Landscaping Materials

Gravel Calculator

Enter the shape and depth of the area you are covering. The calculator returns cubic yards, tons, 50 lb bag count, area, and metric volume with a waste allowance and a recommended bulk-order size rounded to the nearest half yard.

Area
ft
ft
in
%

Order gravel

1 cu yd

net 0.74 cu yd

Approximate weight

1 tons

2,000 lb

50 lb bags

44

without waste 40

Area

80 sq ft

Cubic feet

20 cu ft

Cubic meters

0.57 m³

Assumptions

  • Gravel density: about 100 lb per cubic foot (roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard).
  • 50 lb bag: about 0.5 cubic feet of coverage.
  • Order quantity rounded up to the nearest half cubic yard.

Sizing a gravel order without over-ordering

Gravel is sold by the yard at stone yards and by the bag at home centers. The two are hard to compare without a volume conversion, which is what this calculator does. Enter your area and depth once, and the result panel shows cubic yards for a bulk delivery, 50 lb bag count for a home-center trip, and approximate weight in tons so you can cross-check quotes priced by weight.

Depth is the biggest lever

A driveway that goes from 3 to 4 inches deep needs 33 percent more gravel. Small changes in depth make bigger changes in total volume than small changes in length or width. If you are laying gravel over an existing base, 2 to 3 inches is usually enough. For a fresh driveway build, plan on 4 to 6 inches over compacted subgrade.

Bulk vs bags

Bulk gravel is usually 40 to 60 percent cheaper per cubic yard than bagged, but you need a driveway that can handle a delivery truck. Bags make sense for small jobs (under a cubic yard) or for sites without vehicle access.

Frequently asked questions

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Educational estimates only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice.

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