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Gravel & Stone Calculator

Estimate the amount of gravel, crushed stone, or mulch needed for your project.

Recommended: 2-3″ for paths, 4-6″ for driveways.
Standard Gravel (1.4 tons/yard) Crushed Stone (1.25 tons/yard) River Rock (1.5 tons/yard) Mulch / Bark (0.5 tons/yard)

Calculation Results:

Total Volume: 0 Cubic Yards

Estimated Weight: 0 Tons

Note: It is always recommended to order 10% extra to account for compaction and settling.

function calculateGravel() { var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById("calcLength").value); var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById("calcWidth").value); var depth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("calcDepth").value); var density = parseFloat(document.getElementById("calcDensity").value); if (isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(depth) || length <= 0 || width <= 0 || depth <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for length, width, and depth."); return; } // Convert depth from inches to feet var depthInFeet = depth / 12; // Calculate Cubic Feet var cubicFeet = length * width * depthInFeet; // Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards (1 yard = 27 cubic feet) var cubicYards = cubicFeet / 27; // Calculate Tons based on material density var tons = cubicYards * density; // Display Results document.getElementById("resCubicYards").innerText = cubicYards.toFixed(2); document.getElementById("resTons").innerText = tons.toFixed(2); document.getElementById("calcResults").style.display = "block"; }

How Much Gravel Do I Need?

Whether you are building a new driveway, laying a garden path, or creating a base for a shed, accurately estimating gravel is essential for budgeting and logistics. Ordering too little leads to project delays and double delivery fees, while ordering too much leaves you with a heavy pile of waste.

The Gravel Formula

To calculate gravel manually, you must determine the volume of the space and then convert it to the units used by suppliers (usually cubic yards or tons). The standard formula is:

  • Volume (Cubic Feet) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
  • Cubic Yards = Volume (Cubic Feet) ÷ 27
  • Tons = Cubic Yards × Density Factor (typically 1.4 for gravel)

Standard Depth Recommendations

The depth of your material depends entirely on the application:

Project Type Recommended Depth
Walking Paths 2 to 3 inches
Driveways 4 to 6 inches
Shed Bases 4 to 6 inches
Flower Beds (Mulch) 3 inches

Example Calculation

Let's say you want to cover a driveway that is 30 feet long and 12 feet wide with a depth of 4 inches.

  1. Convert depth to feet: 4″ / 12 = 0.33 ft.
  2. Calculate cubic feet: 30 × 12 × 0.33 = 118.8 cubic feet.
  3. Convert to yards: 118.8 / 27 = 4.4 Cubic Yards.
  4. Convert to tons: 4.4 × 1.4 = 6.16 Tons.

Important Considerations

Compaction: When you spread and pack gravel (especially for driveways), the material settles. It is standard industry practice to add 10-15% to your final total to ensure full coverage after the stone has been compacted.

Density Variations: Not all stone weighs the same. Large river rocks have more air gaps between them compared to "crusher run" or "dense grade" gravel which contains stone dust. If using a very heavy or very light material, adjust your density multiplier accordingly.

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