Gravel / Aggregate Calculator — ft to tons, yd³, cost

Gravel & Aggregate Tonnage Notes

Aggregate is sold loose by weight, but you spread it by depth over an area, so every estimate goes area → loose volume → tons. Densities here are typical loose (uncompacted, slightly damp) bulk values; quarries vary ±5-10%, so confirm the supplier's t/yd³ on the ticket before ordering by weight. For a structural base, order the loose quantity that compacts to the design thickness — a crushed stone base shrinks roughly 10-20% under a roller, which is what the compaction slider covers. This calculator is an estimating aid, not a substitute for a geotechnical pavement design.

Formulas

Finished layer CCY = area × depth / 27. When entered shrink is the fractional loss from loose placement to the finished compacted layer, loose volume before waste = CCY / (1 − shrink). Order LCY = loose volume × (1 + waste). Tons = order LCY × entered loose lb/LCY / 2,000.

Loads by volume = ceil(order LCY / entered LCY per load). Loads by payload = ceil(order tons / entered tons per load). Governing deliveries = max(volume loads, payload loads). Gradation, layer thickness, moisture, compaction target and structural suitability remain project/specification checks.

How Many Tons of Gravel for a Driveway?

A 10 × 20 ft driveway at 4″ = 200 ft² × 0.333 ft ÷ 27 = 2.47 yd³. At an entered 15% loose-to-compacted loss, the pre-waste loose volume is 2.47 / 0.85 = 2.91 LCY; a separate 10% ordering allowance gives 3.20 LCY before converting with the supplier density. A single-axle dump truck hauls 10-15 tons, so one load covers most residential drives. Need to dig the area out first? Size the excavation with the excavation volume calculator and balance site dirt with the cut and fill calculator.

Ordering tips

2025 quarry prices in the US run roughly $18-35/ton for #57 stone or 21A delivered within ~20 miles, $28-45/ton for pea gravel and washed stone, and $40-70/ton for decorative river rock or red lava. The #1 mistake is ordering by yard when the supplier quotes by ton (or vice-versa) — confirm the unit on the ticket and that the t/yd³ matches the material; an extra 5-10% wash can shift weight by half a ton on a 10-ton load. Always include a separate sub-base lift under driveways and slabs (4″ of #57 is the IRC §R506.2.2 minimum), build a 2-3% crown so water rolls off, and ask about short-load fees if you need less than ~5 tons — many yards add $50-100 below their truck minimum. For a structural application, pair this with the fill calculator and verify gradation against ASTM D2940 / AASHTO M147 before placement.

FAQ

What depth of gravel for a driveway? Typically 4-6″: a 4″ compacted crushed-stone base plus a 2″ surface layer over a firm subgrade. How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh? About 2,700 lb (1.35 tons) for crushed stone; pea gravel and sand run near 2,500 lb/yd³. How much area does 1 ton cover? Roughly 100 ft² at 2″ or 50 ft² at 4″. Gravel vs. structural fill? Use this tool for surfacing and base course; for trench backfill and compacted structural fill see the fill and backfill calculator, and for garden material the topsoil and mulch calculator. Setting gravel under a pad? Pair it with the concrete slab calculator.