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Material Calculator

How much gravel do you actually need?

Measure once, order once. Enter your dimensions and gravel type below and get tons, cubic yards, bags, and estimated cost — laid out like a real delivery ticket.

Start calculating

Project dimensions

All measurements in feet, except depth.

ESTIMATE

Your delivery ticket will appear here once you calculate.

How it works

Three numbers, one ticket

01

Measure the area

Measure the length and width of the space in feet. For irregular shapes, split the area into rectangles and run each one separately.

02

Set depth & material

Pick how deep you're laying gravel and which material you're using — density changes the weight per cubic yard, and therefore your cost.

03

Read your ticket

The calculator converts your inputs into cubic feet, cubic yards, tons, bag count, and a cost estimate — formatted like a real delivery slip.

The math behind it

No black box, just arithmetic

Step 1 — Volume (ft³) = Length × Width × (Depth ÷ 12)
Step 2 — Cubic yards = Volume (ft³) ÷ 27
Step 3 — Tons = Cubic yards × material density (ton/yd³)
Step 4 — Cost = Tons × price per ton
// Depth is divided by 12 to convert inches → feet before multiplying.
MaterialTons / yd³Typical depth
Crushed gravel (¾")1.402–4"
Crushed stone1.354–6" (base)
Pea gravel1.352"
River rock1.302–3"
Decomposed granite1.352–3"
Sand1.351–2" (bedding)
Before you order

Five things that change the number

Order in whole tons where possible

Most quarries sell by the ton and round up. A ticket reading 3.4 tons usually means you'll be billed for 3.5 or 4.

Compaction eats 10–15% of your depth

Loose gravel settles once driven or walked on. Order extra material rather than re-ordering a part-load later.

Driveways need a base layer first

A 4–6" crushed stone base under 2" of decorative gravel will outlast decorative gravel laid alone.

Wet gravel weighs more, not less

Suppliers quote dry density. Rain-soaked stockpiles can run 5–8% heavier by weight for the same volume.

FAQ

Common questions

How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?

For a standard driveway, plan on a 4–6" crushed stone base topped with 2" of decorative gravel. Run the base and topping layers as two separate calculations and add the tons together, since each layer uses a different depth.

What depth of gravel should I use?

Walkways and flower beds typically use 2" of gravel, driveways use 2–4" of decorative stone over a compacted base, and structural bases under pavers or slabs use 4–6" of crushed stone.

How is gravel weight different from volume?

Volume tells you how much space the gravel fills (cubic yards); weight tells you how much it costs to haul and buy (tons). The two are linked by density, which is why the material you pick changes your ticket even at the same depth.

Why does the calculator add 10% extra?

The 10% waste buffer accounts for compaction settling, uneven sub-grade, and spillage during spreading. You can untick this if you want the exact theoretical volume with no allowance.

How many bags of gravel equal one ton?

A common bagged size is 0.5 cubic feet per bag. One ton of gravel is roughly 18–20 bags of that size, though this varies slightly by material density and bag brand.

Does this work for irregular or curved areas?

Yes — split the area into rectangles or triangles, run the calculator for each section using its own length and width, then add the resulting tons together for your total order.