How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of gravel weighs approximately 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons). This varies by type: pea gravel is about 2,600 lbs/yd³, crushed stone about 2,700 lbs/yd³, and river rock about 2,800 lbs/yd³.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

A gravel driveway should be 4-6 inches deep in total, typically laid in layers: 4 inches of larger base stone topped with 2 inches of smaller surface gravel. High-traffic or heavy-vehicle areas may need 6-8 inches total.

How much gravel do I need for a 10x20 driveway?

A 10x20 foot driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 2.5 cubic yards or 3.3 tons of gravel. At 6 inches deep, you would need approximately 3.7 cubic yards or 5 tons.

Should I order gravel by the ton or cubic yard?

Most gravel suppliers sell by the ton since it is easier to measure with truck scales. One ton of gravel covers roughly 100 square feet at 2 inches deep or 50 square feet at 4 inches deep.

Gravel Calculator

Planning a new driveway, a backyard fire pit, or a beautiful garden path? Gravel is a fantastic, versatile, and affordable material for all kinds of landscaping projects. However, before you can start moving dirt and laying down landscape fabric, you have to answer one very stressful question. How much gravel do you actually need to buy? Trying to do volume math in your head while looking at your backyard is a recipe for disaster. We created the Gravel Calculator to take the guesswork completely out of your landscaping plans. Let us look at why getting an accurate estimate is so important and how you can use this friendly tool to make your next project a complete success.

Why Accurate Estimates Save You Money

Guessing the amount of stone you need usually leads to serious headaches. Gravel is incredibly heavy, and getting it to your house almost always requires a professional delivery truck.

If you underestimate your project and order too little gravel, your work grinds to a halt. You will have to call the supplier, order more stone, and pay a second delivery fee just to finish your driveway. On the other hand, ordering too much gravel eats directly into your project budget. You end up paying for tons of extra rock that you do not need, and you are left trying to figure out where to hide a massive pile of leftover stone in your yard.

Getting a highly accurate material estimate upfront protects your wallet. It ensures you only pay for exactly what you need and prevents frustrating delays.

How to Use the Gravel Calculator

We designed this tool to handle the complicated math for you. You do not need to be a professional landscaper to get a reliable and accurate estimate. Just grab your tape measure and follow these simple steps:

Enter your dimensions: Measure the total length and width of the area you want to cover with gravel. Drop those two numbers into the calculator.
Input your depth: Tell the calculator how deep you want the gravel to be. A simple walking path might only need two inches of stone, while a heavy-duty driveway might need four to six inches to properly support vehicles.
Check the gravel density: Different types of stone have slightly different weights. The tool automatically uses a standard density for common gravel. However, if your local rock yard gives you a specific density for the exact stone you want, you can easily adjust this number for perfect accuracy.
Include the price: Enter the cost per ton from your local supplier to get an instant budget estimate for your entire project.

Once you hit calculate, the tool instantly processes your numbers and tells you exactly how much material to order.

Understanding Tons and Cubic Yards

When you look at your results, you will notice the calculator gives you two different measurements: cubic yards and tons. Why do you need both?

Cubic yards measure the physical volume of the space you are trying to fill. It helps you visualize how much space the gravel will take up. However, suppliers almost always sell and deliver gravel by weight, which is measured in tons. Our tool automatically converts your volume into weight based on the gravel density. This gives you the exact terminology you need to call your local rock yard and place an order with total confidence.

Get Ready to Transform Your Yard

You have enough hard physical work ahead of you with wheelbarrows and shovels. You should not have to worry about complicated math while trying to plan your backyard transformation.

By letting our simple tool handle the calculations, you can focus on creating something beautiful. Gather your site measurements, plug them into the Gravel Calculator, and head into your next landscaping project knowing exactly what you need.