You have a project — a driveway, a garden path, a drainage channel — and you need to order gravel without getting the quantity wildly wrong. Order short and you are back at the supplier. Order long and you have a pile sitting in your driveway for months.
The gravel calculator at the top of this page gives you tons and cubic yards instantly. Enter your length, width, and depth, pick your gravel type, and the answer is there. It also shows bag equivalents if you are doing a smaller job and buying from a home improvement store, and a cost estimate if you enter your supplier’s price per ton.
This guide covers how gravel is sold and priced, which type suits which project, how deep you actually need to go, and what to watch for when placing an order.
Table of Contents
- How the Gravel Calculator Works
- Gravel Prices in 2025
- Gravel Types: Which One Do You Actually Need?
- How Deep Does Gravel Need to Be?
- Why You Need to Order More Than the Calculator Says
- A Standard Two-Car Driveway: Worked Example
- Tips for Buying Gravel
- Frequently Asked Questions
How the Gravel Calculator Works
The calculation is straightforward once you know the formula. Volume in cubic feet equals length times width times depth — with depth converted from inches to feet by dividing by twelve. Divide the cubic feet total by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by the density of your gravel type to get tons.
In practice: a 20-foot by 15-foot driveway area at 4 inches deep is 20 × 15 × (4/12) = 100 cubic feet, which is 3.7 cubic yards. At pea gravel’s density of 1.52 tons per cubic yard, that is 5.6 tons. Add 10–15% for compaction and you are ordering roughly 6.2–6.5 tons.
The calculator handles all of this automatically, switching between imperial (feet and inches) and metric (metres and centimetres) depending on which system you use. It also adjusts density when you switch gravel types — pea gravel, crusher run, decomposed granite, and the other options all have meaningfully different weights per cubic yard, and using the wrong number can put your order off by 10–20%.
Gravel Prices in 2025
Gravel costs between $10 and $75 per ton in 2025, depending on type and location, with most homeowners paying $30–60 per ton delivered. Crushed stone runs $15–30 per ton at the low end. Pea gravel lands between $25 and $53 per ton. River rock is the most expensive decorative option at $50–90 per ton.
Delivery adds $50–150 to most orders, though many suppliers offer free delivery for orders over 10 tons within their standard radius. Ordering 10 tons or more can reduce your per-ton cost by 15–25% compared to smaller orders, according to pricing data from Hello Gravel’s 2025 regional cost guide.
A standard tandem axle dump truck carries 12–15 tons and typically costs $600–800 delivered within 10 miles of the supplier. A standard 10-ton load covers approximately 80–100 square feet at 3-inch depth and costs $400–650 delivered within 10 miles of most suppliers.
Buying bagged gravel from a home improvement store costs significantly more per ton but makes sense for small jobs under 1–2 cubic yards. The calculator shows bag equivalents — 50 lb bags, 0.5 cubic foot bags, and 1 cubic foot bags — so you can compare both routes.
Gravel Types: Which One Do You Actually Need?
There are two fundamentally different kinds of gravel, and choosing the wrong one causes real problems.
Angular gravel (crushed stone, crusher run, #57 stone) has sharp, irregular edges. When compacted, those edges lock together. It stays put under vehicle loads and foot traffic. This is what you want for driveways, road base, and anywhere stability matters.
Rounded gravel (pea gravel, river rock) comes from water erosion. It drains freely and looks good in landscape beds, but it does not compact. Pea gravel alone on a driveway will scatter under tire pressure and never settle into a stable surface.
Pea Gravel
Small rounded stones, typically 1/4 to 3/8 inch. Comfortable underfoot, good drainage, works well for paths, patios, and playground surfaces. Not suitable for driveways under vehicle traffic without a compacted angular base underneath. Density: approximately 1.52 tons per cubic yard.
Crushed Stone
Angular crushed rock in various sizes — #57 is the most common. The go-to choice for driveways and road base. Compacts firmly, sheds water, resists shifting. Limestone is the most widely available source in the US. Density: approximately 1.60 tons per cubic yard.
Decomposed Granite
Fine-grained angular material that compacts almost like hardpack. Popular for paths and patio areas in dry climates. Holds its surface well when properly edged and compacted. Does not handle sustained wet conditions as well as crushed stone. Density: approximately 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Crusher Run
A mix of crushed stone and stone dust. The fines bind the material together when compacted. Excellent for driveway base layers and anywhere you need a firm, bound surface. Not for drainage applications — the fines clog drainage systems. Density: approximately 1.68 tons per cubic yard, the heaviest type in the calculator.
River Rock
Smooth, rounded stones ranging from 1 to 4 inches. Used for decorative beds, dry creek beds, and drainage swales. More expensive than crushed stone. Poor choice for any functional surface that needs to support load. Density: approximately 1.45 tons per cubic yard.
#57 Stone
Washed crushed stone, 3/4 inch size, with no fines. Maintains void space between stones, which is why it is the standard choice for French drains and drainage backfill. Also works as a driveway surface layer where drainage matters. Density: approximately 1.55 tons per cubic yard.
White Marble Chips
Decorative crushed marble, typically bright white or off-white. Used in formal garden beds and around foundations for visual contrast. Higher cost than functional gravel, and some plants are sensitive to the elevated pH around limestone-derived stone. Avoid around acid-loving plants like azaleas, blueberries, and rhododendrons. Density: approximately 1.44 tons per cubic yard.
Lava Rock
Lightweight volcanic rock. Used for decorative garden beds, container plantings, and drainage layers. The lightest option by density, which means more volume per ton. Density: approximately 1.38 tons per cubic yard.
How Deep Does Gravel Need to Be?
