How to use
- Choose Imperial or Metric, and a rectangle or a round area.
- Enter the length and width (or diameter) and how deep the gravel will be.
- Read the volume to order, the weight and the bag count. Change the weight per volume if your supplier quotes a different figure.
Options explained
- Depth
- About 2–3 in (5–7 cm) for walkways and patios, 4–6 in (10–15 cm) for driveways. Driveways usually go over a compacted base of larger stone.
- Extra for settling and compaction
- Gravel packs down once it is raked and driven on. 5–10% extra is usual; more for a driveway that will be compacted with a plate.
- Weight per volume
- Starts at 1.4 US tons per cubic yard (1.6 t/m³). Crushed stone, pea gravel and river rock are mostly 1.3–1.7; wet material is heavier.
- Bag size
- Bagged gravel is sold by weight, commonly 50 lb (or 25 kg). Bulk gravel is sold by the cubic yard or by the ton.
Gravel for common jobs
Volumes before extra. Weight uses 1.4 US tons per cubic yard; bags are 50 lb.
| Area | Depth | Volume | Weight | 50 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio | 2 in | 0.62 yd³ (16.7 ft³) | 0.86 tons | 35 |
| 10 × 10 ft patio | 3 in | 0.93 yd³ (25 ft³) | 1.30 tons | 52 |
| 4 × 40 ft path | 3 in | 1.48 yd³ (40 ft³) | 2.07 tons | 83 |
| 20 × 20 ft parking pad | 4 in | 4.94 yd³ (133 ft³) | 6.91 tons | 277 |
| 12 × 50 ft driveway | 4 in | 7.41 yd³ (200 ft³) | 10.4 tons | 415 |
| 12 × 50 ft driveway | 6 in | 11.1 yd³ (300 ft³) | 15.6 tons | 623 |
Once a job needs more than a cubic yard or so, bulk delivery by the yard or ton is usually far cheaper than bags.
Metric examples
A 1 × 10 m path 5 cm deep is 0.50 m³, about 0.8 tonnes. A 3 × 10 m driveway 10 cm deep is 3.0 m³, about 4.8 tonnes, before allowing for compaction.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 1.4 US tons (about 2,800 lb), with most gravels between 1.3 and 1.7 tons depending on stone type, size and moisture.
How much gravel for a 10 × 10 area, 3 inches deep?
100 ft² × 0.25 ft = 25 ft³, about 0.93 cubic yards — around 1.3 tons, or 52 bags of 50 lb.
How many 50 lb bags are in a ton of gravel?
A US ton is 2,000 lb, so 40 bags of 50 lb. A cubic yard at 1.4 tons is about 56 bags.
Is the calculator accurate for any stone?
The volume is exact for the size you enter. The weight depends on the stone, so if your supplier gives a weight per cubic yard or per cubic metre, type it in.
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