Gravel Calculator

Size bulk gravel, crushed stone, and rock for driveways, patios, French drains, and fill. Shows both cubic yards and tons — landscape suppliers price by the yard, ready-mix and aggregate yards price by the ton.

How much gravel do I need?

Supports driveways, walkways, fills, and decorative beds.

What you'll need to buy

Prices approximate · Links go to retailer search results

Bagged Gravel — 50 lb

~0.5 cu ft

100 × bag s

~$500
Buy at Home Depot →
Landscape Fabric — 3 x 100 ft

1 × roll

~$28
Buy at Home Depot →
Bow Rake

1 × each

~$22
Buy at Home Depot →

Estimated total: ~$550 (materials, before tax)

Product links go to Home Depot search results — pick the best match for your project. Prices shown are rough averages.

How we calculated it

Gravel is sold by two different measures and the conversion trips up most DIYers:

Landscape supply yards typically price by the cubic yard (loose volume before compaction).
Aggregate quarries / concrete suppliers typically price by the ton (weight).
1 cu yd of common driveway stone ≈ 1.3-1.5 tons depending on product.

The calculator outputs both so you can order in whichever unit your supplier uses. It also shows an optional bag-count equivalent for the edge case of small projects.

Densities used: pea gravel ~96 lb/cu ft, crushed stone #57 ~100, crusher run / #411 ~130, river rock ~95, decomposed granite ~110. Compaction multipliers: 1.0 for decorative, 1.15 for #57, 1.25 for crusher run and DG. These match industry norms; real product data from your local supplier may vary by ±10%.

Gravel weight per cubic yard by product

Typical dry, loose density — your local supplier may vary ±10%.

Product	lb / cu ft	lb / yd	Tons / yd
Pea gravel (3/8")	96	2,592	1.3
Crushed stone #57 (3/4")	100	2,700	1.35
Crusher run / #411	130	3,510	1.75
River rock (3-5")	95	2,565	1.28
Decomposed granite	110	2,970	1.48
Sand (masonry)	100	2,700	1.35

Denser products cost more per ton but less per yard covered — pricing varies by region. This table lets you sanity-check supplier quotes.

Driveway gravel by driveway size (at 4 in compacted)

Using #411 crusher run (1.25× compaction factor), the standard base course.

Driveway	Area	Loose cu yd to order	Tons
10 × 20 ft	200 sq ft	3.1 yd	5.4
10 × 40 ft	400 sq ft	6.2 yd	10.8
12 × 60 ft	720 sq ft	11.1 yd	19.4
15 × 80 ft	1,200 sq ft	18.5 yd	32.4
20 × 100 ft	2,000 sq ft	30.9 yd	54

Add 2-3 in of #57 top course for a finished driveway — about 25-30% more material beyond the base.

Frequently asked questions

How much gravel do I need for a 10x20 driveway?

A 10x20 driveway (200 sq ft) at a 4" compacted top course of #57 stone needs about 2.5 cu yd or ~3.4 tons loose — after applying the ~1.15x compaction multiplier most suppliers add. Drop to 3" and you save 25%, but #57 loose chips migrate under tires at that depth.

How much does a yard of gravel weigh?

Depends on the product. Pea gravel: ~2,600 lb/yd. Crushed stone #57: ~2,700 lb/yd. Crusher run (#411): ~3,500 lb/yd (the densest because of the fines). Decomposed granite: ~3,000 lb/yd. River rock: ~2,600 lb/yd. Most half-ton pickups can safely haul 0.5-0.75 yd of crusher run or 1 yd of pea gravel.

What is the difference between #57 and #411 crushed stone?

#57 is 3/4" clean crushed stone — no fines — used as a top layer for drainage or as concrete aggregate. It does not pack down. #411 (also called crusher run or QP in some markets) is #57 mixed with stone dust and fines; it packs down hard and is the standard driveway BASE layer. Many DIY driveways use 4-6" of #411 as base with 2-3" of #57 on top.

How deep should gravel be for a driveway?

Residential gravel driveway on stable soil: 4" compacted #411 base + 2-3" #57 top = 6-7" total. On clay or boggy soils, go 6-8" of base. Top-course alone on soft soil will rut and pothole within one winter.

Should I put landscape fabric under gravel?

For walkways and decorative areas: yes — it stops grass and weeds from pushing up through the stone. For driveways: a non-woven geotextile fabric is strongly recommended on clay or soft soil to keep base stone from sinking into the substrate. Skip woven polypropylene (home center "weed fabric") under a driveway; it tears.

How many tons in a cubic yard of gravel?

Most landscape gravel runs 1.3-1.5 tons per cubic yard (pea gravel, river rock, #57). Denser products like #411 crusher run and decomposed granite hit 1.7-1.8 tons/yd. This calculator shows both yards and tons so you can order whichever unit your local supplier uses.

Is bagged or bulk gravel cheaper?

Bulk wins past about half a yard (15-20 bags) even after a $50-100 delivery fee. Bagged (50 lb bags ≈ 0.5 cu ft each) is convenient for small projects — a planter, a drainage pit, a spot repair — but scales badly on cost above that.

Can I pour concrete over gravel?

Yes — most slabs sit on 2-4" of #57 crushed stone. The gravel base provides drainage, frost protection, and a level surface for the pour. Compact it in 2" lifts, then the concrete goes right on top (with a vapor barrier if the slab is inside a heated building).

What size gravel is best for a French drain?

#57 washed stone (3/4") is the industry standard for French drain fill — clean stones (no fines) create maximum void space for water to flow through. Wrap the trench in non-woven geotextile to keep soil from eventually clogging the stone.

How much does a pickup truck hold?

Half-ton (F-150, Silverado 1500): 1-1.5 yards of mulch; 0.5 yard of crusher run. 3/4 ton (F-250, 2500): up to 2 yards of crusher run. Full ton dump (F-350, 3500): 3 yards. Always check GVWR — stone is much denser than mulch and it is easy to overload a half-ton truck.

Mulch calculator

Yards, bags, and bulk delivery estimate.

Stone calculator

Yards, tons, and bags for decorative stone.

Paint calculator

Gallons of paint and primer for any room.

Drywall calculator

Full material list for any room.

Related terms

Plain-English definitions for the terms used in this calculator.

#57 stone: A 3/4-inch clean crushed stone with no fines (dust). Used as concrete aggregate, driveway top course, and drainage fill. Does not compact.
#411 / crusher run: Crushed stone mixed with stone dust and fines. Packs down hard under compaction and is the standard base material under driveways, pavers, and slabs.
compaction factor: The ratio of loose volume to compacted volume, typically 1.15-1.30 for driveway base aggregates. Order 15-25% more loose material than the finished compacted volume you need.
cubic yard: 27 cubic feet. The standard bulk volume unit for mulch, soil, gravel, and concrete in the US. Covers ~108 sq ft at 3" depth, ~162 sq ft at 2", ~324 sq ft at 1".
landscape fabric: A permeable fabric installed under mulch, gravel, or decorative stone to suppress weeds while allowing water through. Non-woven geotextile is the pro choice; woven polypropylene is cheaper and fine for light duty.