Material takeoff
How much gravel do I need?
Pick your stone, set the depth, and get both cubic yards and estimated tons — because suppliers quote one or the other and rarely both.
How the math works
Volume first, weight second.
cubic yards = square feet × depth in inches ÷ 324
tons = cubic yards × density
Density for common landscape stone runs roughly 1.35 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel and #57 stone sit near 1.35. Crusher run, which contains fines that pack into the voids, runs closer to 1.5. Those are estimates — your supplier's actual number for the pile they're loading from is the one that matters, and they will tell you if you ask.
How deep should gravel be?
Two inches is a top-up layer over existing compacted gravel, or a decorative layer in a bed.
Three inches suits garden paths and light foot traffic.
Four inches is the working minimum for a driveway surface course over an established base.
Six inches and up is for a new driveway on bare soil, and at that point you should be thinking in two layers: a coarse base stone underneath and a finer surface stone on top, not six inches of the same material.
A note that saves money: landscape fabric under gravel is not optional on soft ground. Without it the stone works down into the soil and disappears, and you are buying it again in three years.
Where people get it wrong
- Ordering by volume when the yard sells by weight
- Ask which unit they quote before you order. A cubic yard of one stone can weigh 10% more than another.
- Using one layer where two belong
- A driveway wants coarse base stone compacted underneath and a surface stone on top. All-surface-stone driveways rut.
- Skipping compaction allowance
- Crusher run and base stone compact 15 to 20%. Order for loose volume, not the finished depth.
- No edge restraint
- Gravel migrates. Without edging or a defined shoulder you will be raking it back out of the lawn every spring.
Background
Gravel is the material people most often order wrong, for a simple reason: the yard sells it by the ton, and you measured your driveway in square feet. Those two numbers are connected by the stone's density, which changes with the type of rock, the size of the stone, and how wet it is when it's loaded.
What you need for the job
Common questions
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet. At 4 inches, about 81 square feet.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
A 12 by 50 foot driveway at 4 inches deep is about 7.4 cubic yards, roughly 10 to 11 tons depending on the stone. Use the calculator above for your exact dimensions.
What is #57 stone?
A washed, angular stone roughly 3/4 inch in size with the fines screened out. It drains extremely well, which makes it common for driveways, drainage, and under paver base. Because it has no fines it does not compact tightly on its own.
Is crusher run better than gravel for a driveway?
Crusher run contains stone dust that locks the material together when compacted, so it makes a firmer base. Many driveways use crusher run as the base with a cleaner decorative stone on top.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Four inches of surface stone over a compacted base is a common target for a residential driveway. On soft or clay soil, a deeper base and a landscape fabric separator underneath make a large difference to how long it lasts.
Measuring by hand is where estimates go wrong
Trace your beds, driveway, or lawn on satellite imagery and the square footage comes straight from the shape you drew. Subtract the house and driveway, map every project on the property at once, and get one combined order list.
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