How do I calculate cubic feet of gravel?

Multiply length × width × depth in feet. A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs 50 × 10 × 0.333 ≈ 167 ft³, or 6.17 cubic yards.

How much does 1 cubic foot of gravel weigh?

About 105 lbs per cubic foot for standard 3/4-inch crushed gravel. Pea gravel runs ~100 lb/ft³; #57 stone is ~95 lb/ft³.

How many cubic feet are in a ton of gravel?

Approximately 19 cubic feet (2,000 lbs ÷ 105 lb/ft³). 1 cubic yard of gravel weighs ~2,835 lbs, or 1.42 tons.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

4 inches for the top "wear course" plus a 4-inch base layer = 8 inches total for new driveways. For walkways, 2–3 inches is enough over compacted soil.

How much gravel do I need for a 100 ft × 12 ft driveway?

At 4 inches deep: 100 × 12 × 0.333 = 400 ft³ = 14.8 yd³ = ~21 tons.

Gravel Calculator (Cubic Feet) — Tons, Cubic Yards & Pea Gravel Coverage

How to calculate cubic feet for gravel

Gravel sells by the ton or by the cubic yard, but you'll plan most jobs in cubic feet because that's how driveway and walkway dimensions naturally come out. Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet) for cubic feet, then convert to whatever unit your supplier uses.

Standard gravel weighs about 105 pounds per cubic foot, or 2,835 lbs per yard.

Worked examples

Example 1: A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep

50 × 10 × 0.333 ≈ 167 ft³ = 6.17 yd³ = 8.75 tons.

Example 2: A 30 × 4 ft walkway at 2 inches deep

30 × 4 × 0.167 = 20 ft³ = 0.74 yd³ = 1.05 tons.

Example 3: A 20 × 20 ft parking pad at 6 inches deep

20 × 20 × 0.5 = 200 ft³ = 7.41 yd³ = 10.5 tons.

Gravel weight reference

Material	Conversion factor	Worked example
Pea gravel	~100 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.35 tons
3/4" crushed	~105 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.42 tons
#57 stone	~95 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.28 tons
River rock	~110 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.49 tons
Crushed limestone	~95 lb/ft³	1 yd³ ≈ 1.28 tons

Tips and considerations

Build a base layer first

For driveways and patios, install a 4-inch compacted base of crushed stone before the wear-course gravel. The base prevents settling and keeps fines from migrating up.

Add 10–15% for compaction

Loose-delivered gravel compacts ~10–15% under traffic and weather. Order enough to hit your finished depth after compaction.

Edge restraint matters

Without edging, gravel migrates onto lawns and into joints. Plan steel, paver, or pressure-treated wood edging for the project perimeter.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ordering by cubic yards but measuring depth in inches without converting. Multiply length × width in feet by depth divided by 12 to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Skipping the divide-by-12 gives a number 12× too large.
Using the wrong density. Pea gravel runs about 100 lb/ft³; crushed stone runs 105–120 lb/ft³ depending on grade. Confirm with your supplier before converting cubic feet to tons.
Forgetting compaction. Loose-loaded gravel compacts 10–15% under vehicle traffic. Order an extra 10% for driveways and walkways.
Mixing tons and cubic yards. Some suppliers price by ton, others by yard. Confirm which unit is on the quote before comparing prices.