AreaMapGravel calculator
Enter the size of the area and how deep you want the stone. Pick the material for its weight and the calculator gives cubic yards, tons and 50 lb bags.
How gravel is calculated
Multiply the length by the width to get square feet, then by the depth in feet (inches ÷ 12) to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 for cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by the stone’s weight per yard to get tons.
Example: a 20 × 10 ft path 3 in deep is 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 ft³, or 1.85 yd³. In pea gravel at 1.35 tons per yard, that’s 2.5 tons.
How deep should gravel be?
| Project | Depth |
|---|---|
| Decorative top layer, garden beds | 2 in |
| Walkways and paths | 2 to 3 in |
| Patio or paver base | 4 to 6 in |
| Gravel driveway | 4 in of base plus 2 in of top stone |
| Shed or slab base | 4 to 6 in |
Weights by stone
Stone is sold by the ton or the cubic yard, and weights vary by supplier. The weights above are loose, as delivered, in US tons per cubic yard: the median of published supplier figures. Ask your yard for theirs if you’re buying a lot.
Questions
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Most gravel and crushed stone weighs 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel is about 1.35 tons, road base about 1.5.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 3 in deep, a ton of pea gravel covers about 80 ft². At 2 in it covers about 120 ft², and at 4 in about 60 ft².
How many bags of gravel are in a ton?
Forty 50 lb bags make a ton. Above about a ton, bulk delivery is usually cheaper than bags.
How do I measure an odd-shaped area?
Trace it on a satellite map. AreaMap gives the square footage of any shape and works out the gravel for the depth and stone you pick.