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Gravel Calculator

Calculate tons of gravel, crushed stone, rock, or aggregate required for driveways, walkways, patios, or French drains, including cubic yards and 50-lb retail bag conversions.

Quick Presets:
ft
ft
inches
$
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Total US Tons Needed

8.8 US Tons (6.52 yd³)

Total Area 480 sq ft 53.33 sq yd (44.59 m²)
Dump Trucks 0.7 Loads ~12 ton tri-axle truck
50-lb Bags 353 Bags Total: 17,604 lbs
Bulk Total Cost $396 at $45/ton

Purchasing Breakdown: Quarry Delivery vs Retail Bags

Purchase Option Quantity Weight Est. Material Cost Recommended Use
Quarry Bulk Delivery 8.8 tons (6.52 yd³) 17,604 lbs $396 Best for projects > 1-2 tons (driveways & paths)
Retail 50-lb Bags 353 bags 17,650 lbs $1,722.64 Best for small patches, touch-ups, & tight spaces

💡 Tip: Buying bulk stone from a local landscape supplier or quarry saves approximately $1,326.64 over retail bagged gravel!

Recommended Gravel Depths by Project Type

  • Walkways & Garden Paths (2"–3"): Use pea gravel or decomposed granite. Requires landscape fabric beneath to suppress weeds.
  • Residential Driveway Surface (4"): 3/4" crushed limestone (#57) or river gravel over a firmly compacted sub-base.
  • Driveway Sub-Base / Heavy Vehicles (6"–8"): Crusher run or road base with heavy mechanical roller compaction.
  • French Drains & Pipe Bedding (6"–12"): 3/4" to 1.5" clean washed gravel wrapped with non-woven geotextile fabric.

Understanding your calculation

Method, example and limitations

How the calculation works

Gravel volume is area multiplied by depth. Estimated mass then equals volume times the selected bulk density.

Example to check

An area of 10 m² covered to 0.05 m needs 0.5 m³. At an assumed 1,600 kg/m³, that is 800 kg.

Before using the result

Bulk density depends on stone type, grading, moisture and compaction. Confirm supplier specifications and account for ground preparation.

Calculation methodology · Report a result that needs review