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Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width and depth of your driveway, path or base, pick the gravel type, and see cubic yards and tons. A 40 ft × 10 ft driveway with a 4 in base and a 2 in top layer needs about 8.1 cubic yards, roughly 10.1 tons, with 10% extra.
Updated · Sources re-checked by
8.15 cubic yards
About 10.09 tons (9.15 metric tonnes)
| Layer | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Crushed stone #57 | 5.43 | 6.6 |
| 2. Pea gravel | 2.72 | 3.48 |
Weights are approximate dry figures; your supplier's scale ticket is the real number. You can type 10, 10.5, 4 1/2 or 10 ft 6 in. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
How the gravel calculator works
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27, added up for each layer, plus the extra percentage. Tons = cubic yards × the material's weight per cubic yard ÷ 2,000 (US short tons). Each gravel type has its own weight, so a layer of #57 stone and a layer of pea gravel give different tons for the same yards. Loads = total tons ÷ what one load holds, rounded up. Cost = price × tons, or price × cubic yards.
| Type | Pounds per cubic yard | Tons per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,565 | 1.28 | 0.78 |
| River rock | 2,835 | 1.42 | 0.71 |
| Crushed stone #57 | 2,431 | 1.22 | 0.82 |
| Crushed stone #411 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 0.71 |
| Dense graded aggregate | 3,374 | 1.69 | 0.59 |
| Bank run gravel | 3,240 | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Decomposed granite | 2,781 | 1.39 | 0.72 |
| Marble chips | 2,565 | 1.28 | 0.78 |
| Riprap | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Lava rock | 1,391 | 0.7 | 1.44 |
| Driveway | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 2.47 | 3.17 |
| 10 ft × 40 ft | 4.94 | 6.33 |
| 12 ft × 50 ft | 7.41 | 9.5 |
| 12 ft × 100 ft | 14.81 | 19 |
| Tons | Cubic yards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.78 |
| 5 | 3.9 |
| 10 | 7.8 |
| 20 | 15.59 |
Worked example: a 40 × 10 ft driveway, 4 in base and 2 in top layer
- Area: 40 × 10 = 400 square feet.
- Base layer, #57 stone, 4 in: 400 × (4 ÷ 12) = 133.33 cubic feet = 4.94 cubic yards. With 10% extra: 5.43 cubic yards.
- Top layer, pea gravel, 2 in: 400 × (2 ÷ 12) = 66.67 cubic feet = 2.47 cubic yards. With 10% extra: 2.72 cubic yards.
- Weight: 5.43 × 2,431 lb ÷ 2,000 = 6.6 tons of #57, and 2.72 × 2,565 lb ÷ 2,000 = 3.48 tons of pea gravel.
- Total: 8.15 cubic yards, about 10.09 tons. A truck that carries 5 tons needs 3 loads.
Common questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Multiply the length by the width to get the area in square feet, multiply by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. Do each layer on its own if the depths or the stone types differ, then add a small extra because gravel settles and compacts.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the type and on moisture. The common types in the table above range from about 1.2 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard, and light rock such as lava rock is far lighter. Pea gravel is about 1.28 tons per cubic yard. These are approximate dry figures, so ask your supplier for the weight of the product you are buying.
How do I convert tons of gravel to cubic yards?
Multiply the tons by 2,000 to get pounds, then divide by the pounds per cubic yard for your gravel. For pea gravel at 2,565 lb per cubic yard, 10 tons is 7.8 cubic yards. You can also type your own weight in the calculator.
How much extra gravel should I order?
Gravel settles and compacts, and some spills during delivery and spreading, so a small extra is common. This calculator starts at 10%. Change it if your supplier or your plans say otherwise.
How deep should gravel be?
It depends on the use, the soil, the traffic and your local rules. A path, a drainage bed and a driveway base are different jobs. Follow your plans, your supplier's advice or your local guidance, and enter that depth for each layer.
Does wet gravel weigh more?
Yes. Water adds weight, and the figures here are for dry gravel. If the gravel is sold by the ton, the supplier's scale ticket shows the real weight, which can be higher than the estimate after rain.
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Sources
- CalculatorSoup gravel calculator: densities for common gravel types (approximate, dry, ask your supplier) (checked October 26, 2026)
- Omni Calculator gravel calculator: a cubic yard of gravel can weigh about 2,400 to 2,900 lb; default 105 lb per cubic foot (checked October 26, 2026)
- International yard and pound agreement (1959): 1 yard = 0.9144 m and 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg exactly (checked October 26, 2026)
This calculator gives an estimate for planning. Gravel weight varies with the stone, the size, the moisture and the supplier. Check the weight and the price with your supplier before you order.