Gravel Calculators | Free Construction Calculators
Calculate gravel volume, weight, and costs
Gravel Volume Calculator
Calculate gravel volume needed
Gravel Weight Calculator
Calculate gravel weight
Gravel Cost Calculator
Estimate gravel costs
Gravel Bags Calculator
Calculate bags of gravel needed
About Gravel Calculations
Accurate gravel calculations are essential for driveways, pathways, drainage systems, and landscaping projects. Whether you're building a new driveway, creating garden paths, installing French drains, or adding decorative stone to landscape beds, knowing the exact volume, weight, and cost of gravel prevents material shortages, reduces waste, and ensures proper budgeting. Our professional gravel calculators help contractors, landscapers, and homeowners determine cubic yards needed, calculate weights for delivery planning, estimate bag quantities for small projects, and project total costs for any gravel application.
Why Use Our Gravel Calculators?
Accurate Volume Estimates
Calculate exact cubic yards or tons of gravel needed based on project dimensions and depth requirements.
Weight Calculations
Determine total weight for delivery truck capacity, compaction estimates, and structural load considerations.
Cost Estimation
Estimate total project costs including materials, delivery, and installation for accurate budget planning.
Bag Conversion
Quickly convert between bulk cubic yards and bagged quantities to compare purchasing options and costs.
Multiple Applications
Support for driveways, pathways, drainage, landscaping, and base material with appropriate depth recommendations.
Common Gravel Calculations
Driveway Gravel Volume
Calculate cubic yards for driveway base and surface layers accounting for proper depth and compaction requirements.
Gravel Weight by Type
Determine weight based on stone type (crushed, pea gravel, river rock) for delivery truck capacity and foundation loads.
Bag Quantity Estimation
Calculate how many bags needed for small projects when bulk delivery is not practical or cost-effective.
Project Cost Planning
Estimate complete costs including gravel materials, delivery fees, fabric, edging, and installation labor.
Pathway Coverage
Calculate gravel for garden paths, walkways, and trails with appropriate depth for foot traffic and drainage.
Drainage Applications
Determine gravel quantities for French drains, foundation drainage, and erosion control systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gravel do I need for my driveway or path?
Calculate area (length × width) in square feet, multiply by depth in feet. For a 12×50 ft driveway with 4-inch base: 600 sq ft × 0.33 ft = 198 cubic feet = 7.3 cubic yards. Standard gravel depths: 4-6 inches for driveways, 2-3 inches for pathways, 6-8 inches for heavy vehicle areas. Always compact gravel in 2-3 inch layers. Add 5-10% extra for compaction and settling.
How much does gravel weigh per cubic yard?
Gravel weight varies by stone type and size. Crushed stone: 2,700 lbs per cubic yard. Pea gravel: 2,500-2,600 lbs/yd³. River rock: 2,400-2,500 lbs/yd³. Bank run gravel: 2,800 lbs/yd³. Average is approximately 1.4 tons (2,800 lbs) per cubic yard. Wet gravel weighs 10-15% more. Weight matters for truck capacity (typically 10-15 tons max) and foundation load calculations.
What size gravel should I use for my project?
Driveway base: 3/4-inch crushed stone (Angular for compaction). Driveway surface: 3/8-inch to 5/8-inch pea gravel or crushed stone. Pathways: 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch pea gravel. Drainage: 3/4-inch to 1.5-inch river rock or washed stone. Decorative landscaping: 1-3 inch river rock or decorative stone. French drains: 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch washed stone. Larger stone drains better but is harder to walk on.
How many bags of gravel equal a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals approximately 54 bags of 0.5 cubic foot gravel bags (common size). For larger 1 cubic foot bags, you need 27 bags per yard. Bags are convenient for small projects under 1 cubic yard but cost 3-4 times more than bulk delivery. Calculate break-even: 1 yard bulk ($30-50) vs 54 bags ($4-6 each = $216-324). Use bulk for driveways; use bags for small garden accents.
How much does gravel cost?
Bulk gravel costs $15-75 per ton or $20-100 per cubic yard delivered, depending on type and location. Crushed stone: $25-35/yard. Pea gravel: $30-50/yard. River rock: $40-70/yard. Decorative stone: $50-100/yard. Delivery fees: $50-150 depending on distance. Minimum orders often 5-10 yards. Bagged gravel: $4-8 per 0.5 cu ft bag. Installation labor adds $40-60 per hour.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
Yes, landscape fabric (geotextile) prevents gravel from mixing with soil, reduces weed growth, and improves drainage. Use commercial-grade woven fabric (not thin plastic) rated for your application. For driveways: use heavy-duty geotextile. For pathways: medium-duty fabric suffices. Overlap fabric seams 6-12 inches. Pin or stake fabric before adding gravel. Fabric extends gravel life 2-3 times by preventing rutting and mixing.
Gravel Installation Tips
Excavate and grade area before gravel installation. Install landscape fabric to prevent weed growth and gravel migration. Compact gravel in 2-3 inch layers using a plate compactor. Edge driveways and paths with pavers or metal edging for containment. Choose angular crushed stone for driveways (compacts better) and rounded pea gravel for pathways (more comfortable). Replenish surface gravel every 2-3 years as it settles.