Depth is where most gravel projects go wrong. Too shallow and the surface breaks down quickly, especially under traffic. Too deep is wasteful and uncomfortable to walk on.
- Decorative beds and mulch replacement: 2 to 3 inches. Enough to suppress weeds and look good. Under 2 inches, bare patches appear quickly.
- Walking paths and garden pathways: 2 to 3 inches for light foot traffic. Use pea gravel or smooth rounded stone. A compacted crushed stone base underneath adds stability and prevents the walking surface from sinking into soil.
- Patios: 3 to 4 inches of compacted angular gravel on a prepared base. Landscape fabric underneath prevents weeds and keeps gravel from migrating into soil.
- Single-car driveways: 4 to 6 inches minimum. A 2-inch driveway will develop ruts within a season. For new gravel driveways, a 3-layer system works best: 4–6 inches of large angular base stone, 4–6 inches of smaller angular stone for the middle, and 2–3 inches of fine gravel or pea gravel for the wearing surface.
- Two-car driveways and heavy vehicle areas: 6 inches minimum. Heavy trucks and equipment need a properly compacted base.
- French drains and drainage channels: 6 to 12 inches of #57 stone or washed drainage gravel around the pipe. The void space in washed stone allows water to move freely — do not use crusher run or any material with fines here.
Why You Need to Order More Than the Calculator Says
The calculator gives you the exact volume your dimensions require. You should order 10–15% more than that number for every project.
There are three reasons. Compaction: angular gravel compacts under load, reducing volume by 5–10%. Settlement: gravel settles into soil over time, particularly in the first season. Waste and edge loss: gravel that migrates outside your edging or gets displaced during installation is gone.
For a driveway project calculated at 10 tons, order 11–11.5 tons. For decorative beds calculated at 3 tons, order 3.3–3.5 tons. The 10% overage costs less than a second delivery fee.
A Standard Two-Car Driveway: Worked Example
A typical two-car driveway is 20 feet wide and 40 feet long. At 4 inches deep:
Volume = 20 × 40 × (4/12) = 266.7 cubic feet = 9.9 cubic yards.
At crushed stone density (1.60 tons per cubic yard): 9.9 × 1.60 = 15.8 tons.
Add 10% for compaction and waste: 17.4 tons to order.
At $45 per ton delivered, the material cost is approximately $783. The delivery itself may add $50–150 depending on the supplier and distance. Total material and delivery budget: roughly $850–950.
That is the baseline for materials only. A full driveway installation with excavation and grading by a contractor typically costs $1,500–4,000 for a project this size depending on location.
Tips for Buying Gravel
Get quotes from at least three suppliers. Prices between suppliers in the same area can vary by 20% or more. Local quarries often beat big box stores on bulk orders.
Ask about minimum order quantities. Some suppliers have 5-ton minimums. Others deliver smaller loads for a higher per-ton rate or a flat delivery fee. Know your quantity before you call.
Confirm density with your specific supplier. The densities in the calculator are averages. Your local crushed limestone may be slightly denser or lighter than the nominal values. Suppliers can give you the exact weight per cubic yard for their material.
Check whether the price includes delivery. Some quoted prices are pickup only. Delivery adds $50–150 to most orders and $8–15 per mile beyond the supplier’s standard radius.
Order in fall or winter if you can. Demand drops in the off-season and some suppliers offer lower pricing during slower periods.
Confirm site access before delivery day. A standard dump truck needs room to position and raise the dump body. Low-hanging branches, soft ground, and tight turns create problems. Talk to the supplier about access requirements when you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Multiply your length in feet by your width in feet by your depth in feet (convert inches to feet by dividing by 12), then divide by 27. This gives cubic yards. For example: a 10-foot by 20-foot area at 3 inches deep is 10 × 20 × 0.25 / 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by your gravel’s density (typically 1.3 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard) to get tons. The calculator handles all conversions automatically when you enter dimensions.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
A typical two-car driveway (20 by 40 feet) at 4 inches deep needs approximately 9.9 cubic yards or 13 to 17 tons depending on gravel density. A single-car driveway (10 by 40 feet) at 4 inches needs roughly 4.9 cubic yards or 7 to 8 tons. Always add 10% for compaction and waste before placing your order.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
A minimum of 4 inches for passenger vehicles, ideally 6 inches for a long-lasting surface. New driveways built from scratch work best with a 3-layer system: 4 to 6 inches of large angular base stone at the bottom, 4 to 6 inches of medium angular stone in the middle, and 2 to 3 inches of finer gravel on top as the wearing surface.
What is the difference between pea gravel and crushed stone?
Pea gravel is naturally rounded and smooth. It drains freely, looks good, and is comfortable to walk on, but it does not compact and moves under vehicle load. Crushed stone is angular with sharp edges that lock together under compaction. It is stable under traffic and used for driveways, road base, and anywhere a firm surface is needed. For driveways, use crushed stone or crusher run as the base and pea gravel as a top dressing only if at all.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
A ton of gravel generally covers between 0.59 and 0.71 cubic yards. At 2 inches deep, one ton covers roughly 100 to 120 square feet. At 4 inches deep, one ton covers 50 to 60 square feet. Lighter gravels like lava rock and decomposed granite cover more area per ton than denser options like crusher run, which weighs approximately 1.68 tons per cubic yard.
How much does gravel delivery cost?
Gravel delivery costs between $50 and $150 for most orders in 2025, plus $8 to $15 per mile beyond the supplier’s standard delivery radius. Standard dump trucks hold 10 to 15 tons and a full load typically costs $400 to $950 delivered within 10 miles including material. Ordering 10 tons or more often comes with a 15 to 25% discount versus smaller loads, according to 2025 pricing data from Hello Gravel’s regional cost guide.
