Gravel Tonnage Calculator
Tons of gravel, crushed stone, base or sand for any area and depth — using real material densities, with cost, coverage and truck loads included.
Yards and tons are not interchangeable
Quarries sell by the ton, plans specify by the yard, and the conversion between them depends entirely on the material. Crushed stone is around 1.4 tons per cubic yard, dense graded base closer to 1.5, screened topsoil about 1.25. Using one density for everything is how an order comes in 15% wrong.
Depth is where driveways fail
Four inches of compacted stone is fine for cars on firm ground. Put delivery trucks on it, or build over soft or clay subgrade, and you want six to eight inches — usually a coarse base course with a finer top. Depth is cheap at order time and expensive once the surface starts rutting, so err upward.
Always order a little extra
Stone compacts under the roller, disappears into soft spots in the subgrade and spills at the edges. Five to ten percent covers it. The alternative is a second short delivery, where you pay the trucking again for a fraction of a load — usually more than the surplus would have cost.
For base under a structure rather than a surface course, size the compacted layer with the compaction calculator first.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Multiply length by width by depth to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by the material density in tons per cubic yard. Crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so a 100 by 12 foot driveway at 4 inches deep needs roughly 15 cubic yards, or about 21 tons.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Four inches of compacted stone suits light residential traffic over firm ground. Six to eight inches, usually in two layers with a coarser base under a finer top, is normal where trucks run or the subgrade is soft. Add depth rather than hoping — a thin driveway rutting in the first wet spring costs more than the extra stone would have.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
At 2 inches deep, one ton of crushed stone covers roughly 100 square feet. At 4 inches, about 50 square feet. At 6 inches, about 33. The coverage figure in this calculator updates with the density you choose, since a ton of washed sand goes further than a ton of dense graded base.
Should I order extra?
Yes, generally 5-10%. Material compacts under the roller, spreads into soft spots in the subgrade, and gets lost at the edges. Ordering exactly the calculated quantity almost always means a second, expensive small delivery to finish the job.