Cubic yards, tons, bags & delivery
Gravel Calculator
Build an irregular footprint, set finished depth and material assumptions, then estimate compacted volume, loose order volume, weight, bags, pallets, truckloads, and cost.
Professional planning workspace
Two-supplier delivered-cost comparison
Use the current area, depth, compaction, and allowance with supplier-entered density, package size, price, and delivery fee.
| Supplier | Density (kg/m³) | Package / increment (kg) | Price / package | Delivery fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Add professional inputs, then verify the plan.
Verified professional results
Planning output only. Values, prices, densities, package data, tolerances, and delivery assumptions must be confirmed for the actual product and project.
Gravel quantity and ordering guide
Gravel Calculator: Cubic Yards, Tons, Bags, Pallets, and Cost
Estimate gravel, crushed stone, road base, pea gravel, river rock, limestone, or decomposed granite for driveways, paths, patios, drainage trenches, landscape beds, and aggregate base projects. The calculator separates finished volume, compaction, waste, supplier rounding, weight, packaging, delivery, and material cost.
Methodology reviewed:
How to Use the Gravel Calculator
- Choose the project type. The selection changes measurement guidance without choosing a structural design or required depth for you.
- Build the footprint. Choose a visual shape for each measured section. Add repeated sections with quantity and subtract planters, drains, structures, or other exclusions.
- Enter finished gravel depth. Use the target installed thickness after placement and compaction. Calculate layers separately when their material or depth differs.
- Confirm loose bulk density. Choose an editable planning preset or enter the quarry, landscape yard, or bag manufacturer value for the actual material.
- Separate compaction from waste. Compaction estimates volume loss between loose delivery and the finished layer. Waste covers handling loss, uneven grades, and measurement variation.
- Plan the purchase. Add the supplier’s rounding increment, bag size, bags per pallet, truck capacity, and price unit. Review the rounded order before contacting the supplier.
Gravel Volume and Weight Formulas
The calculator converts every measurement to a common internal unit, combines the signed shape areas, and then follows a transparent finished-volume-to-order sequence. Commercial rounding is deliberately applied last.
Worked driveway example
A 20 ft × 40 ft layer covers 800 ft². At 4 inches finished depth, the compacted volume is 9.88 yd³. A 10% volume-loss assumption raises the loose volume to 10.97 yd³, and a separate 5% handling allowance produces an 11.52 yd³ calculated order. At 105 lb/ft³, that is about 16.33 US tons. Rounding up to the supplier’s 0.5 yd³ increment gives 12 yd³ and approximately 17.01 US tons. At $55 per cubic yard, material cost is $660; an 8 yd³ truck requires two loads. A 50 lb package comparison returns 654 bags, or 16 pallets at 42 bags per pallet, based on the calculated order before bulk rounding.
Area formulas available in the calculator
| Shape | Area formula | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | A = L × W | Driveways, paths, patios, trenches |
| L-shape | A = (L × W) − (l × w) | Building corners and offset parking areas |
| Triangle | A = (b × h) ÷ 2 | Tapered ends and corner beds |
| Circle | A = π × (d ÷ 2)² | Fire pits, round beds, circular pads |
| Ellipse | A = π × (D₁ ÷ 2) × (D₂ ÷ 2) | Oval beds and curved landscape areas |
| Trapezoid | A = ((a + b) ÷ 2) × h | Changing-width paths and driveway flares |
Gravel Density, Compaction, and Waste
Bulk density converts order volume into weight. It is not a universal property of “gravel”: rock type, gradation, particle shape, void space, fines, and moisture all change the result. The presets below are convenient planning values only. A supplier ticket, product data sheet, laboratory result, or project specification is better evidence for a final order.
| Material preset | Planning density | Approximate US tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | 105 lb/ft³ | 1.42 |
| Dense-graded road base | 110 lb/ft³ | 1.49 |
| Pea gravel | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 |
| River rock | 95 lb/ft³ | 1.28 |
| Crushed limestone | 102 lb/ft³ | 1.38 |
| Decomposed granite | 108 lb/ft³ | 1.46 |
Aggregate grading influences stability, drainage, and frost susceptibility, while granular base is normally placed and compacted in controlled layers. Those construction requirements are project decisions, not outputs of a quantity calculator.
