Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and depth to see how much gravel to order by volume, by weight or in bags.
Quick answer
0.65 cubic yards (0.91 tons) — 35 bags of 0.5 ft³
Includes 5% waste.
0.65 cubic yards (0.91 tons) — 35 bags of 0.5 ft³
Your measurements
- Measure by
- Length × width of the space
- Length
- 10 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 2 in
- Waste
- 5%
- Density
- 1.4 tons per yd³
Buy list
Gravel
35 × 0.5 ft³ bag
35 bags exact
Add your local prices to see a total.
Project figures
- Volume
- 0.65 cubic yards
- Weight
- 0.91 tons (1,814.81 lb)
- Waste included
- 5%
Diagram
Not to scale where a dimension is very thin or long.
Show the math
- Volume = area × depth × 1.05 (5% waste) = 17.5 ft³ (0.65 cubic yards).
- Weight = volume × density = 0.91 tons (1,814.81 lb).
- 17.5 ft³ ÷ 0.5 ft³ per bag = 35 bags, rounded up to 35.
Assumptions and notes
- Bulk gravel is sold by the ton or by the cubic yard; bags suit small jobs.
- Density varies with the stone and how wet it is; the weight is an estimate.
- Quantities and cost only. For structural, load or code questions, check your local building code and a qualified professional.
How it works
This calculator tells you how much gravel covers an area to a given depth, and gives the answer three ways: as a volume in cubic yards, as a weight in tons, and as a number of small bags. Landscape suppliers usually quote by the ton or by the yard, while home centres sell bags, so having all three makes it easy to compare a delivery with a few trips in the car.
The formula
The volume is the area times the depth. Enter the area as a length and a width, or type the total if you have measured an irregular patch. The weight is the volume times the density of the stone. The default density is 1.4 US tons per cubic yard, a typical figure for crushed stone and pea gravel. Stone types differ, and wet gravel weighs more than dry, so if your supplier gives a density, type it in with its unit; tons per cubic yard, pounds per cubic foot, tonnes per cubic metre and kilograms per cubic metre all work.
A worked example
The page opens with a 10 ft × 10 ft area covered 2 in deep. That is 100 square feet × one sixth of a foot, or 16.67 cubic feet. Adding 5% for compaction and spreading gives 17.5 cubic feet, which is 0.65 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that weighs 0.91 tons, a little over 1,800 pounds. In 0.5 ft³ bags it is exactly 35 bags. With no waste the same area needs 0.62 cubic yards, 0.86 tons or 34 bags.
Waste, and why it is always shown
Loose gravel packs down when it is raked and walked on, and some spills past the edges. The default allowance is 5%, and the quick answer always says how much waste is included, so you never mistake a padded figure for the bare volume. Set it to zero if you want the exact geometric volume, or raise it for a driveway that will be compacted hard.
Bulk or bags?
For paths, patios and drainage beds bigger than a few square yards, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and far less lifting. Bags make sense for small jobs, top-ups and places a truck cannot reach. Type your local prices next to the bags to see the total, and compare it with a delivery quote for the tons shown above.
Measuring tips and common mistakes
- Measure the finished depth you want, after raking and compacting.
- For a base under a slab or pavers, plan the base layer here and the slab separately.
- Do not mix short tons (2,000 lb) and metric tonnes (1,000 kg): pick the unit your supplier uses.
- Remember that a 2 in layer is very different from 2 ft; check the unit next to each field.