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Professional Gravel Calculator

Standard Gravel (1.4 tons/yd³) River Rock (1.25 tons/yd³) Crushed Stone (1.5 tons/yd³) Lava Rock (1.1 tons/yd³)

Project Estimates:

Cubic Yards Needed 0.00
Tons Required 0.00
Cubic Feet 0.00
Est. Bags (0.5 cu ft) 0
function calculateGravel() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('length_ft').value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('width_ft').value); var depthInches = parseFloat(document.getElementById('depth_in').value); var density = parseFloat(document.getElementById('density_factor').value); if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depthInches) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depthInches <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for dimensions."); return; } var depthFeet = depthInches / 12; var cubicFeet = length * width * depthFeet; var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; var totalTons = cubicYards * density; var totalBags = Math.ceil(cubicFeet / 0.5); document.getElementById('res_yards').innerText = cubicYards.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_tons').innerText = totalTons.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_feet').innerText = cubicFeet.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('res_bags').innerText = totalBags.toLocaleString(); document.getElementById('results_area').style.display = 'block'; }

How Much Gravel Do I Need?

Whether you are planning a new driveway, a backyard patio, or a drainage trench, calculating the exact amount of gravel required is critical to staying on budget and avoiding extra delivery fees. Our Gravel Calculator simplifies this by converting your area measurements directly into cubic yards and tons.

Calculating Gravel Volume: The Formula

To calculate gravel manually, you must first determine the volume in cubic feet and then convert it to the unit sold by your local quarry (usually cubic yards or tons).

  • Step 1: Calculate Area (Length × Width)
  • Step 2: Convert Depth from inches to feet (Depth in Inches ÷ 12)
  • Step 3: Multiply Area × Depth in Feet = Total Cubic Feet
  • Step 4: Divide Cubic Feet by 27 to get Cubic Yards

Why Do You Need Both Yards and Tons?

Most bulk landscaping materials are measured by volume (cubic yards), but they are often weighed and sold by the ton. The weight of gravel depends heavily on its density. For instance:

Material Type Avg. Weight per Yard
Crushed Stone ~2,800 to 3,000 lbs (1.4 – 1.5 tons)
River Rock ~2,500 lbs (1.25 tons)
Pea Gravel ~2,600 lbs (1.3 tons)

Real-World Example Calculation

Suppose you are building a gravel driveway that is 50 feet long and 12 feet wide, and you want a depth of 4 inches.

  1. Area = 50 ft × 12 ft = 600 sq. ft.
  2. Depth = 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Volume = 600 sq. ft. × 0.333 ft = 200 cubic feet.
  4. Cubic Yards = 200 ÷ 27 = 7.41 cubic yards.
  5. Weight (at 1.4 tons/yd) = 7.41 × 1.4 = 10.37 tons.

Pro Tips for Your Project

Factor in Compaction: If you are using "Crusher Run" or gravel with fines for a base, it will compact down about 20% when rolled. Order approximately 15-20% extra to account for this settling.

Bags vs. Bulk: For very small projects (under 1 cubic yard), buying 0.5 cubic foot bags from a hardware store is convenient. However, for anything larger, bulk delivery from a local landscape supply company is significantly cheaper.

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