How to calculate gravel in tons
Quarries sell gravel by the ton, but you measure your project in feet. So you work out the volume, add what compaction squeezes out, and convert volume to weight. Here is the math for the driveway the calculator opens with: 50 x 12 ft, 4 inches of crusher run under 3 inches of #57 stone, compacted, with 5% extra.
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1
Find the area
50 ft × 12 ft = 600 sq ft.
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2
Get the volume of each layer
Multiply by the depth in feet and divide by 27. Base: 600 × 4 ÷ 12 = 200 cu ft, or 7.41 cubic yards. Top: 600 × 3 ÷ 12 = 150 cu ft, or 5.56 cubic yards.
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3
Add compaction and waste
Crusher run loses about 20% of its loose volume when you compact it and #57 about 10%. With 5% extra: 7.41 × 1.20 × 1.05 = 9.33 yd of base and 5.56 × 1.10 × 1.05 = 6.42 yd of top stone.
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4
Multiply by the weight per yard
Crusher run weighs about 1.5 tons per yard and #57 about 1.4. That gives 14.0 tons of base and 9.0 tons of top stone: 23 tons in all, about two dump-truck loads.
At $30 a ton for crusher run, $40 for #57 and $150 per load delivered, the stone comes to $1,080. Fabric and a day with a plate compactor bring the default job to about $1,330 in materials.
Gravel types, weights and prices
Weight per yard depends on the rock and how much dust fills the gaps. Most crushed stone runs 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Prices are bulk, per ton, before delivery.
| Stone | Tons per yd | Per ton | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| #57 crushed stone | 1.4 | $30–$60 | Driveway top, drainage |
| #411 stone | 1.5 | $25–$40 | Driveway top, paths, pads |
| Crusher run | 1.5 | $24–$50 | Base layer, paver base |
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | $28–$55 | Paths, patios, play areas |
| River rock | 1.35 | $45–$130 | Beds, dry creeks |
The numbers on stone are sizes, not quality grades. #57 is clean stone about 3/4 to 1 inch across. #411 is #57 mixed with stone dust, so it packs hard. Crusher run, also called crush and run, dense grade or road base, runs from about 3/4 to 1-1/2 inch down to dust. Names change by region, so describe the use when you call the yard.
How deep should each project be?
| Project | Base | Top |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway, cars | 4 in crusher run | 2–3 in #57 or #411 |
| Driveway, trucks or soft soil | 6–8 in | 3–4 in |
| Garden path | 2 in crusher run | 2 in pea gravel |
| Shed or patio pad | None | 4 in #411 or #57 |
A gravel driveway should be at least 5 to 6 inches deep in total. Most failures come from a thin base on soft ground, not from the top stone.
How far does a ton go?
#57 stone at 1.4 tons per yard, loose, before compaction. A ton is about 19 cubic feet.
| Depth | 1 ton covers | Tons per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 115 sq ft | 0.9 |
| 3 inches | 77 sq ft | 1.3 |
| 4 inches | 58 sq ft | 1.7 |
| 6 inches | 39 sq ft | 2.6 |
Tips from the pros
- Call 811 before you dig. It is free, and the utilities will mark buried lines a few days later. Driveways often cross gas, water and cable lines.
- Dig out the topsoil. Grass and soft topsoil under the stone will rot and settle. Strip it down to firm subsoil before the fabric and base go in.
- Compact in lifts. A plate compactor packs about 3 to 4 inches at a time. Lightly damp crusher run packs best. Spread and compact each layer before the next.
- Crown it. Shape the driveway higher in the middle so rain runs off. The federal gravel roads guide suggests about 1/2 inch of fall per foot, around 4%.
- Keep round stone off driveways. Pea gravel and river rock roll under tires and boots. They are fine on paths if you edge them and use a compacted base.
- Edge paths and beds. Steel, stone or timber edging keeps gravel out of the lawn and the mower.
- Plan the drop spot. A loaded dump truck can crack thin concrete, crush septic lines and sink into soft lawn. Pick a firm spot as close to the work as you can.
DIY or hire it out?
A path or shed pad is a weekend job for two people with shovels, a wheelbarrow and a rented plate compactor, about $86 a day. A driveway is different. Stripping topsoil, grading the crown and spreading 20 tons takes a skid steer or a tractor. Labor is often about half of a hired gravel driveway's cost, with crews at roughly $30 to $100 per hour per worker. Spreading alone runs about $10 to $25 per cubic yard. Hire out driveways on slopes, on wet ground or with culverts, where drainage mistakes cost more than the stone.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
Most crushed stone weighs about 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Rounded stone like pea gravel and river rock is a little lighter, and crusher run with its stone dust is a little heavier. Ask your supplier for the factor they bill by.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
At least 5 to 6 inches in total for cars: about 4 inches of compacted base under 2 to 3 inches of top stone. Driveways for trucks, RVs or soft soil need 8 to 12 inches.
What is the best gravel for a driveway?
Angular crushed stone. Crusher run or #411 makes a hard base, and #57 or #411 makes a good top layer. Avoid pea gravel and river rock on driveways because round stones roll under tires.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
One ton of #57 stone covers about 115 square feet at 2 inches deep, 77 square feet at 3 inches and 58 square feet at 4 inches, before compaction.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
Under a driveway, a woven geotextile is worth it on soft or clay soil because it keeps the stone from sinking into the mud. Under paths it mostly helps with weeds.
How much does gravel delivery cost?
Expect about $10 to $25 per ton, or a flat fee per truckload. Many suppliers deliver free nearby once you order 5 tons or more and charge extra per mile beyond that.
Sources and assumptions
Prices are U.S. national averages checked in October 2026. Stone prices swing a lot by region and distance from the quarry, so every price in the calculator can be changed.
- Price per ton by type (pea gravel $28–$45, crushed limestone $30–$38, crusher run $24–$34, river rock $45–$130), 1.4 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, delivery $10–$25 per ton, 12 to 20 tons per dump truck, spreading $10–$25 per yard, bags $2–$6: HomeGuide gravel prices, 2026 edition.
- Driveway depth (5–6 in minimum, 8–12 in for heavy vehicles), base and top layers, 10–15% extra for compaction and spills, crushed stone $30–$60 and crusher run $25–$50 per ton delivered, labor share and hourly rates: HomeGuide gravel driveway cost, December 2025.
- Pea gravel $30–$55 per ton: HomeGuide pea gravel cost, December 2025.
- Plate compactor rental ($86 per day) and layer depths: LawnStarter gravel driveway cost, October 2026.
- Landscape fabric $0.05–$0.85 per sq ft: LawnStarter, October 2026.
- Driveway crown of about 1/2 inch per foot: FHWA, Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide (2015).
- Digging safety: Call 811.
- Assumptions: loose weights of 1.4 tons per yard for #57, 1.5 for #411 and crusher run, 1.35 for pea gravel and river rock. Compaction allowances of 20% for crusher run, 15% for #411, 10% for #57 and 5% for pea gravel and river rock; real numbers depend on moisture and effort. Woven geotextile at $0.25 per sq ft with 10% overlap. One truckload carries up to 15 tons and each stone type ships as its own load. Bags are 0.5 cu ft at $5.