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Gravel Calculator

Estimate gravel volume and weight to cover an area, plus optional material cost by the cubic yard, ton, or bag.

Enter the area to cover when you already know square footage (or metres, yards, acres).

ExampleSample values — edit any field to see your result.

A 2–4 inch layer is a typical driveway or path baseline; decorative beds may be thinner.

Loose-fill bulk density. Open custom density when the supplier lists a different figure.

Results update as you type.

Volume

50ft³

Estimated result

Volume
1.85yd³
Volume
1.42m³
Volume
1,416L
Weight
5,244lbs
Weight
2.62short tons
Weight
2,379kg
Weight
2.38metric tons
Volume50 ft³

Estimate the volume and weight of gravel (or sand) needed to cover an area at a chosen depth. Enter a known area, a rectangle, or a circle. Results include cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic metres, liters, pounds, kilograms, and tons, plus an optional material-cost estimate.

Formula

Lengths convert through metres (1 ft = 0.3048 m). Volume is area × depth. Mass is volume × bulk density.

V_m³      = area_m² × depth_m
V_ft³     = V_m³ / 0.028316846592
V_yd³     = V_ft³ / 27
V_L       = V_m³ × 1000
weight_kg = V_m³ × density_kg/m³
weight_lb = weight_kg / 0.453592

Density presets (kg/m³):

gravel (0.2–2 in)   1680
gravel with sand    1920
dry sand            1500
wet sand            1900

Custom density may be kg/m³, g/cm³ (× 1,000), or lbs/ft³. Rectangle area is length × width; circle area is π (diameter / 2)².

The result is only an estimate. Actual coverage varies with stone size, how loosely it is packed, moisture, and compaction. Buying a little extra avoids a short load.

Typical coverage

A 2–4 inch layer is a workable baseline for paths and driveways. Decorative beds and patio bases may use less; structural fill and drainage may use more.

AreaDepthVolumeWeight (gravel 1,680 kg/m³)
200 sq ft3 in50 ft³ / 1.85 yd³5,244 lbs / 2.62 short tons
20 ft × 15 ft3 in75 ft³ / 2.78 yd³7,866 lbs / 3.93 short tons
10 ft diameter circle3 in19.6 ft³ / 0.73 yd³2,059 lbs / 1.03 short tons

Gravel is a loose mix of rock fragments from erosion or crushing. Size classifications differ: the Udden-Wentworth scale splits granular gravel (2–4 mm) from pebble gravel (4–64 mm); ISO 14688 uses fine / medium / coarse (2–63 mm). Sand is smaller; cobbles and boulders are larger.

Examples

200 square feet at 3 inches

Default total area. Volume is 50 ft³ (1.85 yd³, 1.42 m³, 1,416 L). Typical gravel weighs 5,244 lbs (2.62 short tons, 2,379 kg, 2.38 metric tons). At $10 per cubic foot the material cost is $500.00.

20 ft by 15 ft rectangle

Length × width is 300 sq ft (33.3 yd², 27.9 m²). At 3 in the volume is 75 ft³ (2.78 yd³), about 7,866 lbs of gravel.

10 ft circular patio

A 10 ft diameter at 3 in is 19.6 ft³ (0.73 yd³) and 2,059 lbs. The area prints as 79 sq ft.

Bags of 50 lb gravel

The default 50 ft³ / 5,244 lb load is 105 bags of 50 lb mix (counts round up). At $5 per bag the material cost is $525.00.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply the area to cover by the gravel depth (in the same unit) to get volume. A 200 sq ft driveway at 3 in deep is 200 × 3/12 = 50 ft³, or 1.85 yd³. Weight is that volume times the bulk density — about 1,680 kg/m³ for typical 0.2–2 in gravel, which is 5,244 lbs (2.62 short tons) for this example.
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Convert cubic feet to cubic metres (× 0.028316846592), multiply by the density in kg/m³, then divide kilograms by 1,000 for metric tons or convert to pounds and divide by 2,000 for US short tons. The default 50 ft³ of gravel is 2.38 metric tons or 2.62 short tons.
What density does this calculator use?
Gravel (0.2–2 in) is 1,680 kg/m³, gravel with sand 1,920 kg/m³, dry sand 1,500 kg/m³, and wet sand 1,900 kg/m³. Enter a supplier figure in kg/m³, g/cm³, or lbs/ft³ when you have one. Packed, wet, or crushed stone can differ, so treat the result as an estimate.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
A common compacted driveway layer is 2–4 inches. For a 20 ft by 15 ft rectangle at 3 in, the volume is 75 ft³ (2.78 yd³) of gravel, about 7,866 lbs. Order a little extra for compaction and uneven subgrade.
Does the price include delivery or labor?
No. The optional price is materials only, using the unit you enter (cubic foot, yard, metre, liter, pound, short ton, kilogram, metric ton, or bag). Bag counts round up to whole bags.

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