Exact unit relationships used internally
- 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly
- 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.764554857984 m³
- 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg exactly
- 1 US short ton = 2,000 lb = 907.18474 kg
- 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg
The calculator applies the exact unit relationships listed above when converting dimensions, volume, density, and mass between supported U.S. customary and metric units.
Bags, Bulk Gravel, Pallets, Truckloads, and Cost
Bulk gravel may be quoted by cubic yard, cubic meter, US short ton, or metric tonne. Enter the exact increment the supplier accepts—such as 0.5 yd³ or 0.25 US ton—and the calculator rounds the calculated order upward. Pricing by volume or mass then uses that rounded quantity.
Bag labels may state net weight or packaged volume. Choose the matching basis, enter the printed size, and the calculator rounds up to whole bags. If a pallet quantity is known, it also rounds bags up to whole pallets. Bag pricing uses the whole-bag count, while bulk pricing uses the rounded bulk purchase. This makes the two purchase paths easy to compare without treating one as automatically cheaper.
Truckloads use the rounded bulk quantity and the capacity entered by volume or mass. Confirm vehicle payload, axle limits, access, unloading space, split-load rules, and minimum delivery quantities with the supplier. Material cost does not automatically include delivery, pallet deposits, equipment, labor, excavation, base preparation, geotextile, edging, drainage, tax, or contractor markup.
Gravel Estimating by Project Type
Driveways and parking areas
Measure flares, turnarounds, and parking pads as separate shapes. Surface gravel and structural base may use different gradations, densities, depths, and compaction requirements, so estimate each layer separately.
Paths and walkways
Divide curves and changing widths into short sections, or use a carefully measured average width. Account for edging interiors, stepping stones, and areas occupied by drains or fixtures.
Patios and fire pit bases
Calculate prepared footprint rather than only the visible finish area. Keep leveling aggregate, compacted base, bedding material, and decorative stone in separate estimates when their specifications differ.
Drainage trenches
Use trench length and average width as a rectangle, then enter the gravel-filled depth. Pipe displacement, filter fabric, bedding zones, variable trench profiles, and required void space may need a project-specific takeoff.
Landscape beds and decorative rock
Subtract plants, boulders, fountains, and uncovered features where practical. Decorative rock size, color blend, fabric, edging, and desired visual coverage can affect the final quantity.
Aggregate base and subbase
Layer thickness, gradation, drainage, frost conditions, subgrade support, moisture conditioning, lift thickness, and compaction targets must follow the design or local specification. This tool estimates quantity only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate how much gravel I need?
Calculate the net surface area, multiply by the target finished depth, adjust for expected compaction and waste, then convert the resulting order volume with the selected bulk density. Round only at the final supplier or package step.
What gravel density should I use?
Use the loose bulk density supplied for the actual material whenever possible. Rock type, particle size, grading, voids, and moisture affect weight, so the built-in material values are editable planning presets rather than product specifications.
What is the difference between compaction and waste?
Compaction represents volume lost as loose aggregate settles into its finished layer, while waste covers handling loss, uneven grades, and small field variations. The calculator applies them separately so the assumptions stay visible.
Can I compare bags with a bulk gravel order?
Yes. Enter a bag size by weight or volume to receive a whole-bag count and optional pallet count. Bulk cost can use volume or weight, while bag cost uses the rounded bag count. Delivery fees, deposits, taxes, and labor are not added automatically.
Can this calculator design a driveway or structural aggregate base?
No. It is a material-planning estimate. Drainage, subgrade strength, geotextiles, aggregate gradation, layer thickness, moisture conditioning, compaction targets, traffic loading, and local specifications require project-specific professional or supplier guidance.