What This Gravel Calculator Works Out
This gravel calculator answers the four questions behind every order: how much gravel you need, how much it will weigh, how many bags that is, and what the material will cost. Enter the area, the finished depth and the gravel type; the tool returns a base volume, adds your allowance, and shows figures you can take straight to a supplier.
| Result | Example | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Order volume | 1.36 yd³ | Bulk volume to order — the gravel volume calculator result |
| Alternate volume | 36.7 ft³ | Cubic feet for small areas and bags |
| Estimated weight | 1.83 short tons | The gravel calculator tons figure for ordering by weight |
| Bags needed | 74 bags | Gravel bag calculator output, rounded up |
| Material cost | Optional | Gravel cost calculator result from a price per ton |
These examples use the calculator's default general gravel planning density of 2,700 lb/yd³ for a 20 × 10 ft area at 2 in deep with a 10% allowance. Choose a different material or enter a supplier density and every figure updates.
Because GravelScope is a gravel quantity calculator rather than one fixed conversion, the same formula handles a small decorative bed and a large driveway base.
How to Calculate How Much Gravel You Need
Gravel is measured by volume for the project area, but sold by weight, bulk volume or bag. This gravel volume calculator works in three steps.
Already know the square footage? Switch to Known area and type it in. If the area is round, use Circle and enter the diameter instead.
Gravel Calculator in Yards, Tons and Cubic Feet
The same pile of gravel can be described three ways, and suppliers quote whichever they prefer. This gravel calculator reports all of them.
| Unit | Measures | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic yards (yd³) | Volume | Bulk deliveries — the gravel calculator yards figure |
| Cubic feet (ft³) | Volume | Bags and small areas — gravel calculator cubic feet |
| Short tons | Weight | Ordering by weight — gravel calculator tons |
| Pounds / kilograms | Weight | Bag counts and load limits |
Gravel calculator yards
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so dividing the cubic feet of your layer by 27 gives yards. The calculator does this for US and metric input.
Gravel calculator tons
Tons measure weight, so the figure depends on density: the same volume of river rock weighs more than pea gravel, which is why the tonnage changes when you change the gravel type.
Gravel calculator cubic feet
Cubic feet suit bags and small jobs, so it helps to know the weight a bag holds. At the calculator's default 2,700 lb/yd³ planning density (about 100 lb/ft³) a 50 lb bag holds roughly 0.5 ft³, so 36.7 ft³ comes to about 74 bags. Denser, compacted material packs more pounds into the same bag, so the bag count rises with density.
Gravel Calculator by Material and Project Type
Densities for the common materials are built in, and you can enter your own — so the tool also works as a pea gravel calculator, a crushed gravel calculator, a paver gravel calculator, a french drain gravel calculator or a landscape gravel calculator.
| Material | Use it for | Planning density |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | Paths, patios, play areas, beds | ~2,565 lb/yd³ |
| Crushed stone | Driveways, bases, drainage | ~2,700 lb/yd³ |
| River rock | Dry beds, borders, cover | ~2,700 lb/yd³ |
| General gravel | Mixed use, planning default | ~2,700 lb/yd³ |
Pea gravel calculator
Pea gravel is the small rounded stone used on paths and patios. It is lighter per cubic yard than crushed stone, so a pea gravel calculator order often needs more volume for the same delivered weight.
Crushed gravel calculator
Crushed stone is angular and interlocks when compacted, making it the usual choice for driveway surfaces and bases.
Stone calculator and rock calculator
For larger decorative material, switch to River rock or enter a custom density — the tool then doubles as a stone calculator for landscape cover or a rock calculator for dry creek beds.
Paver gravel calculator
Pavers need a compacted, well-graded base rather than loose decorative stone, so measure the base area and depth and choose crushed stone.
French drain gravel calculator
Calculate the trench volume as length × width × depth and use washed, single-size gravel so water moves freely. Enter the trench as a rectangle, then round up.
Landscape gravel calculator
Beds, borders and mulch replacement are shallow, so a 2–3 in layer covers most decorative applications.
Gravel Depth for Driveways, Paths and Beds
The right depth depends on the material and the load: decorative gravel may use a shallow layer, while a driveway needs deeper, compacted layers and often more than one material.
| Project | Planning range | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative gravel | About 2–3 in | Stone size, weed membrane and desired coverage |
| Garden paths | About 2–4 in | Foot traffic, edging and base condition |
| Driveway surface | About 3–4+ in | Vehicle load, sub-base, drainage and compaction |
| Base layer | Project-specific | Local construction requirements and engineer or contractor guidance |
Gravel calculator for a driveway
Measure the driveway length and width, enter the layer depth, then select the closest material. A decorative driveway surface starts around 3–4 in, while a structural base is deeper and compacted in layers. Soil, drainage and vehicle load decide the build-up, so confirm it with a local contractor or engineer before ordering.
These are general planning ranges, not engineering specifications. Local soil, drainage and load requirements can change the correct depth.
