Pea gravel rolls underfoot and squirts out from under tires. Driveways need angular crushed stone (#57 or DGA) that locks together. The 'pretty' choice fails fast on vehicle traffic.
Gravel Calculator: Cubic Yards & Tons for Driveways and Landscaping
Estimate pea gravel, crushed stone, or river rock - in cubic yards and order tons - for driveways, walkways, and drainage.
Default settings
- Default depth is 4 inches for a common planning baseline, not a universal install recommendation.
- Default density is 1.4 tons per cubic yard for generic landscape gravel and should be adjusted for the exact material.
- Default overage is 10% to protect against compaction, spread variation, and measurement misses.
How this estimate works
- Area = project length x project width, or manual measured area
- Adjusted cubic feet = area x depth converted into feet x (1 + overage percent)
- Cubic yards = adjusted cubic feet / 27
- Raw tons = cubic yards x density
- Tons to order round up to the next quarter ton
Related pages
Use a guide if depth or conversions need a closer look.
How these estimates workReview how the calculators handle rounding, default settings, and unit conversion.Gravel depth guideChoose a better depth setting for paths, patio bases, driveways, and drainage trenches.Square feet to cubic yards guideFollow the same area-plus-depth conversion pattern used across the volume calculators.Concrete calculatorCompare bulk aggregate ordering with slab-style concrete bag counts and cubic yard math.
FAQ
Quick answers if you need them.
Why is density editable?
Decorative gravel and crushed stone do not weigh the same. Density stays editable to keep the tonnage honest.
Why round to quarter tons?
Quarter-ton steps keep the estimate purchase-oriented without pretending the material will land exactly on a perfect decimal.
How the gravel estimate is calculated
The five-step math behind cubic yards and tons.
- Area = length x width, or your manually measured total area.
- Raw volume = area x depth, with depth converted to feet (4 in = 0.333 ft).
- Adjusted volume = raw cubic feet x (1 + overage percent). Default 10% covers spillage and compaction.
- Cubic yards = adjusted cubic feet / 27. Planning unit for size comparisons.
- Tons = cubic yards x density, rounded up to the next quarter ton. Order unit at the supplier.
Density varies by material. Use 1.4 tons/yd³ for typical pea gravel and crushed stone, 1.5-1.6 for DGA / crusher run, and confirm with your supplier on large orders before signing off on tonnage.
Gravel type reference table
Density, typical depth, and best use for each common gravel and crushed stone material.
| Material | Density | Typical depth | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel (rounded) | 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³ | 2-3 in | Decorative beds, play areas |
| River rock | 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³ | 2-4 in | Dry creek beds, decorative |
| #57 crushed stone | 1.4-1.5 tons/yd³ | 3-4 in | Driveway top, walkways |
| #8 crushed stone | 1.4-1.5 tons/yd³ | 2-3 in | Top dressing, paver base |
| DGA / crusher run | 1.5-1.6 tons/yd³ | 4-6 in | Compacted driveway base |
| Washed 3/4 in | 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³ | varies | Drainage, French drains |
| #3 crushed stone | 1.4-1.5 tons/yd³ | 4-6 in | Heavy base layer |
Worked examples by project type
Four common gravel projects, with cubic yards and order tonnage worked out.
| Project | Dimensions | Raw volume | Adjusted | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorative bed | 10 x 8 ft, 3 in deep, 10% overage | 20 cu ft | 22 cu ft / 0.81 cu yd | 1.25 tons |
| Walkway | 30 x 3 ft, 4 in deep, 10% overage | 30 cu ft | 33 cu ft / 1.22 cu yd | 1.75 tons |
| Residential driveway | 30 x 12 ft, 4 in top dressing, 10% overage | 120 cu ft | 132 cu ft / 4.89 cu yd | 7 tons |
| French drain | 50 ft x 1 ft x 8 in deep, 10% overage | 33.33 cu ft | 36.7 cu ft / 1.36 cu yd | 1.9 tons |
Decorative bed. Small enough to source from a garden center if you cannot get delivery. Most suppliers have a 1-2 yard minimum.
Walkway. Right at most suppliers' delivery minimum. Order 2 tons to cover the minimum and have a little extra.
Residential driveway. Top dressing only - assumes there is already a compacted base. New driveways need a 4-6 inch base layer in #3 or DGA stone first.
French drain. Drainage trench needs washed crushed stone (3/4 inch) wrapped in geotextile fabric. Pipe goes inside, gravel fills around and above.
Driveway construction: base, middle, and top
A proper driveway is three layers, not one. Plan all three.
Base (4-6 inches): #3 crushed stone (1-2 inch pieces) or DGA, compacted with a plate compactor in 2-3 inch lifts. This is the structural layer that carries vehicle weight. Skipping the base is the #1 reason DIY gravel driveways rut and fail within a season.
Middle (2-3 inches): #57 crushed stone (3/4 inch pieces). Fills gaps in the base and locks the layers together. Optional on smaller residential driveways but recommended for anything more than a parking pad.
