Gravel Calculator

Gravel is quoted two ways: by volume (the cubic yard) and by weight (the ton). This calculator finds both from the same three numbers — length, width, and depth. It multiplies length by width to get the area, multiplies by the depth to get a volume, and then multiplies that volume by gravel's weight per cubic yard to get tons. Depth is entered in inches while the area is in feet, so the depth is divided by twelve before it multiplies through.

The weight step uses a dry bulk density of about 1.42 US tons per cubic yard for typical drainage and driveway gravel. Real material varies: wet gravel and finer, more angular stone weigh more, so treat the ton figure as an ordering estimate and confirm it against the scale ticket when the load is weighed.

A waste allowance adds a few percent for the material that scatters, compacts, and disappears into an uneven subgrade. For a spread-and-rake decorative layer you can leave it at zero; for a compacted driveway base, ten percent is a sensible cushion.