Key takeaways
- Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or by the ton; one cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons.
- Volume in cubic feet = area × depth in feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Tons = cubic yards × density — about 1.4 tons/yd³ for crushed stone and gravel.
- Driveway bases run 4–6 inches deep; decorative layers and paths run 2–3 inches.
How to estimate gravel
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or by the ton; one cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons. To order, find the volume of your area in cubic feet, convert to cubic yards, then multiply by the material's density to get tons.
Depth is entered in inches because spread layers are specified that way, so it's divided by 12 to convert to feet before multiplying.
Worked example: a 20 × 10 area at 4 inches
For a 20 ft × 10 ft area spread 4 inches deep: 20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 cubic feet, which is 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards. At the default density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that's 2.47 × 1.4 = 3.46 tons of gravel. Past a yard or two, bulk delivery is far cheaper than bagged material.
Approx. tons per cubic yard by material
| Material | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone / gravel | ≈ 1.4 |
| Sand | ≈ 1.35 |
| Limestone | ≈ 1.5 |
| Topsoil | ≈ 1.1 |
These are dry approximations; wet material weighs more, so order with a small margin if the pile or ground is saturated.
How deep should it go?
For a driveway base, plan 4–6 inches of compacted gravel; for a decorative top layer or garden path, 2–3 inches is usually enough. Depth drives volume directly, so doubling the depth doubles the material. For a slab poured over a gravel base, size the concrete with the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate gravel?
Length × width × depth in feet gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by ~1.4 for tons. A 20×10 area at 4″ ≈ 2.47 cubic yards, or about 3.46 tons.
How many tons in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 for typical gravel and crushed stone — sand is near 1.35, limestone near 1.5, and topsoil near 1.1 tons per cubic yard.
How deep should gravel be?
2–3″ for a decorative top layer or path; 4–6″ for a driveway base. Depth drives volume directly.
How much gravel for a 20×10 area at 4″?
200 sq ft × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 cubic feet ≈ 2.47 cubic yards, or about 3.46 tons at 1.4 tons/yd³.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
Roughly 1.4 tons (about 2,800 lb) for dry gravel. Wet material weighs more.
Order by ton or cubic yard?
Either — gravel sells both ways, and suppliers convert using density (about 1.4 tons per yard). Use whichever unit your supplier quotes.
Aggregate density is a standard supplier figure — roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed stone. See USGS aggregate data for material weights. The 27 cu ft per cubic yard conversion is exact.
Last reviewed June 2026