⚡

Gravel Calculator

Calculate how much gravel you need for driveways, patios, walkways, and landscaping โ€” with weight estimates by gravel type and bag counts

Units:
Shape:
10%
0% (exact) 5% 10% (standard) 15% 25%

Results

Enter dimensions above to see results

About This Tool

Ordering gravel without calculating first leads to two outcomes โ€” running short mid-project and waiting days for a second delivery, or overpaying for material that sits in a pile on your driveway. This calculator gives you the exact volume and weight for any rectangular or circular area, in any gravel type. Select your project type (driveway, patio, French drain, etc.) to get recommended depth defaults, choose your gravel type to get accurate weight conversions, and enter your area dimensions. The calculator handles all unit conversions between imperial and metric, accounts for waste, and shows results in cubic yards, tons, and bag counts. Whether you're spreading pea gravel on a garden path, laying crushed stone for a driveway base, or filling a French drain with river rock โ€” this tool tells you exactly how much to order so you buy right the first time.

How to Use

1. Select a project type preset (Driveway, Patio, etc.) or just enter dimensions directly 2. Choose your gravel type โ€” each has a different density affecting weight 3. Toggle between Rectangle and Circle for your area shape 4. Toggle between Imperial (ft, in) and Metric (m, cm) 5. Enter length, width (or diameter), and depth 6. Adjust the waste factor (default 10%) 7. See volume, weight, and bag estimates in the results 8. Use "Copy Link" to save or share your calculation

Formula

Rectangle: Volume = Length ร— Width ร— Depth Circle: Volume = ฯ€ ร— (Diameter / 2)ยฒ ร— Depth Weight = Volume ร— Gravel Density Total = Volume ร— (1 + Waste %)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A typical single-car driveway is 10ร—20 feet with 3โ€“4 inches of gravel. That requires about 0.74โ€“0.99 cubic yards, or roughly 1.1โ€“1.5 tons of crushed stone. For a two-car driveway (20ร—20 ft, 4 in deep), you'll need about 1.98 cubic yards or 2.96 tons. Always add 10% for waste and compaction.
How deep should gravel be?
Depth depends on the project. Driveways need 3โ€“4 inches for light traffic, up to 6 inches for heavy use. Patios and walkways need 2โ€“3 inches. Landscaping beds need 2โ€“3 inches. French drains need 6โ€“12 inches of gravel around the pipe. Backfill depth varies by the trench or hole size.
What is the difference between gravel and crushed stone?
Gravel is naturally rounded rock formed by erosion (like pea gravel and river rock). Crushed stone is mechanically broken rock with angular edges. Crushed stone locks together better, making it ideal for driveways and base layers. Pea gravel and river rock are better for decorative use, walkways, and drainage.
How many tons of gravel do I need?
First calculate the volume in cubic yards (length ร— width ร— depth in feet, divided by 27). Then multiply by the gravel density: crushed stone weighs about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, pea gravel about 1.44 tons, and lava rock about 0.75 tons. This calculator does the conversion automatically for each gravel type.
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard of gravel covers approximately 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, or 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep. Coverage varies slightly by gravel type since angular crushed stone compacts more than round pea gravel.
How much gravel do I need for a French drain?
A French drain trench is typically 6 inches wide and 18โ€“24 inches deep, with gravel filling most of the trench around a perforated pipe. For a 50-foot French drain (6 in wide ร— 18 in deep), you need about 1.67 cubic yards or 2.5 tons of washed river rock or crushed stone. Use gravel without fines to ensure proper drainage.
How much does a bag of gravel cover?
A standard 0.5 cubic foot bag of gravel covers about 3 square feet at 2 inches deep, or 2 square feet at 3 inches deep. For small decorative projects you might need 10โ€“20 bags, but for anything larger (driveways, patios), bulk delivery by the ton is much more economical.

Related Tools

Sand Calculator

Calculate how much sand you need for sandboxes, paver bases, leveling, and masonry โ€” with weight in tons and bag estimates

Mulch Calculator

Calculate how much mulch you need for garden beds, tree rings, and pathways โ€” with bag estimates by mulch type and coverage area

Concrete Calculator

Calculate how much concrete you need for slabs, footings, columns, posts, and stairs โ€” with bag estimates and waste factor

Cubic Yard Calculator

Calculate cubic yards for any project โ€” enter dimensions for one or multiple zones, choose a material for weight estimates, and get total volume with cost