How much gravel do I need?

Published July 21, 2026.

Start with the area you are covering in square feet, pick a depth, then figure the volume. The short version: multiply length by width to get square feet, multiply that by your depth in feet, and you have the cubic feet of gravel you need. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12 (2 inches is 0.167 feet, 3 inches is 0.25 feet, 4 inches is 0.333 feet). Divide the cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards for ordering, since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, per Bob Vila. Gravel is also sold by the ton, and it weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard (the same figure Bob Vila uses), so multiplying your cubic yards by 1.4 gives you a working ton figure. When the math lands between sizes, round up.

The formula, step by step

Here is the same method written out so you can do it on paper.

Measure the area. For a rectangle, multiply length by width in feet. For an odd shape, break it into rectangles and add them up. This is your square footage.
Pick a depth and convert it to feet. Divide the inches by 12. Two inches is 0.167 feet, 3 inches is 0.25 feet, and 4 inches is 0.333 feet.
Multiply to get cubic feet. Area in square feet times depth in feet gives the volume in cubic feet.
Convert to what you are buying. Divide cubic feet by 27 for cubic yards. To estimate tons, multiply the cubic yards by about 1.4, the common weight per cubic yard that Bob Vila uses for gravel driveways.
Round up. Gravel settles and compacts, and edges never come out exactly square, so buy the next whole unit rather than the next one down.

A worked example

Say you are laying a surface course on a driveway that is 30 feet by 10 feet, which is 300 square feet. You want 4 inches of gravel, or 0.333 feet.

Multiply: 300 times 0.333 is about 100 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and you get about 3.7 cubic yards. To price it by weight, multiply 3.7 by 1.4, which is about 5.2 tons. Denser stone weighs a little more, so treat that as a floor. You can skip the math with our gravel calculator, which handles the fractions and the ton conversion for you.

Coverage by depth

Coverage is the number that drives the whole estimate, so it helps to see it laid out. These figures come from the 27 cubic feet per cubic yard standard, so they hold for any gravel regardless of weight.

Depth	One cubic yard covers	One ton covers (at ~1.4 tons/yd)
2 inches	About 162 sq ft	About 116 sq ft
3 inches	About 108 sq ft	About 77 sq ft
4 inches	About 81 sq ft	About 58 sq ft

The cubic yard column is pure geometry from the 27 cubic feet standard. The ton column assumes about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so it shifts a little if your gravel is denser. Stone size matters too: larger, chunkier stone covers a little less per ton than fine gravel because it packs with more air gaps, so treat the ton column as a close estimate and confirm the exact product with your supplier.

How deep to go for common uses

The right depth depends on what the gravel has to hold up.

Paths and simple drainage. A walkway or a decorative top layer usually needs about 2 to 3 inches, laid over a compacted base rather than as a single thick layer.
Driveways. Plan on about 4 to 6 inches total, built in layers, according to Port Aggregates. A typical build is a 2 to 3 inch base of large angular stone (often #2) with a 2 to 3 inch surface of smaller stone like #57 on top.
Heavy or frequent traffic. If trucks use the drive often, Port Aggregates suggests going to 8 inches or more.

The layering matters as much as the total. Port Aggregates recommends compacting each layer thoroughly with a mechanical compactor before adding the next, which is what keeps the surface from rutting.

How gravel is sold, and a compaction buffer

Gravel is sold two ways, by the cubic yard and by the ton, and Bob Vila quotes prices both ways for the same material. Cubic yards measure volume, tons measure weight, and the bridge between them is the density of about 1.4 tons per cubic yard for common gravel.

Two things push your real order slightly above the raw calculation. Gravel loses volume as it compacts under traffic, and some gets lost to spillage and uneven ground. A practical move is to round your yardage up to the next half yard, and Bob Vila suggests adding about 4 percent for compaction on gravel that gets driven on. Ordering a little long is cheaper than paying for a second small delivery.

For the exact amount for your project, including odd shapes and your chosen depth, run the numbers through our gravel calculator. Densities and coverage vary by product, so confirm the figures with your supplier before a large order, and check local codes for any driveway that meets a public road.

Sources

Bob Vila · How to Make a Gravel Driveway. bobvila.com/articles/how-to-make-a-gravel-driveway
Port Aggregates · Proper Gravel Depth Requirements for Different Driveways. portaggregates.com/proper-gravel-depth
Bob Vila · How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost? bobvila.com/articles/gravel-driveway-cost

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Frequently asked questions

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

Common gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, the figure Bob Vila uses for estimating a gravel driveway, and denser crushed stone weighs a bit more. In pounds, 1.4 tons is roughly 2,800 per cubic yard. To turn cubic yards into tons, multiply by 1.4, so 3 cubic yards is about 4.2 tons. Going the other way, one ton is roughly 0.7 cubic yards, so check which unit your supplier prices in.

How deep should gravel be for a driveway?

For a residential driveway, Port Aggregates recommends a total of 4 to 6 inches built in layers. Start with a 2 to 3 inch base of large angular stone (often called #2), then top it with 2 to 3 inches of smaller stone like #57. Compact each layer thoroughly before adding the next so the surface stays firm and drains well. Heavier use, like frequent trucks, calls for 8 inches or more.

How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?

At 2 inches deep, one ton of common gravel covers roughly 115 square feet, at 3 inches about 77 square feet, and at 4 inches about 58 square feet, based on the 27 cubic feet per cubic yard standard and a weight near 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Coverage roughly doubles if you halve the depth, and halves if you double it. Larger, chunkier stone covers a little less per ton than fine gravel because it packs with more air gaps. When your order is tight, ask the supplier for the coverage of the exact product, since density varies.