Gravel calculator
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 2 inches deep needs 0.62 cubic yards of gravel, about 0.79 tons at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard. The calculator uses 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard (Seattle Public Utilities).
0 uses the published 2,565 lb/yd³
Optional; 0 leaves cost out
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 2 inches deep needs 0.62 cubic yards of gravel, about 0.79 tons at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard.
- Cubic yards
- 0.62
- Cubic feet
- 16.7
- Tons
- 0.79
- Pounds
- 1,583
- Tons at the published range, same condition
- 0.79–1
- Tons for a compacted layer this thick (3,200 lb/yd³, Maine DEP)
- 0.99
- Compacted layer: loose cubic yards to order (× 1.11)
- 0.69
- Rounded up to the next half yard
- 1 yd³
How it is calculated
- Area = 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft.
- Volume = 100 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 12 = 16.67 cu ft.
- Cubic yards = 16.67 ÷ 27 = 0.617 yd³.
- Weight = 0.617 yd³ × 2,565 lb/yd³ = 1,583 lb; ÷ 2,000 lb per ton = 0.79 tons.
How to calculate gravel in cubic yards and tons
The worked numbers use the calculator's defaults: a 10 ft by 10 ft area 2 inches deep, the calculator's default depth for gravel.
Step 1: area in square feet
Rectangle: length × width
Circle: π × diameter² ÷ 4
Triangle: base × height ÷ 2
Example 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft
Split an irregular area into rectangles, circles and triangles and add their areas.
Step 2: cubic feet from area and depth
Cubic feet = area in sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 12
Example 100 × 2 ÷ 12 = 16.67 cu ft
Step 3: cubic yards from cubic feet
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Example 16.67 ÷ 27 = 0.617 cubic yards
Step 4: tons from cubic yards
Tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000
Example Gravel at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard (Seattle Public Utilities): 0.617 × 2,565 ÷ 2,000 = 0.79 tons
Step 5: a finished, compacted layer
Tons = compacted cubic yards × pounds per compacted cubic yard ÷ 2,000
Loose cubic yards to order = compacted cubic yards × published loose factor
Example 0.617 × 3,200 lb per compacted cubic yard (Maine DEP) ÷ 2,000 = 0.99 tons
Example 0.617 × 1.11 (Maine DEP) = 0.69 loose cubic yards
Gravel for common areas
| Area, sq ft | 1 inch deep | 2 inches deep | 4 inches deep | 6 inches deep | 12 inches deep | 18 inches deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.15 yd³ · 0.2 t | 0.31 yd³ · 0.4 t | 0.62 yd³ · 0.79 t | 0.93 yd³ · 1.19 t | 1.85 yd³ · 2.38 t | 2.78 yd³ · 3.56 t |
| 100 | 0.31 yd³ · 0.4 t | 0.62 yd³ · 0.79 t | 1.23 yd³ · 1.58 t | 1.85 yd³ · 2.38 t | 3.7 yd³ · 4.75 t | 5.56 yd³ · 7.13 t |
| 200 | 0.62 yd³ · 0.79 t | 1.23 yd³ · 1.58 t | 2.47 yd³ · 3.17 t | 3.7 yd³ · 4.75 t | 7.41 yd³ · 9.5 t | 11.11 yd³ · 14.25 t |
| 500 | 1.54 yd³ · 1.98 t | 3.09 yd³ · 3.96 t | 6.17 yd³ · 7.92 t | 9.26 yd³ · 11.88 t | 18.52 yd³ · 23.75 t | 27.78 yd³ · 35.63 t |
| 1,000 | 3.09 yd³ · 3.96 t | 6.17 yd³ · 7.92 t | 12.35 yd³ · 15.83 t | 18.52 yd³ · 23.75 t | 37.04 yd³ · 47.5 t | 55.56 yd³ · 71.25 t |
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard of gravel covers 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep; one ton at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard covers 126 sq ft at the same depth.
| Depth, in | 1 cubic yard covers, sq ft | 1 ton covers, sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 324 | 253 |
| 2 | 162 | 126 |
| 3 | 108 | 84 |
| 4 | 81 | 63 |
| 6 | 54 | 42 |
| 8 | 41 | 32 |
| 12 | 27 | 21 |
- 1 cubic yard
- 1 ton
Recommended gravel depth by use
Published depths for gravel run from 1 inch to 18 inches, depending on the use; each row names its document.
| Use | Depth, in | 1 cubic yard covers, sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden gravel path, practical minimum | 2 | 162 | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Contra Costa Master Gardeners |
| Landscape mulch layer (gravel, pebbles, stones) | 1 | 324 | Mississippi State University Extension |
| Gravel road surface layer, compacted | 4–6 | 54–81 | Maine DEP |
| Gravel road base layer, compacted | 12–18 | 18–27 | Maine DEP |
| Garden gravel path with thick stones or pavers incorporated | 4 | 81 | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Contra Costa Master Gardeners |
Gravel weight per cubic yard
Published weights of a cubic yard of gravel run from 2,565 to 3,900 lb across 7 values from 6 documents, measured in different conditions. The calculators use 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard (Seattle Public Utilities), because it is the value its document marks as loose; the higher values are a compacted weight, a pay factor or weights whose condition is not stated. One ton of gravel is about 0.78 cubic yards.
| Pounds per cubic yard | 2,565 |
|---|---|
| Published as | “Gravel or rock, loose”, 2,565 lb/yd³, Seattle Public Utilities; condition: loose. |
| Published range, same condition, lb | 2,565–3,240 |
| All published values, any condition, lb | 2,565–3,900 |
| Tons per cubic yard | 1.28 |
| Cubic yards per ton | 0.78 |
Every published value with its source, and tables of weight by volume and yards by tons: Gravel weight.
Gravel bags in a cubic yard
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard | Bags for the example |
|---|---|---|
| 50 lb | about 51 | 32 |
Gravel compared with other gravel and stone
| Material | Condition | Pounds per cubic yard | Cubic yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusher run | compacted | 3,770 | 0.53 |
| Pea gravel | not stated | 2,840 | 0.7 |
| Sand | loose | 2,795 | 0.72 |
| River rock | not stated | 2,650 | 0.75 |
| Rock | loose | 2,570 | 0.78 |
| Gravel | loose | 2,565 | 0.78 |
Gravel questions
How much gravel do I need?
A 10 ft by 10 ft area covered 2 inches deep needs 0.62 cubic yards of gravel, about 0.79 tons at 2,565 lb per loose cubic yard. One cubic yard of gravel covers 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, so divide the area in square feet by 162 for the cubic yards at that depth.
Why the gravel you need can differ from the result
The weight of gravel changes with the source, the moisture and how tightly it is packed, so published values differ (here from 2,565 to 3,900 lb per cubic yard across all conditions). Before ordering, ask the supplier for the weight per yard of their own material and enter it as your own density under More options.
For a finished, compacted layer the result also gives the tons at 3,200 lb per compacted cubic yard (Maine DEP), and the loose volume to order at 1.11 loose cubic yards per compacted cubic yard (Maine DEP).