Gravel, Sand & Stone Calculators
Gravel, Sand & Stone Calculators turn area and depth into tons, cubic yards, and bags. Size pea gravel, crushed stone, road base, and rip rap. Plan paver base, joint sand, and loam before the truck arrives.
How Gravel, Sand & Stone Calculators Work
Bulk material is sold by the ton or by the cubic yard. Your plans are measured in feet and inches. Gravel, Sand & Stone Calculators close that gap before you call the supplier.
Every estimate needs three inputs. You need the area, the finished depth, and the weight of the material. Area times depth gives volume. Volume times weight gives tons.
Most of the tools above also add a waste allowance. Several convert the result into bags, truck loads, or cost.
Pick a Tool by Project
The same stone can serve different jobs. Start from what you are building, then pick the tool.
Driveways and Base Work
The Road Base Calculator works from compacted depth. It returns tons, cubic yards, the loose spread depth, and truck loads. The Crushed Stone Calculator and Limestone Calculator cover the stone layers above or below the base.
Base rock is angular. It locks together when compacted, so it needs extra volume to reach the finished depth.
Paver Patios and Walkways
A paver job uses three separate materials. The Paver Base Calculator sizes the compacted gravel layer. The Paver Sand Calculator sizes the thin bedding layer on top. The Polymeric Sand Calculator estimates the joint sand you sweep in after the pavers are laid.
For a softer path without pavers, the 1/4 Minus Calculator and Decomposed Granite Calculator handle fine, packable stone.
Drainage and Erosion Control
The Pea Gravel Calculator suits drain trenches and loose fill. It returns cubic yards, tons, cubic feet, bags, and cost. It also has density presets for different gravel types.
The Rip Rap Calculator is for slopes, shorelines, and culvert outlets. You pick a stone class, and it returns tons, cubic yards, and truck loads. On a slope, measure along the face rather than the flat run. The flat run is shorter and will understate the area.
Landscape Beds
The River Rock Calculator and Pebble Coverage Calculator size decorative cover. The Stone Weight Calculator helps when you need to know what a load or a single stone weighs before moving it.
Play Areas
The Playground Mulch Calculator sizes loose-fill surfacing. The Sand Coverage Calculator works for sandboxes and sand play areas. Safety depth matters more than looks here, so see the play area section below.
Lawns, Fill, and Slurry
The Yards Of Loam Calculator estimates topsoil for new lawns and garden beds. The Sand Coverage Calculator also covers leveling and general fill. The Sand Slurry Calculator helps when sand is mixed with water for backfill or pumping.
How Far One Yard Goes
A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. Spread 1 inch deep, it covers 324 square feet. Every other depth follows from that number.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
That gives a quick formula when depth is in inches.
$$\text{Cubic yards} = \frac{\text{Length (ft)} \times \text{Width (ft)} \times \text{Depth (in)}}{324}$$
Take a garden path 20 ft long and 10 ft wide, filled 3 inches deep. The result is 20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324, or 1.85 cubic yards.
At 1.4 tons per yard, that path needs about 2.6 tons before waste.
What Material Weighs
Weight turns a volume into a ton order. It changes with rock type, grain size, and moisture. These ranges come from published estimating tables.
| Material | Typical weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Most gravel and crushed stone | About 1.4 tons (range 1.2–1.7) |
| Dry sand | 1.3–1.5 tons |
| Damp sand | 1.5–1.7 tons |
Bigger stone is not always heavier per yard. Large pieces leave more air gaps, so a yard can weigh less than a yard of small stone.
Ask your supplier for the weight of the exact product. Enter that number in the tool for the closest result.
Paver Base Depths
Base depth decides whether pavers stay flat. ICPI guidance sets a minimum of 4 inches of compacted base for foot traffic. Vehicle areas need at least 6 inches.
Clay or poorly drained soil often needs more. On top of the base goes about 1 inch of bedding sand.
Do not use extra bedding sand to hide a low spot. Fix the base instead. A thick sand layer lets pavers rock and sink.
Compaction and Settling
Loose material shrinks once it is packed down. The amount depends on the stone shape.
Angular base rock compacts the most. Many estimators add about 20–25% to road base and paver base. Rounded pea gravel does not lock together, so it needs little extra.
Add a separate 5–10% for spillage and uneven ground. Always enter the finished depth you want, not the loose depth.
Play Area Depths
Loose fill under play equipment is safety surfacing. The CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook sets the depths.
It advises never using less than 9 inches of loose fill. Shredded rubber is the exception, at 6 inches. It also notes that loose fill compresses at least 25% over time.
That is why a 9 inch requirement starts with a 12 inch fill. For a 500 sq ft play area, 12 inches of mulch is about 18.5 cubic yards. Nine inches would be about 13.9 cubic yards.
Required depth also depends on the equipment’s fall height and the material type. Check the handbook table for your setup.
Before You Order
Match the supplier’s unit. Landscape yards often sell by the cubic yard. Quarries often sell by the ton. Convert both quotes to the same unit before you compare.
Ask about delivery minimums. Many bulk suppliers set a minimum load or charge a small-load fee. A small job may cost less in bags.
Split odd shapes. Break curved or L-shaped areas into rectangles and circles. Run each one, then add the totals.
Round up. A small leftover pile costs less than a second delivery.
FAQs
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons for most gravel. Published figures run from about 1.2 to 1.7 tons, depending on rock type, size, and moisture.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per yard and 2 inches deep, one ton covers about 115 square feet. Double the depth and the coverage drops by half.
How deep should paver base be?
At least 4 inches of compacted base for patios and walkways, and at least 6 inches for driveways, per ICPI guidance. Weak soil calls for more.
What is the difference between paver sand and polymeric sand?
Paver sand is the bedding layer the pavers sit on. Polymeric sand fills the joints after the pavers are laid. It hardens when wet to hold them in place.
How deep should playground mulch be?
CPSC guidance calls for at least 9 inches of loose fill, except shredded rubber at 6 inches. Start at about 12 inches, because the fill compresses over time.
Is it cheaper to buy by the ton or by the yard?
Neither is always cheaper. Convert both prices to the same unit using the product’s weight per yard. Then compare, including delivery fees.
Why does my supplier’s weight differ from the calculator?
Stone weight varies by quarry, grading, and moisture. Wet material weighs more. Use the supplier’s figure in the tool when you have it.