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Volume = area × depth, and 1 cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tonnes (it varies by stone type and compaction). Example check: a driveway 20 ft × 10 ft at 4 in (0.333 ft) deep = 200 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft = 2.47 cu yd, about 3.5 tonnes. Stone density and compaction vary, so the tonne figure is an estimate — confirm with your supplier.
Try an example: 20 ft × 10 ft driveway, 4 in deep
Gravel is one of the simplest and most popular surfaces for a driveway, a garden path, a patio base or a drainage area, but ordering the right amount is a common source of waste and extra cost. Order too little and the surface looks thin, weeds push through, and you pay for a second delivery. Order too much and you pay for tonnes of stone you do not need and have to find somewhere to store. This gravel calculator turns your length, width and depth into cubic feet, cubic yards and tonnes, with a cost estimate if you add a price per tonne, so you can order with confidence.
The maths behind the tool is the same volume calculation used for mulch and concrete, and it is easy to check by hand. Gravel volume equals area multiplied by depth, so volume = area x depth. Measure the length and width in feet, multiply them to get the area in square feet, then multiply by the depth in feet. Because depth is usually chosen in inches, the calculator converts inches to feet for you, so a depth of 4 inches becomes 0.333 feet before the multiplication. The result is the volume in cubic feet, which the tool also converts into cubic yards and tonnes.
Suppliers sell gravel by weight as well as by volume, and the link between the two is the density of the stone. One cubic yard is approximately 1.4 tonnes of gravel, although the exact figure varies by stone type and compaction. A dense, angular stone packs tighter and weighs more per cubic yard than a light, rounded pea gravel, and a compacted layer weighs more than the same volume loose in a pile. The calculator uses 1.4 tonnes per cubic yard as a standard estimate, and it shows the tonne figure alongside the volume so you can compare both ways of buying.
Here is the worked check the calculator uses, so you can verify the result by hand. Take a driveway 20 feet long by 10 feet wide, with gravel 4 inches deep. Four inches is 0.333 feet, the area is 20 times 10, which is 200 square feet, and 200 times 0.333 equals 66.7 cubic feet. Divide 66.7 by 27 and you get 2.47 cubic yards, and multiply 2.47 by 1.4 and you get about 3.5 tonnes. That worked example shows every step in the open, from area to volume to weight, so you can trust the tool and repeat the same calculation for any other driveway or path.
Measure the length and width of the area in feet, using a tape measure for accuracy, and enter both figures in the calculator. Choose a depth from the depth picker, which covers the depths most projects use, usually 2 inches for a light path top-up, 3 to 4 inches for a driveway or a new path, and more for a base layer under paving. The tool then shows cubic feet, cubic yards and tonnes at once, so you can order by volume or by weight without doing a second calculation. If you know the price per tonne, enter it to see an estimated total cost.
For areas that are not simple rectangles, break the shape into rectangles, calculate each one separately, and add the results. A curved path can be measured in sections, and a driveway with a turning circle can be treated as a rectangle plus a circle. The calculator is designed for one area at a time so the numbers stay clear, and adding a few simple shapes together is more accurate than guessing at an irregular shape in one go.
Depth matters as much as area, because an extra inch across a large driveway adds a surprising amount of volume, weight and cost. A depth of 2 inches is often enough for a decorative top-up over an existing gravel surface, while 3 to 4 inches is a good general depth for a new path or driveway. A deeper layer gives better coverage, hides the ground beneath, and lasts longer before it needs topping up, but it also uses more stone and costs more. For a driveway that will carry cars regularly, a compacted sub-base beneath the gravel is often recommended, and the gravel depth on top is the figure this calculator estimates.
Here is the honest label for this tool. Stone density and compaction vary, so the tonne figure is an estimate, not a guaranteed weight. The calculator uses the standard figure of 1 cubic yard being approximately 1.4 tonnes, but different stone types, different moisture levels and different levels of compaction will change the real weight. It does not include delivery charges, the cost of a membrane or edging, or labour if you hire someone to lay the gravel. Confirm the tonne figure with the supplier before you order, and ask how they measure a cubic yard and whether their price is per tonne or per cubic yard.
Comparing prices by the same volume and weight figures is the easiest way to save money. Use the calculator to get a single total in cubic yards and tonnes, then ask each supplier for a price for that exact amount, including delivery. That makes the quotes directly comparable, and it avoids the confusion of one supplier quoting per tonne and another quoting per cubic yard. Remember to add delivery to any price that excludes it, because delivery can change which supplier is cheapest, especially for a small order.
Many home and garden projects need the same kind of area and volume maths, and this site offers other free calculators that use the same simple approach. Try the concrete calculator for slabs, footings and bases, the tile calculator for floors and walls, and the unit converter for switching between feet, inches, metres and other units. Used together, they cover most of the measuring and estimating a driveway, path or patio project needs.
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Whether you are resurfacing one driveway or laying a new garden path, FistHost wants the tools you use to be fast, free and honest about what they can and cannot do. This gravel calculator is part of that promise: clear maths, verified conversions, a worked example you can check by hand, and a plain-language explanation of the result. Bookmark it, measure carefully, and confirm the tonne figure with your supplier so the job finishes in one go. For hosting that is just as straightforward, FistHost shared hosting from $0.99/month with a free domain on an annual plan at fisthost.com is ready when you are.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway? Multiply length by width to get the area, then multiply by depth in feet. For a 20 foot by 10 foot driveway at 4 inches deep, that is 66.7 cubic feet, which is 2.47 cubic yards or about 3.5 tonnes. The calculator does this for any size and depth.
How many tonnes are in a cubic yard of gravel? One cubic yard is approximately 1.4 tonnes of gravel, although the exact figure varies by stone type and compaction. Use that figure as an estimate and confirm the real weight with your supplier before ordering.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard? One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards, which is a unit many suppliers use alongside tonnes.
What depth of gravel should I use? Four inches is a common depth for a driveway, 3 inches works for a new path, and 2 inches is enough for a light top-up. A deeper layer lasts longer and hides the ground beneath, but it uses more stone and costs more.
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