Depth drives tonnage
A driveway base wants 4–6 in; a decorative top-dress only 2 in. Depth is the biggest lever on how much you order.
gravel calculator
Gravel Calculator
Estimate how much gravel or crushed stone you need for a driveway, path, or base layer. Enter the area and depth, and this calculator returns the volume in cubic yards and the weight in tons — the two units suppliers sell by — with a compaction allowance you control.
Quick answer
A 200 sq ft area at 4 in needs ~2.72 cu yd of gravel — about 3.8 tons — including 10% for compaction.
You order: 3.8 tonsStandard industry factors
Enter your project
Build your estimate
Start with a preset
Live result
3.8 tons
What you order
- Base volume2.47 cu yd
- Waste / compaction (10%)+0.25 cu yd
- Order volume2.72 cu yd
- Weight (× 1.4 tons/cu yd)3.8 tons
Standard industry factors · confirm with your supplier
The model, unpacked
Scenario breakdown
20 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in
Base volume
2.47 cu yd
Waste / compaction (10%)
+0.25 cu yd
Order volume
2.72 cu yd
Weight (× 1.4 tons/cu yd)
3.8 tons
You may also need
Materials for the same job
Planning a full project? Most jobs use more than one material. You will often pair concrete, paver base, sand and asphalt with gravel on the same site.
Interpret the output
What makes this move?
A trustworthy estimate explains the levers behind the number. These are the factors that change how much you need to order.
Compaction eats material
Crushed stone compacts about 10–15%, so order over the raw measured volume to reach the finished depth.
Stone type shifts weight
Crushed limestone is heavier than pea gravel, so the same volume can swing about ±10% in tons.
FAQ
Common questions
Straight answers about quantities, conversions, and how much to order — no lead-gen fog.
About 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) — heavier for crushed stone (~1.5 t), lighter for pea gravel (~1.3 t).