Top dressing (2-3 inches): #8 stone or finer crushed material for the wearing surface. This is what you see and what rolls under tires. Refresh every 2-3 years as it mixes with the layer below.
Total depth for a new driveway: 8-12 inches. A 30 x 12 ft driveway built right uses 12-18 tons of stone across all three layers. Calculate each layer separately and add.
Common mistakes that ruin a gravel order
Five mistakes that produce a rutted driveway or a half-ton short delivery.
Four inches of top dressing on bare soil sinks and ruts within a season. New driveways need a 4-6 inch base of #3 crushed stone or DGA compacted with a plate compactor, then 2-3 inches of #57 or #8 top dressing. Total order doubles, but it lasts 10+ years instead of one.
Four inches is 0.333 ft, not 4 ft. Doing the math without converting produces a 12x oversized order. The calculator handles this automatically.
DGA / crusher run is heavier than pea gravel by 15-20%. Using a generic 1.4 tons/yd³ underestimates DGA orders. Always confirm density with your supplier before ordering large volumes.
Most suppliers charge a delivery fee on orders under 3-5 tons. A 1.5-ton order can cost the same as 3 tons after fees. Round up to the minimum and use the extra for borders or a future project.
Frequently asked questions
The questions homeowners and contractors ask most often before ordering gravel.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 20 x 15 ft driveway at 4 inches deep?
A 20 x 15 ft driveway is 300 square feet. At 4 inches (0.333 ft) of depth, raw volume is 100 cubic feet. With a 10% overage, that is 110 cubic feet or 4.07 cubic yards. At the default density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, you need about 5.7 tons - round up to 6 tons for ordering. Most suppliers price gravel per ton delivered.
What depth of gravel should I use?
Decorative landscaping gravel: 2-3 inches over fabric. Walkways: 3-4 inches. Drainage gravel (French drains, downspout extensions): 4-6 inches. Driveways (residential): 4-6 inches on a compacted base, or 8-12 inches total in a layered system (#3 stone base, #57 middle, #8 top dressing). Parking pads for heavy vehicles: 6 inches minimum on a properly prepped subgrade.
What does 1.4 tons per cubic yard mean?
That is the typical density of crushed stone gravel. Different gravels weigh different amounts: pea gravel is 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³, crushed limestone is 1.4-1.5 tons/yd³, river rock is 1.3-1.4 tons/yd³, and dense graded aggregate (DGA / crusher run) is 1.5-1.6 tons/yd³. The calculator default of 1.4 covers most residential gravel projects. Check with your supplier for the exact density of the product you are ordering.
Should I order by cubic yards or by tons?
Most landscape and stone suppliers sell by the ton because that is what trucks weigh at the scale. Cubic yards is a planning unit; tons is the order unit. The calculator gives you both. When you call the supplier, tell them tons - but knowing the cubic yard number helps you verify they delivered the right amount (a yard of typical gravel is roughly 1.3-1.5 tons).
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
For decorative gravel beds and walkways: yes, almost always. Without fabric, gravel slowly mixes with soil over 2-5 years and you lose half the depth. For driveways: opinions vary - heavy vehicle traffic can shred light fabric, so use a heavy-duty woven geotextile (8 oz or heavier) or skip it and rely on a proper crushed-stone base. For drainage gravel, fabric is essential to prevent soil migration into the drain.
Why do you add 10% overage on gravel orders?
Same reasoning as concrete: spillage during dumping, uneven subgrade absorbing slightly more material than the calculated depth, compaction loss (some gravels compact 10-15% from loose to compacted state), and edge spread before borders catch the stone. 10% is the residential standard. Bump to 15% for sloped sites or loose subgrade. Reduce to 5% only if the site is perfectly prepped and bordered.
What is the difference between pea gravel and crushed stone?
Pea gravel is rounded, smooth, river-tumbled stone in 1/4 to 3/8 inch sizes - looks decorative but rolls underfoot, does not compact, bad for driveways. Crushed stone is angular with sharp edges, sizes from #57 (3/4 inch) to #3 (2 inch) - locks together when compacted, ideal for driveways and structural bases. Use pea gravel for decorative beds and play areas, crushed stone for anything that needs to stay in place.
Can I use this calculator for a French drain or drainage trench?
Yes, with the understanding that trench drains are a length-x-depth-x-width volume calculation. Measure trench length, width, and gravel depth (not total trench depth - leave room for the pipe and fabric). Most French drains use 3/4 inch washed crushed stone, density around 1.4 tons/yd³, with 10% overage. The calculator's formula handles this directly.
Related calculators and guides
Pages that pair with the gravel estimate.
Gravel density and coverage guide How density varies by stone type and what to confirm with your supplier. Concrete calculator For the slab pour that sits on top of a gravel base. Mulch calculator For organic landscape beds and decorative ground cover. How these estimates work Rounding, overage, and unit conversion rules across the site.