Gravel Calculator

Gravel calculator: estimate tons or cubic yards of gravel needed for driveways, paths and landscape beds, with cost. Editable depth, free, runs in your browser.

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Calculation details
Every figure above is calculated locally in your browser from the assumptions shown. No inputs are sent anywhere. See the methodology section below for the formulas used.
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Planning estimate only. Verify dimensions, waste, coverage, product specifications, and local requirements before purchasing materials.

This tool runs in your browser. Your calculator inputs and results are never transmitted to us or to ad/affiliate partners. Ads and sponsored links may set third-party cookies to serve and measure them, but they never receive your calculation values. If you explicitly save a scenario, its permitted fields stay in local browser storage until you clear them. See our Privacy Policy.

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Direct answer

What does this calculator estimate?

This calculator estimates the volume and weight of gravel you need for a project. Enter the length, width, and depth of the area, and it returns cubic feet, cubic yards, and tons. Use the cubic yards figure to order gravel, and the tons figure to plan delivery weight.

Gravel calculator results for a 20 by 10 foot path
A 20x10 path at 3 inches deep costs $96.25 delivered.
Formula & evidence

How this calculator works

Reviewed July 2026 · BoringToolsKit Editorial Team

Formula

Tons = length x width x depth (in) / 12 / 27 x density (lb/yd3) / 2,000 x (1 + waste).

Worked example

A 30 x 12 ft area at 4 inches deep with 105 lb/yd3 density and 10% waste: 4.89 cubic yards, about 6.93 tons.

Sources

Sources support the method, terminology, or planning context. Editable assumptions remain your responsibility.

Assumptions to verify

  • The area is rectangular and depth is uniform.
  • Bulk density is editable because material type and moisture vary.
  • Waste does not model compaction separately unless included in the allowance.

Frequently asked questions

What is a gravel calculator?

A gravel calculator estimates the volume and weight of gravel needed for a project based on dimensions and depth. It's a free, browser-based tool with no signup required.

How do I use the gravel calculator?

Enter the length, width, and desired depth, then select gravel type to get the amount. The tool calculates instantly and shows results in cubic yards, cubic feet, and tons.

Do I need to create an account?

No, the gravel calculator operates entirely in your browser without any signup. It's designed for quick, anonymous estimates.

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Cite this tool

BoringToolsKit. “Gravel Calculator.” boringtoolskit.com/gravel-calculator/ (reviewed July 2026). Free to reference in articles, syllabi, and answer posts with a link.

Privacy: Inputs and results stay in this browser. Results are planning estimates based on your inputs; verify assumptions and current rules before making decisions.

Worked example: a 20 by 10 foot path, 3 inches deep

Take a path 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, 3 inches deep, with a crushed gravel density of 100 lb/ft3 and 10 percent waste allowance. First convert depth: 3/12 = 0.25 feet. Raw volume is 20 x 10 x 0.25 = 50 cubic feet.

Add waste: 50 x 1.10 = 55 cubic feet. In cubic yards that is 55/27 = 2.04 yd3. Weight uses the density directly: 55 x 100 = 5,500 pounds, and 5,500/2,000 = 2.75 tons.

At a delivered price of $35 per ton, the bill is 2.75 x 35 = $96.25. The calculator shows all four values at once: 1.85 yd3 raw, 2.04 yd3 with waste, 2.75 tons, $96.25. Note the waste factor changes both volume and weight by the same 10 percent, since it multiplies before the density step, so a 10 percent waste setting cannot quietly hide a wrong density entry.

Why two suppliers quote different tonnage for the same driveway

Bulk density is the swing variable. Washed pea gravel runs roughly 95 lb/ft3, crushed limestone 100 to 105 lb/ft3, and dense crusher-run base material up to 115 lb/ft3 when compacted. For the 2.04 yd3 order above, that span means 2.61 tons at 95 lb/ft3 versus 3.15 tons at 115 lb/ft3, about a 21 percent difference on an identical footprint.

Moisture adds more. A wet load can weigh 5 to 10 percent more than dry, which matters if the quarry sells by weight: you pay for water, not rock. If a supplier sells by the cubic yard instead, weight drops out of the equation entirely and only volume matters.

Practical rule: ask for the material's density in pounds per cubic foot before ordering, enter it, and compare. A 1.4 ton per yard quote implies about 103.7 lb/ft3, a useful cross-check that the number you type matches what the truck actually delivers.