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How to Calculate Gravel for Your Landscaping Project
Planning a new driveway, a garden path, or a drainage solution requires precision. Ordering too much gravel leads to waste and extra costs, while ordering too little results in multiple delivery fees. Our Gravel Calculator simplifies this process by providing estimates in cubic yards and tons based on your specific dimensions.
The Gravel Formula: Behind the Math
Calculating the volume of gravel is a three-step mathematical process:
- Calculate Cubic Feet: Multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (converted to feet).
- Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide the total cubic feet by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard).
- Convert to Tonnage: Because most gravel suppliers sell by weight, we multiply the cubic yardage by the average density of gravel (roughly 1.4 tons per yard).
Common Project Depth Recommendations
The depth of your gravel depends entirely on the application. Here are industry standard depths for common home projects:
- Walking Paths: 2 to 3 inches for comfortable footing.
- Driveways: 4 to 8 inches (usually applied in layers of different sizes).
- Drainage (French Drains): 12 inches or more, depending on the pipe size and soil.
- Mulch Alternative: 2 to 3 inches for weed suppression and aesthetic cover.
Practical Example
Suppose you are building a gravel patio that is 20 feet long and 15 feet wide. You want a depth of 4 inches. Here is how the calculation works:
- Convert 4 inches to feet: 4 / 12 = 0.33 feet.
- Volume: 20 × 15 × 0.33 = 99 cubic feet.
- Yards: 99 / 27 = 3.67 cubic yards.
- Weight: 3.67 × 1.4 = 5.14 tons.
Important Considerations
Compaction: When calculating for a driveway, remember that gravel settles and compacts when driven over. It is often wise to order 5-10% more than your exact calculation to account for settling and uneven sub-surfaces.
Material Density: Different types of stone have different weights. While 1.4 tons per yard is a standard average for crushed stone, lighter materials like lava rock or heavier materials like dense river rock may vary slightly.