Calculate the volume and weight of gravel needed for any rectangular, circular, or irregular area and depth.
Area & Depth
Results
Volume (with waste)
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cubic yards
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cubic feet
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cubic meters
Weight (with waste)
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short tons
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pounds
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kilograms
Summary
Calculate the volume and weight of gravel needed for any rectangular, circular, or irregular area and depth.
How it works
Select your area shape: rectangular or circular.
Choose Imperial (feet/inches) or Metric (meters/centimeters) units.
Enter the length and width (or diameter for circular), then the depth of gravel.
Select the gravel type to apply the correct density for weight calculations.
Click Calculate to see volume in cubic yards/feet/meters and total weight.
Add a waste percentage (5–10% recommended) to account for settling and spillage.
Use cases
Estimating gravel for a driveway or parking area.
Calculating pea gravel for a garden path or landscaping bed.
Planning crushed stone fill for a foundation or drainage trench.
Budgeting decorative gravel quantities for a patio or walkway.
Ordering the correct tonnage of road base for a construction site.
Computing river rock volume for erosion control projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 100 ft × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 333 ft³ (≈12.3 yd³) of gravel — roughly 18 short tons at #57 stone density (≈108 lb/ft³). Plug your own length, width, and depth into the calculator for an exact tons figure.
One short ton of crushed gravel (~108 lb/ft³) covers about 100 ft² at 2 in deep, 65 ft² at 3 in, or 50 ft² at 4 in. Pea gravel is slightly lighter, so 1 ton covers a bit more area at the same depth.
Volume = Length × Width × Depth for rectangular areas, or π × (Diameter / 2)² × Depth for circular areas. All dimensions must be in the same unit before multiplying.
Weight = Volume × Density. Dry gravel density is typically 1,520–1,680 kg/m³ (95–105 lb/ft³). The exact density varies by gravel type and moisture content; this calculator uses standard industry averages.
Divide the total weight in pounds by 2,000 for short tons. For example, 10,000 lb ÷ 2,000 = 5 short tons. Metric tons are calculated by dividing kilograms by 1,000.
For driveways, 4 inches (10 cm) is a common minimum. For pathways and decorative beds, 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) is typical. For drainage and base layers, 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) may be required.
Gravel settles over time and some is lost during spreading and compaction. Adding 5–10% to your calculated amount ensures you will not run short mid-project.
Yes. Different gravel types have different densities. Pea gravel is lighter (~1,500 kg/m³) while crushed limestone is heavier (~1,680 kg/m³). Selecting the correct type gives a more accurate weight estimate.