Gravel Bag Calculator and 20 kg Bag Coverage
Bagged gravel is sold by weight, so the bag count follows directly from the weight estimate. Enter the bag size your supplier uses — 50 lb, 25 kg or 20 kg — and the gravel bag calculator divides the total weight and rounds up to the next whole bag.
| Bag size | Weight | Coverage at 50 mm (2 in) depth |
|---|---|---|
| 20 kg bag | 20 kg | About 0.25 m² per bag (≈4 bags/m²) |
| 25 kg bag | 25 kg | About 0.31 m² per bag (≈3.2 bags/m²) |
| 50 lb bag | 22.7 kg | About 0.28 m² per bag |
20 kg gravel bag coverage
One 20 kg bag covers roughly 0.25 m² at 50 mm depth — about four bags per square metre. Coverage halves as depth doubles, so 100 mm needs around eight bags per square metre and a 10 m² path at 50 mm takes about 40 bags.
Gravel cost calculator
Enter a price per ton and the tool becomes a gravel cost calculator for the material alone. Delivery, minimum loads and compaction are charged separately, so treat the figure as a material estimate rather than a full quote.
Worked Example
A 20 ft × 10 ft area with a 2 in layer gives a base volume of about 33.3 cubic feet. Adding a 10% allowance gives about 36.7 cubic feet, or about 1.36 cubic yards, and the weight then depends on the chosen bulk density. That is why changing the gravel type can change the tonnage without changing the dimensions.
Quick Gravel Calculators by Size
Calculate gravel for common project sizes and applications. Get instant estimates for cubic yards, tons, and bags.
Gravel Planning Guides
Use these practical guides to check the assumptions behind your estimate before ordering material.
Cubic yards, tons and bags for a 10x10 area.
DepthHow deep should gravel be?Ranges for beds, paths, driveways and bases.
WeightGravel density: tons vs cubic yardsWhy equal volumes weigh differently.
OrderingHow much extra gravel should you order?Waste, settlement and compaction.
BudgetHow to estimate gravel project costMaterial price, delivery and other costs.
TypesTypes of gravel and sizesType 1, 2 and 4, sizes and what is best.
Gravel Calculator FAQ
Common questions about how the calculator works and how much gravel to order. For materials and grades, see types of gravel and sizes.
What is the GravelScope gravel calculator?
It is a free online gravel calculator. Enter the area and depth of your project and it returns the volume in cubic yards, cubic feet or cubic metres, the estimated weight in tons, tonnes or kilograms, the number of bags, and an optional material cost.
How to calculate gravel?
Work out the volume first with volume = area × depth, then convert to weight with weight = volume × bulk density. For example, 200 sq ft at 2 in deep is about 33.3 cubic feet (1.23 cubic yards). At the calculator's 2,700 lb/yd³ planning density that is roughly 1.67 short tons.
How much gravel do I need?
Measure the length and width (or the square footage) of the area, choose the finished depth, and multiply. Enter those figures in the calculator and it adds your waste allowance and converts the result into tons, yards and bags for the material you select.
Why should I add a waste or compaction allowance?
An allowance covers uneven ground, spreading loss, settlement, compaction and measurement error. It is adjustable because the right percentage depends on the job — around 5–10% for a small flat bed, and more for a deep driveway base.
What is 1 ton of gravel?
A US short ton is 2,000 lb (about 907 kg). Gravel weighs roughly 1.3–1.4 tons per cubic yard for the common loose grades, so one short ton is about 0.7–0.8 cubic yards, or roughly 19–21 cubic feet.
How to calculate gravel per ton?
Divide the weight you need by the weight of one cubic yard of the material. If your gravel weighs 1.35 tons per cubic yard, then 6 tons is 6 ÷ 1.35 = 4.4 cubic yards. Enter a supplier density as a custom value to convert volume and weight accurately.
How much will 10 tons of gravel cover?
Coverage depends on depth. At about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, 10 tons is roughly 7.4 cubic yards (about 200 cubic feet). That covers around 1,200 sq ft at 2 in deep, about 800 sq ft at 3 in, or about 600 sq ft at 4 in.
How much is a m3 of gravel?
A cubic metre is a volume, not a price. It weighs roughly 1.5–1.7 tonnes (about 1,500–1,700 kg) depending on the stone. Cost varies by material and supplier, so enter a price per ton in the calculator to estimate your own material cost.
How do I calculate gravel for a driveway?
Measure the driveway length and width, enter the planned layer depth, then pick the closest material. The correct base and compaction depend on soil, drainage and vehicle load, so follow local contractor or engineering guidance for the layers.
How many bags of gravel do I need?
Enter the bag size your supplier uses. GravelScope divides the estimated weight by the bag weight and rounds up to the next whole bag.
How much does 20 kg of gravel cover?
A 20 kg bag holds about 0.0125 m³, covering roughly 0.25 m² at 50 mm depth — about four bags per square metre. At 100 mm, coverage halves to about eight bags per square metre.
What is the difference between gravel calculator yards and tons?
Cubic yards measure volume and tons measure weight. A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs about 1.3–1.4 tons depending on the material, so the same area can need a different tonnage for pea gravel than for crushed stone.
Can I use it as a pea gravel calculator or crushed gravel calculator?
Yes. Choose Pea gravel, Crushed stone or River rock, or enter a custom density from your supplier, and the calculator converts the project volume into weight.
How accurate is this gravel calculator?
The geometry is calculated directly from the dimensions you enter. Weight is an estimate, because bulk density varies with material, supplier, moisture and grading — replace the preset with supplier data when you order.
Is GravelScope free?
Yes. The GravelScope gravel calculator is free to use and needs no account.