Gravel Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, tons and bags of gravel for driveways, walkways, drainage and landscaping.
The gravel calculator returns cubic yards, tons and bag counts for any gravel project - driveway, walkway, French drain, dry well or decorative landscape feature. Different gravel types have different densities (pea gravel is lighter than river rock), and depth varies dramatically by use: 2 inches for decorative paths, 3 inches for walkways, 4 inches for drainage applications, 6-8 inches for new driveways needing a compacted base. Most bulk gravel is sold by the ton, and 1 cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.35 tons.
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Frequently asked questions
A standard driveway base needs 4-6 inches of crushed stone over compacted subgrade, topped with 2-3 inches of finer gravel. For a 20x10 ft driveway with 6 inches of base, you need 3.7 cubic yards (about 5 tons). New driveways usually need a 4 inch sub-base plus 2-3 inches of top layer, totaling 6-8 inches.
1 cubic yard of crushed stone or limestone gravel weighs about 1.35 tons (2700 lbs). Pea gravel is slightly lighter at 1.28 tons per cubic yard. River rock is heaviest at 1.42 tons per cubic yard. Bulk gravel is usually priced per ton, while landscape suppliers may quote per cubic yard - confirm units before comparing prices.
A 100 sq ft walkway at 3 inches deep needs 25 cubic feet of pea gravel, or 0.93 cubic yards (about 1.2 tons). In bags, that is 50 bags of standard 0.5 cu ft pea gravel - which would cost $250+ at retail. Bulk delivery is $40-80 per cubic yard, so order bulk for anything over 5-10 bags.
Yes for any gravel area where weeds are a concern (paths, decorative beds, French drains). Use professional-grade landscape fabric, not the cheap roll. The fabric goes between the soil and the gravel. Note that decomposing organic matter that lands on top of the gravel will eventually let weeds grow regardless - so plan to refresh top-layer gravel every 2-3 years.
Use 1/2 to 3/4 inch washed crushed stone or river rock. Avoid pea gravel (too small - clogs easily) and large rock (poor water transmission). The gravel surrounds a perforated pipe with at least 6 inches of gravel above and below the pipe, wrapped in landscape fabric. Plan on 4 inches of depth minimum, 6 inches preferred.