Gravel Calculator.
Plan your next path or gravel area. Get yardage, bag counts, and a supplier-based weight estimate.
Your project
Order optionsBags & extra material
Buying by the ton? Add your supplier’s density below. Gravel weight varies by product.
Allowance applies to both options. Order increments and supplier minimums apply only to bulk orders. Bag counts always round up.
Use the density of the actual gravel you’re buying. A US short ton is 2,000 lb.
Compare material costsOptional
Enter quotes for the same material. All prices are in US dollars; tax and unlisted fees are excluded.
Enter a price to see its total. Add both prices to compare.
Project estimate
CUBIC YARDS — PROJECT ESTIMATE Material: Gravel Area 1: 20 × 10 ft × 3 in depth Calculated volume: 1.85 yd³ Allowance: 0% Bulk order increment: 0 yd³; supplier minimum: 0 yd³ Bulk order: 1.85 yd³ Bag equivalent: 100 bags at 0.5 ft³ each Price estimates exclude tax and unlisted fees. Confirm material, quantity, and delivery with your supplier. Open the calculator website to edit this estimate.
Get your gravel order right.
Use your project’s specified area and depth. Different gravel products and applications have different requirements; this calculator does not determine a structural base design or compaction specification.
If your supplier sells gravel by weight, open Order options and enter their density in pounds per cubic yard. The calculator converts your bulk order into US short tons. Ask for the density of the actual product in its delivered condition.
A worked example.
A 20 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep needs about 1.85 cubic yards. If a supplier quotes 2,700 lb/yd³ for that product, the unadjusted volume weighs 5,000 lb, or 2.50 US short tons. This density is an example, not a default.
For multiple areas, calculate each area separately and add the volumes. Keep the unrounded values until the final total.
How much does one yard cover?
| Material depth | Coverage per yd³ |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 square feet |
| 2 inches | 162 square feet |
| 3 inches | 108 square feet |
| 4 inches | 81 square feet |
| 6 inches | 54 square feet |
| 12 inches | 27 square feet |
Calculated coverage before allowances, settling, or compaction.
A few good questions.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
There is no single answer. Divide the supplier’s density in pounds per cubic yard by 2,000 to find US short tons per yard. Product type, moisture, and packing can change the weight.
How do I compare bulk and bagged prices?
Open Compare material costs. Enter a price per cubic yard and a price per bag, then add delivery or other known fees for each option. Set the bag volume and any bulk minimum under Order options.
Are delivery and local prices included automatically?
No. Enter current quotes from your supplier. Price totals include only your entered prices and fees, and exclude tax. Check availability and the final delivered total before ordering.
A little know-how goes a long way.
How to measure your project
Rectangles, curves, and uneven depths. Turn your space into an accurate estimate.
Bulk or bags: which makes sense?
Compare the whole cost, including delivery, minimum orders, and leftover material.
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Gravel calculator
Plan a path or gravel area. Calculate volume and use supplier density to estimate weight.
Our conversions use NIST unit definitions. Results are estimates based on your measurements. Read our calculation methodology.