per cubic yard). For example, a 10x20 ft driveway (200 sq ft) at 4 inches depth requires `(200 * 4)/324 = 2.47 cu yds * 1.4 = 3.46 tons`.
How many square feet does 1 ton of gravel cover?
One ton of standard crushed stone (approx. 0.71 cubic yards) covers approximately `115 square feet at 2 inches depth`, `58 square feet at 4 inches depth`, or `38 square feet at 6 inches depth`.
Why is a compaction factor needed for road base and crusher run?
Aggregates with fine particles (such as Crusher Run / Dense Grade Aggregate) compact and lock together tightly when rolled or tamped with a plate compactor, reducing in volume by 10% to 15%. Adding a 15% compaction allowance ensures your gravel layer meets the required finished grade.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A durable gravel driveway should have a total depth of 8 to 12 inches installed in layers: 4 to 6 inches of large #3 or #4 crushed stone for the sub-base, followed by 3 to 4 inches of #57 crushed stone or dense grade road base for the top driving surface.
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