Gravel & Sand Calculator
Calculate how much gravel, sand, or other material you need.
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, medical, legal, or engineering advice. See Terms of Service.
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Request a ToolHow to Use the Gravel and Sand Calculator
This calculator converts area and depth to cubic yards and tons of any aggregate material. Here is how to get an accurate estimate:
- Enter your dimensions. Measure the length and width of the area in feet and the desired depth in inches. For a driveway, 4 inches of gravel is typical. For a decorative path or patio base, 2-3 inches is common. For drainage or French drain backfill, 6-12 inches may be needed.
- Choose your material. Different materials have different densities, which affects how many tons you need. Gravel and crushed stone weigh about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Sand and pea gravel run around 1.35 tons per yard. Topsoil and fill dirt are lighter at 1.1-1.15 tons per yard. Mulch is the lightest at roughly 0.4 tons per yard.
- Add a price per unit (optional). Enter what your supplier charges per ton or per cubic yard to get an instant cost estimate. Suppliers often quote by the ton for heavy materials and by the yard for mulch or topsoil.
- Read your results. The primary result is tons needed, since that is how most aggregate suppliers sell heavy material. The context line shows cubic yards, and the breakdown shows all figures including estimated cost when a price is entered.
Use the Share button to send your calculation to a supplier or contractor, or Copy to paste the result into a message or spreadsheet.
About the Gravel and Sand Calculator
Aggregate materials like gravel, sand, crushed stone, and topsoil are almost always sold by weight (tons) or volume (cubic yards). Converting between the two requires knowing the material's bulk density. This calculator uses standard industry densities: gravel and crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, sand and pea gravel at 1.35 tons per yard, topsoil at 1.1 tons per yard, fill dirt at 1.15 tons per yard, and mulch at 0.4 tons per yard.
The formula is straightforward: volume in cubic feet equals length times width times depth (converted from inches to feet by dividing by 12). Cubic yards equals cubic feet divided by 27. Tons equals cubic yards multiplied by the material's density. All calculations run entirely in your browser with no data stored or transmitted.
Note that these are estimates. Actual weights vary by moisture content, particle size, compaction, and supplier. For large projects, always confirm with your supplier whether they price by ton or by yard and add 5-10% to your order as a buffer for uneven subgrades and compaction loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 20x10 foot area at 4 inches deep?
A 20x10 foot area at 4 inches deep is 200 square feet at 0.333 feet deep, which equals 66.67 cubic feet or about 2.47 cubic yards. At a gravel density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that comes to approximately 3.46 tons. Most suppliers sell a minimum of 1 ton, so you would order 4 tons to have a small buffer.
Should I order gravel by the ton or by the cubic yard?
Most suppliers price heavy materials like gravel, sand, and crushed stone by the ton because weight is easier to measure accurately at a scale. Lighter materials like mulch and topsoil are often sold by the yard. Some suppliers offer both. When comparing prices, use this calculator to convert between units so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison. Enter the supplier's price and choose the correct unit in the optional pricing section.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A standard residential gravel driveway typically uses 4 inches of compacted gravel on a prepared base. For a new driveway with no existing base, many contractors recommend a two-layer approach: 4-6 inches of larger crushed stone as a base layer, topped with 2-3 inches of smaller gravel or pea gravel as the surface layer, for a total of 6-9 inches. High-traffic driveways or those in cold climates with significant freeze-thaw cycles should use a thicker base. Always compact each layer before adding the next.
What is the difference between gravel, crushed stone, and pea gravel?
Gravel refers to naturally rounded rock fragments, typically screened to a consistent size. It compacts well and is used for driveways, drainage layers, and base material. Crushed stone is mechanically broken rock with angular edges that lock together when compacted, making it better for structural base applications like under concrete slabs and pavers. Pea gravel is small, rounded, smooth stone about the size of a pea, used for decorative paths, playgrounds, and drainage. All three have similar densities, around 1.35-1.4 tons per cubic yard.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel weighs approximately 2,800 pounds, or 1.4 tons. Sand and pea gravel are slightly lighter at about 2,700 pounds (1.35 tons) per cubic yard. Topsoil weighs around 2,200 pounds (1.1 tons) per yard, and mulch is much lighter at roughly 800 pounds (0.4 tons) per yard. These are typical values for dry material. Wet or saturated material can weigh significantly more, which matters when planning deliveries and managing weight limits on vehicles and equipment.