Gravel Calculator – Area, Volume, Weight, Coverage And Cost
This Gravel Calculator is designed to follow the way real projects are planned. It helps you measure area, pick a gravel depth, convert that into volume, estimate weight in tons or tonnes, see coverage per load and compare material cost priced per ton or per cubic yard before you order.
Measure Driveway And Path Area
Gravel projects usually start with a simple footprint. The area tab lets you enter a rectangular driveway or path and a circular pad or tree ring. Rectangular area is length times width. Circular area is π times radius squared. You can fill one or both and choose feet or meters as your base measurement.
The calculator returns total area in both square feet and square meters so you can match local supplier coverage charts and construction drawings, even when they use different units.
Choose A Practical Gravel Depth
Depth is one of the biggest factors in gravel quantity. Light-use paths might only need 2–3 inches of gravel, while driveways often use 4–6 inches or more when you include base layers. The depth tab converts between inches, centimeters, feet and meters and shows typical ranges for paths and driveways.
Once you have a depth in mind, the volume tab multiplies area by depth, converts the result into cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic meters and summarizes the result in all three units. The cubic yard figure is especially helpful when talking to local landscape suppliers, while cubic meters are more common in metric markets.
Estimate Gravel Weight In Tons And Tonnes
Suppliers and haulers often talk in tons rather than volume. The weight tab takes your gravel volume in cubic yards, cubic feet or cubic meters and multiplies it by a density value in pounds per cubic foot. Many compacted gravels fall in the range of 95–110 lb/ft³. The calculator converts the result into pounds, short tons and metric tonnes so you can compare to truck capacities and quoted loads.
Coverage Per Load Or Per Volume
If you already know how many cubic yards or cubic meters you can get in a load, the coverage tab works in the opposite direction. It divides volume by depth to estimate how much area that volume will cover. This is useful when you are deciding whether one truckload is enough or you need to schedule multiple deliveries.
Compare Gravel Cost Per Ton And Per Cubic Yard
Some suppliers price gravel per cubic yard, while others price per ton. The cost tab converts a project volume into both cubic yards and tons using your chosen density, then multiplies by price per yard and price per ton. It reports both totals and highlights which option appears cheaper at the given prices.
Real-world costs can include delivery charges, minimum load fees and taxes, so the calculator should be used as a planning tool rather than a final quote. It is still a powerful way to understand how depth, area, density and price influence your project budget.
Unit Conversions For Gravel And Aggregates
Gravel projects often mix imperial and metric units, especially when you are using design guidance from one region and ordering material from another. The converter tab handles the most common conversions you need: square feet and square meters for area, inches and centimeters for depth, feet and meters for length, cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic meters for volume, and pounds, kilograms, short tons and metric tonnes for weight.
With clear conversions, it becomes easier to translate recommended depths and coverage charts into the units your local suppliers use, reducing miscommunication and ordering errors.
Use This Gravel Calculator With Other Outdoor Tools
Gravel is often part of a larger project that includes concrete, mulch and other materials. You can combine this Gravel Calculator with other tools on My Time Calculator, such as the Concrete Calculator for slabs, walkways and footings, the Mulch Calculator for planting beds and the Roofing Calculator when you are coordinating exterior surface work. For more complex footprints, the Square Footage Calculator can help you break down the site into simpler rectangles.
Gravel Calculator – Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Many driveways use a total depth of 4–6 inches or more, often in layers. A compacted base of coarser material may be topped with a thinner layer of finer gravel for appearance and comfort. Vehicle weight, soil conditions and climate all influence the ideal depth, so local experience is important.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A common rule of thumb is that a cubic yard of gravel weighs around 1.2–1.5 short tons, depending on the type of stone, gradation and moisture content. In pounds, that is often in the range of roughly 2400–3000 pounds per cubic yard. The weight tab lets you adjust density to match your supplier’s guidance.
Is volume or weight more important when ordering gravel?
Both matter. Volume determines coverage at a given depth, while weight determines how much a truck can carry and how the material is priced if you pay per ton. The calculator converts between the two so you can plan coverage in volume and check logistics and pricing in weight units.
Should I order extra gravel for compaction and settling?
Yes. Loose gravel will compact and settle over time, especially under vehicle traffic. Many people add a margin above the calculated volume so that the finished surface still reaches the desired depth after compaction. You can do this by increasing the depth slightly in the calculator or rounding volume up to the next convenient truckload size.
Can I use this calculator for crushed stone, pea gravel and other aggregates?
The geometry is the same for most loose aggregates. The main difference is density. Crushed stone, pea gravel and recycled aggregates can have different typical densities. Adjust the density input on the weight and cost tabs to match the material specification or your supplier’s published numbers.