Gravel Calculator
Volume to tons — the conversion gravel suppliers make you do. Free, instant, and private — everything runs on your device.
2–3 in for paths
Bulk gravel runs $30–$70/ton
Your gravel estimate
- Coverage area
- 200 sq ft
- Volume
- 50 cu ft
- Cubic yards
- 1.85 cu yd
- Estimated cost
- $117
Gravel is measured by volume but sold by the ton, so the density of your material drives the weight — that's why the material picker matters. Order a little extra; gravel settles and spreads thinner than you expect.
Gravel confuses people because you measure the job in one unit and buy it in another. You mark out an area and a depth — cubic feet — but the yard sells by the ton. This calculator bridges the gap: it works out your volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, then uses the density of your specific material to convert that into the tonnage you'll actually order. Pea gravel, crushed stone, paver base, and river rock all weigh differently, and the picker accounts for it.
Whether you're topping a driveway, setting a paver base, filling a French drain, or refreshing a path, get the depth right — 2 to 3 inches for walkways and decorative beds, more for driveways — and order a little extra, because loose stone always spreads thinner than it looks in the pile.
How it works
No black box — this is the exact math the calculator runs.
- Area = length × width, in square feet.
- Volume = area × (depth in inches ÷ 12), in cubic feet.
- Cubic yards = volume ÷ 27 — the unit for bulk delivery.
- Tons = cubic yards × the material's density (tons per cubic yard).
- Cost = tons × your price per ton.
Last reviewed July 24, 2026 · Garden & Landscaping
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 200 square foot area?
At 3 inches deep, 200 sq ft is about 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards. For pea gravel (≈1.4 tons/yard) that's roughly 2.6 tons. Change the depth or material and the tonnage changes — which is exactly what the calculator handles.
How deep should gravel be?
2–3 inches for walkways and decorative beds, 3–4 inches for a paver or patio base (over compacted subgrade), and 4–6 inches for a gravel driveway, often in two layers of different stone. Deeper isn't automatically better — a solid, compacted base matters more than raw depth.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on the stone. Pea gravel and river rock are lighter; crushed stone and paver base pack denser and heavier. The material picker uses a typical density for each so your tonnage is realistic.
Should I buy gravel by the bag or in bulk?
Bags make sense only for tiny jobs — they're far more expensive per ton. Any real coverage area (a path, a bed, a base) is much cheaper delivered in bulk by the ton or cubic yard, if you have somewhere to dump it and a wheelbarrow.