How to calculate how much gravel you need
- Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
- Choose the depth in inches, then divide by 12 to get feet.
- Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
- Multiply cubic yards by the weight per cubic yard to get tons. This page uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard unless you change it.
Example: a 12 ft × 50 ft driveway, 4 inches deep. 12 × 50 × 0.333 = 200 cu ft. 200 ÷ 27 = 7.41 cubic yards. 7.41 × 1.4 = 10.4 tons.
Gravel needed for a driveway
Cubic yards (yd) and tons (t) for common driveway sizes, using 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Your stone may weigh more or less, so check with your supplier.
| Size | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 yd · 1.73 t | 1.85 yd · 2.59 t | 2.47 yd · 3.46 t | 3.7 yd · 5.19 t |
| 10 × 50 ft | 3.09 yd · 4.32 t | 4.63 yd · 6.48 t | 6.17 yd · 8.64 t | 9.26 yd · 12.96 t |
| 12 × 50 ft | 3.7 yd · 5.19 t | 5.56 yd · 7.78 t | 7.41 yd · 10.37 t | 11.11 yd · 15.56 t |
| 12 × 100 ft | 7.41 yd · 10.37 t | 11.11 yd · 15.56 t | 14.81 yd · 20.74 t | 22.22 yd · 31.11 t |
| 16 × 50 ft | 4.94 yd · 6.91 t | 7.41 yd · 10.37 t | 9.88 yd · 13.83 t | 14.81 yd · 20.74 t |
Cubic yards of gravel to tons
| Volume | Weight at 1.4 t/cu yd |
|---|---|
| 1 cu yd | 1.4 tons |
| 2 cu yd | 2.8 tons |
| 3 cu yd | 4.2 tons |
| 5 cu yd | 7 tons |
| 10 cu yd | 14 tons |
| 15 cu yd | 21 tons |
| 20 cu yd | 28 tons |
Pea gravel and other stone
Pea gravel, crushed stone, river rock and decomposed granite are all measured the same way: work out the cubic yards, then convert to tons using the weight your supplier quotes for that product. Enter that weight in the options to get an accurate tonnage.
How much extra should you order?
Gravel settles and compacts, and a surface is rarely perfectly level, so many people order roughly 5–10% extra. Use the waste box in the options to see the adjusted volume, weight and cost.
Need the volume for something else? Try the cubic yard calculator. Pouring a slab instead? Use the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the weight per cubic yard to get tons. For a 12 × 50 ft driveway at 4 inches deep: 12 × 50 × (4 ÷ 12) = 200 cu ft = 7.41 cubic yards, which is about 10.4 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the stone and how wet it is. 1.4 tons per cubic yard is a common planning figure, and this calculator uses it unless you enter your own. Ask your supplier for the exact weight of the product you are buying.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Measure the length and width, choose a depth, and enter them above. A 12 × 50 ft driveway needs 5.56 cubic yards at 3 inches, 7.41 at 4 inches and 11.11 at 6 inches. Driveways are commonly built up in layers, so check local guidance for the depth you need.
How do I use this as a pea gravel calculator?
Enter the area and depth as usual. For pea gravel, put the weight per cubic yard from your supplier in the Tons per cubic yard box so the tons figure matches the product you are buying.
Should I order extra gravel?
Gravel compacts and spreads unevenly, so many people order roughly 5–10% extra. Enter that in the waste box to see the adjusted amount.
How do I convert cubic yards of gravel to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the tons per cubic yard. At 1.4, 5 cubic yards is 7 tons.
Does this calculator upload my measurements?
No. The maths runs in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, and it works offline once the page has loaded.
Written by Prakhar Singh, software engineer and creator of K4Converter · Last updated November 2026