Gravel Calculator

Gravel is priced by weight or by volume depending on the supplier, and the two are linked by density, which is where estimates go wrong. A cubic yard of gravel weighs a ton and a half or more, so a driveway that needs eight cubic yards arrives as well over ten tonnes. Understanding that relationship prevents the awkward discovery that a delivery is heavier, and sometimes larger, than expected. Depth is the design decision. A decorative bed of rounded pebbles might be two inches deep over a membrane. A garden path wants two to three inches. A driveway that has to carry vehicles needs a properly built base — often four to six inches of compacted sub-base beneath a finer surface layer — and skimping on depth is the usual cause of ruts and potholes within a season. The larger and sharper the stone, the better it interlocks and resists movement under wheels. Shape and access matter as much as volume. A long, narrow drive is easy to estimate but may need a wider entrance. An awkward corner needs more stone because the depth cannot be spread evenly. Delivery access is the constraint people forget: a tipper needs somewhere to tip, and if it cannot reach the site, the stone has to be barrowed, which is slow and hard work in tonnage. This calculator gives volume in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic metres, and weight in tons using a density you can adjust for the type of stone. It assumes an even depth over the measured area and does not include the sub-base layer unless you run it separately. Order slightly more than the calculation suggests, since gravel settles and compacts.

This calculator returns estimates for planning and general information only. It is not engineering, architectural, structural, electrical or code advice, and it cannot replace a qualified professional who has seen the site. Material quantities depend on the actual dimensions, the product you buy and local building codes, so confirm the figures before ordering materials or starting work, and always follow local regulations.