Gravel Calculator

Calculate tons of gravel needed for driveways, paths, and projects by area and depth.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: HomeAdvisor

ft
ft
in
Gravel Type

Cubic Yards

2.5

Tons Needed

3.5

Estimated Cost

$178.70

Gravel Calculation

Coverage Area200 sq ft
Volume66.7 cu ft
Cubic Yards2.5
Tons Needed3.5
Material Cost ($30/ton)$103.70
Delivery (~1 load)$75.00
Total Estimated Cost$178.70

Gravel Pricing Guide

Pea Gravel: $35/ton

Crushed Stone: $30/ton

River Rock: $45/ton

Delivery: typically $50-$100 per truckload (~20 tons/load)

Use the Gravel Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. Results are estimates from the numbers you enter and the assumptions described on this page; check them against local building codes, product specifications and current prices, and have structural, electrical or gas work designed or checked by a licensed professional.

How It Works

Gravel is ordered by the ton, and a good estimate keeps a driveway or garden path from turning into an overspend. The calculator prices crushed stone at $30 a ton, pea gravel at $35 and river rock at $45; local quarries and yards will differ. A tight number means you buy just enough to finish the job cleanly.

Everything starts with volume and ends in weight. Area comes from length times width, multiplied by your chosen depth to give the total cubic feet needed. Dividing by 27 turns cubic feet into cubic yards, and multiplying by an average density of 1.4 tons (2,800 lbs) per cubic yard gives the tonnage. The cost is tons times the price per ton, plus one $75 delivery for every 20 tons, rounded up.

Add a 5-10% buffer for settling, compaction, and the small discrepancies that show up in any delivery. Depth is the usual blind spot, particularly on high-traffic surfaces like driveways, which need at least 4-6 inches to stay stable. Densities also shift a little from one gravel type to another, so treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact weight.

Example: Gravel Driveway Project

  1. 1 Input: A driveway 50 feet long by 12 feet wide, 4 inches deep, Crushed Stone.
  2. 2 Volume: 50 × 12 × (4 ÷ 12) = 200 cubic feet; 200 ÷ 27 = 7.4 cubic yards.
  3. 3 Weight and cost: 7.41 cubic yards × 1.4 = 10.4 tons; 10.37 tons × $30 = $311.11, plus one $75 delivery load = $386.11.
  4. 4 Context: The calculator adds no buffer. Ordering 10% extra for settling and compaction means about 11.4 tons.

Source: HomeAdvisor · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons of gravel do I need for my driveway?
A single-car driveway 10x50 feet at 4 inches deep holds about 6.2 cubic yards, or about 8.6 tons of gravel. Multiply length x width x depth (in feet), divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons (gravel weighs about 2,800 lbs per cubic yard).
How much does a ton of gravel cost in 2026?
Gravel costs $15-75 per ton depending on type and location. Basic crushed stone runs $15-30 per ton, pea gravel $25-50, and decorative river rock $50-75. Delivery typically adds $50-150 per load.
What size gravel is best for a driveway?
Use a three-layer approach: 4-inch crushed stone (#3 or #4) as the base, 2-3 inches of #57 stone in the middle, and a 2-inch top layer of #411 or crusher run that compacts into a firm surface.

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