Gravel Calculator
Enter your driveway, path, or base area and get real cubic yards and estimated tons.
You'll need
1.23 cubic yards
(33.3 cubic feet)
Estimated weight
1.73 tons
Keep going
- An asphalt driveway sits on a compacted gravel base; this calculator sizes that base layer separately from the asphalt going on top. Asphalt Calculator
- A paver patio also needs a gravel base underneath; the paver calculator adds that base and the sand bedding on top of it in one step. Paver Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A common trade recommendation is 4" for a base layer on an existing driveway, or up to 8-12" total (in multiple compacted layers) for a new driveway built from bare ground -- check your own soil conditions since heavier clay soils often need a deeper base.
How much does gravel weigh?
This calculator uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a standard trade estimate for crushed stone/gravel. Real weight varies by gravel type and moisture content (typically 1.35-1.6 tons/cu yd), so treat this as a solid planning estimate, not an exact figure.
Do I need to compact gravel after spreading it?
Yes, for anything load-bearing (a driveway, walkway base). Uncompacted gravel settles unevenly over time. This calculator estimates the volume you need to spread, not the compacted depth -- loose gravel typically compacts down 10-20%, so some contractors order slightly extra to account for that.