Gravel Calculator
- Free forever
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Find how much gravel you need for a path, patio or bed: cubic yards, cubic metres, tons and bags, from the length, width and depth.
How it’s calculated
- Volume = length × width × depth, all in the same unit. For a circle, π × diameter² ÷ 4 × depth.
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.7646 m³.
- Weight = volume × the weight of the material. Dry gravel is about 1,680 kg/m³ (105 lb per cu ft, about 1.42 US tons per cubic yard).
Example: a 10 × 10 ft area, 3 in deep: 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft, which is 0.93 cubic yards (0.71 m³) and about 1.31 US tons of dry gravel. With 5% extra: 0.97 cubic yards, 1.38 tons, or 53 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
In metric: 3 × 3 m at 7.5 cm deep is 0.675 m³, about 1.13 tonnes. With 5% extra: 0.71 m³ (1.19 tonnes), or 48 bags of 25 kg.
About Gravel Calculator
For paths, patios, flower beds, play areas and drainage. Enter the size and depth of the area and pick the material, and you get the volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic metres, the weight in US tons or tonnes, and the number of bags. It works for rectangles and circles. For an odd shape, split it into rectangles and add up the results.
How to use Gravel Calculator
- Choose your units and whether the area is a rectangle or a circle.
- Enter the length and width, or the diameter, and how deep you want the gravel.
- Pick the material and how much extra to add, and the bag size if you buy in bags.
- Read the cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic metres and weight, plus the number of bags.
How your data is handled
Everything is worked out in your browser as you type. Nothing you enter is sent or saved, apart from your choice of metric or imperial units, which is remembered on your device.
Limits and accuracy
- Weights are typical figures for dry gravel (1,680 kg/m³), wet gravel and dry sand. Real stone varies, so use your supplier's figure when you order by weight.
- The depth is the finished depth. Gravel that will be rolled or driven on packs down, so it needs more loose material; the Driveway Gravel Calculator adds extra for that.
- Bag counts use the bag size you pick. Check the size printed on the bag, since it varies by brand and country.
Questions and answers
How much gravel do I need?
Multiply the length by the width to get the area, then by the depth, with everything in the same unit. 10 ft × 10 ft × 0.25 ft (3 in) = 25 cubic feet, which is 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
The Engineering ToolBox gives dry gravel as about 105 lb per cubic foot (1,680 kg/m³), so a cubic yard weighs about 2,830 lb, or 1.42 US tons. Wet gravel is heavier, at about 125 lb per cubic foot. Your supplier's figure for their stone is the best one to use.
How much pea gravel do I need?
Pea gravel is worked out the same way: area × depth. Choose Gravel, crushed stone or pea gravel, enter the depth and read the cubic yards or cubic metres. For small jobs it's often sold in 0.5 cu ft bags, and one cubic yard fills 54 of them.
Should I order gravel by the cubic yard or by the ton?
Suppliers sell by volume (cubic yards or m³) or by weight (tons or tonnes), and the calculator shows both. The weight depends on the stone and how wet it is, so if they sell by weight, ask what their gravel weighs per cubic yard and enter it under My supplier's figure.
Why add extra gravel?
The ground is never perfectly level, some gravel sinks into soft soil and some is lost when spreading. A few percent extra saves paying for a second small delivery.
How do I work out gravel for a round area?
Choose Circle and enter the diameter. The area is π × diameter² ÷ 4, so a circle 10 ft across is about 78.5 sq ft. At 3 in deep that's about 19.6 cu ft, or 0.73 cubic yards.