Use this gravel calculator to estimate cubic yards, short tons, and whole bags from the area, depth, and density basis. Rectangle and circle inputs cover common driveway, path, and landscape-bed layouts.
How to use the gravel calculator
Use this when you have measured the surface and know the gravel depth. Volume is exact for the entered geometry; tonnage remains an estimate until a supplier gives you the material's actual bulk density.
Length, width, diameter, and depth each have their own unit selector. Check them before using the order quantity.
Doubling the depth doubles both the volume and the estimated weight, so use the compacted finished depth your project calls for.
The published midpoint is a planning estimate. Enter the supplier's pounds per cubic yard under More options when ordering by ton.
Example: a 20 × 12 ft area at 3 in deep
- A 20 × 12 ft rectangular area at 3 in deep contains 60 cu ft, or 2.22 cu yd.
- Using FHWA's published 2,730 /yd³ loose dry average-gradation gravel value, the estimate is about 3.03 short tons and 120 bags at 0.5 cu ft each.
How gravel volume is calculated
For a rectangle, area is length × width. For a circle, area is π × radius². The selected area is multiplied by gravel depth, converted to cubic feet, and divided by 27 for cubic yards.
From cubic yards to tons and bags
Estimated tons equal cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000. Bags equal cubic feet ÷ the entered bag volume and round up. Products can be sold by volume or weight, but this calculator's purchase count follows the cubic-foot volume printed on the bag.