Gravel Calculator
Enter the length, width and depth of the area to see how much gravel to order, as cubic yards or cubic meters and as tons or metric tonnes. Pick a material, add a waste allowance, and switch between imperial and metric units.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Extra for settling and uneven ground
Result
1.019 cubic yards, 1.375 tons
Order total with waste, about 27.5 cubic feet or 0.779 cubic meters.
| Amount | Cubic yards | Cubic meters | Short tons | Metric tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bed volume | 0.926 | 0.708 | 1.25 | 1.134 |
| Waste (10%) | 0.093 | 0.071 | 0.125 | 0.113 |
| Order total | 1.019 | 0.779 | 1.375 | 1.247 |
Volume = length × width × depth; weight = volume × density. Densities are typical values and vary by supplier, so confirm the weight per yard with yours.
Show the work
Formula: volume = length x width x depth; order = volume x (1 + waste / 100); weight = order volume x density
- Bed: 10 ft x 10 ft x 3 in.
- Volume: 0.708 m³ = 0.926 cubic yards (1 yd³ = 0.9144³ m³ = 27 ft³).
- Waste: 0.926 x 10% = 0.093 cubic yards.
- Order volume: 0.926 + 0.093 = 1.019 cubic yards.
- Weight: 1.019 yd³ x 1.35 tons per yd³ = 1.375 short tons (1.247 metric tonnes).
Result: 1.019 cubic yards, 1.375 tons
How the gravel amount is worked out
volume = length × width × depth
order = volume × (1 + waste ÷ 100)
weight = order × density
A flat bed of gravel is a box, so its volume is its length times its width times its depth. A 10 ft by 10 ft bed that is 3 in deep is 10 × 10 × 3/12 = 25 cubic feet.
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or the ton in the United States. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, or 0.7646 cubic meters, so 25 cubic feet is 25 ÷ 27 = 0.926 cubic yards. Adding 10 percent for waste gives 0.926 × 1.10 = 1.019 cubic yards to order.
Weight comes from density. Crushed stone is taken here as 1.35 short tons per cubic yard, so 1.019 cubic yards weighs about 1.019 × 1.35 = 1.375 tons, which is 1.247 metric tonnes. A short ton is 2,000 pounds, or 0.9072 tonnes.
See how we calculate for the formulas, sources and review schedule behind every calculator.
Also useful alongside this calculator: Volume Calculator, Length Converter and Square Footage Calculator.
Why a yard of gravel does not have one weight
The link between volume and weight is bulk density, which depends on the rock, its size, the fines between the stones and how wet it is. That is why the calculator offers a list of materials.
The presets are typical rule-of-thumb values, not supplier data: pea gravel 1.4, crushed stone 1.35, river rock 1.3, crushed gravel with fines 1.4 and sand-based road base 1.5 short tons per cubic yard. On the same 10 ft by 10 ft by 3 in bed with no waste, river rock weighs about 1.204 tons and road base about 1.389 tons. If your supplier quotes another density, choose Custom.
Choosing a depth
Depth has a direct effect on the amount, because doubling it doubles the gravel. A 10 ft by 10 ft bed needs 0.617 cubic yards at 2 inches, 1.235 at 4 inches and 1.852 at 6 inches. At 4 inches of crushed stone that is about 1.667 tons.
A garden path or decorative bed is often covered with a thinner layer, while a driveway or a base under pavers is usually laid deeper. The right depth depends on the load, the soil and the product, so check your plans or supplier. The calculator does not judge whether a depth is suitable.
Waste, settling and compaction
Loose gravel settles when it is raked, driven on or compacted. A shortfall means a second delivery, so a waste allowance is added.
Use more for soft or uneven ground or a compacted base. At 20 percent the same bed needs 1.111 cubic yards, or 1.5 tons of crushed stone.
Metric and imperial units
Switching units converts the values already entered, including a custom density, and rounds them to two decimals.
In metric, a path 5 m long and 2 m wide covered with 5 cm of crushed stone is 5 × 2 × 0.05 = 0.5 cubic meters, which is 0.654 cubic yards and about 0.801 tonnes. For other shapes, see the Volume Calculator. For an irregular plot, the Square Footage Calculator gives the area first. For a poured surface, use the Concrete Calculator.
How to use the Gravel Calculator
- Choose imperial (feet and inches) or metric (meters and centimeters).
- Enter the length and width of the area, then the depth of gravel.
- Select the material, or choose Custom and enter your supplier density.
- Set a waste percentage, 10 percent by default.
- Read the order in cubic yards and tons, then use Copy, Print or Share.
Worked example
A 10 ft by 10 ft bed of crushed stone laid 3 in deep is 10 × 10 × 3/12 = 25 cubic feet, which is 0.926 cubic yards and weighs 0.926 × 1.35 = 1.25 tons. With 10 percent waste the order becomes 1.019 cubic yards, or 0.779 cubic meters, and the weight rises to 1.375 tons, or 1.247 metric tonnes.
| Area | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Short tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft | 25 | 0.93 | 1.25 |
| 10 ft × 20 ft | 50 | 1.85 | 2.5 |
| 12 ft × 24 ft | 72 | 2.67 | 3.6 |
| 20 ft × 20 ft | 100 | 3.7 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 10 by 10 area at 3 inches deep?
About 1.25 tons of crushed stone, or 1.375 tons with 10 percent waste, using 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard of gravel?
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, because a cubic yard is 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft.
Should I order gravel by the yard or by the ton?
Ask your supplier, because some sell by the ton and some by the yard. This calculator shows both, but the density behind the conversion varies.
How much waste should I add?
Ten percent is a common starting point for a level bed. Add more for soft or uneven ground, and ask your supplier.
Does this account for landscape fabric, edging or slopes?
No. It measures a flat rectangle of even depth, so work out sloped or odd shapes in sections and add the results.