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Professional Gravel & Stone Calculator

Calculate the exact amount of gravel, crushed stone, or river rock needed for your driveway, patio, or landscape project.

Estimation Summary

Cubic Yards

0

Estimated Tons

0

Total Square Feet

0

Estimated Cost

$0

* Estimates assume a standard gravel density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard. It is recommended to order 10% extra for compaction and waste.

How to Calculate Gravel Coverage

Planning a landscaping project requires precision to avoid overspending or running out of materials mid-job. Whether you are building a gravel driveway, a French drain, or a decorative garden path, the math remains the same.

The Gravel Calculation Formula

To calculate the amount of gravel needed manually, use these steps:

1. Calculate Square Footage: Multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft).
2. Convert Depth to Feet: Divide the desired Depth (inches) by 12.
3. Calculate Cubic Feet: Square Footage × Depth in Feet.
4. Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide Cubic Feet by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard).
5. Convert to Tonnage: Multiply Cubic Yards by 1.4 (average weight conversion for most stone).

Standard Depth Recommendations

• Walkways and Paths: 2 to 4 inches.
• Driveways: 4 to 8 inches (typically 3 layers of different sizes).
• Decorative Mulch Substitute: 2 to 3 inches.
• Drainage/French Drains: 12 inches or more depending on pipe diameter.

Real-World Example

If you have a driveway that is 40 feet long and 10 feet wide, and you want to lay gravel 4 inches deep:

40 ft × 10 ft = 400 sq. ft.
4 inches / 12 = 0.333 ft.
400 sq. ft. × 0.333 ft = 133.2 cubic feet.
133.2 / 27 = 4.93 cubic yards.
4.93 × 1.4 = ~6.9 tons of gravel.

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