Gravel Calculator

How This Calculator Works

Gravel needed is your area’s length times width times depth, converted into cubic yards — the unit gravel is typically sold in, whether by volume from a landscaping yard or by weight from a quarry. Enter your area’s dimensions and desired depth, and this calculator returns how much to order (with a small waste margin) in both cubic yards and estimated tons.

The Formula

$$\vE{\text{Volume}} = \vA{\text{Length}} \times \vB{\text{Width}} \times \vC{\text{Depth}}$$ $$\vF{\text{Cubic Yards Needed}} = \frac{\vE{\text{Volume}}}{\text{cubic yard-to-cubic-meter conversion}}$$

$\text{Recommended Order} = \vF{\text{Cubic Yards Needed}} \times (1 + \vD{\text{Waste Percent}} / 100)$, using a modest 5% waste margin by default — adjustable in the calculator above if your area has more uneven ground

$\text{Estimated Weight} = \vF{\text{Cubic Yards Needed}} \times \text{Density}$ — using 1.4 tons/cubic yard for the default “Average” gravel type (a commonly-cited contractor rule of thumb for compacted gravel or crushed stone), or the selected material’s own typical density if you pick a specific type (Pea Gravel, Crushed Stone, River Rock, or Decomposed Granite) from the dropdown above. Actual density still varies somewhat by supplier and moisture content, so treat this as a planning estimate rather than an exact figure for your specific product.

Worked Example

A 6m x 2m path at 7.5cm depth:

1. Volume: $\vA{6} \times \vB{2} \times \vC{0.075} = \vE{0.9} \text{ cubic meters}$.
2. Cubic yards needed: $\vE{0.9} \text{ m}^3 \approx \vF{1.18} \text{ cubic yards}$.
3. Recommended order (with waste margin): $\vF{1.18} \times (1 + \vD{5} \div 100) \approx 1.24 \text{ cubic yards}$.
4. Estimated weight: $\vF{1.18} \times 1.4 \approx 1.65 \text{ tons}$.
5. At 3 inches, this depth falls within the commonly recommended 2-4 inch range for a typical gravel path.