How much gravel do I need?
Gravel suppliers quote tons or cubic yards (UK merchants also use tonnes and m³). Your tape measure gives area and depth.
Depth in inches must become feet (÷12) before that formula. Metric: m³ = L × W × depth_m, then multiply by the bulk density your merchant quotes (crushed stone is often near 1.5–1.7 t/m³ — ask; do not invent a UK tonnage from a US 1.4 factor without checking).
Use the Gravel Calculator for quick conversions; the scenarios below show what to measure on site.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
With a working density of about 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
| Depth | Approx. coverage per ton |
|---|---|
| 2 in (50 mm) | ~115 sq ft (~10.7 m²) |
| 3 in (75 mm) | ~75–77 sq ft (~7 m²) |
| 4 in (100 mm) | ~58 sq ft (~5.4 m²) |
Wet stone and fine crusher-run weigh more per yard, so coverage shrinks. Always take the quarry’s tons-per-yard if they publish one.
Path example
Worked example — path
US: 40 ft × 3 ft path, 3 in deep. Volume = 40 × 3 × (3/12) = 30 cu ft = 1.11 yd³. ×1.4 ≈ 1.55 tons. +10% → order about 1.7 tons.
UK: 12 m × 0.9 m path, 75 mm deep. Volume = 12 × 0.9 × 0.075 = 0.81 m³. If the merchant uses 1.6 t/m³, that is ~1.3 tonnes before compaction allowance — confirm density on the quote.
Answer: Path volumes stay under 2 tons/tonnes for short runs; call for a bulk bag or small tipper rather than dozens of 20 kg sacks.
Driveway example
Worked example — driveway
US: 50 ft × 10 ft drive, 4 in average depth (simple single-layer estimate). Volume = 50 × 10 × (4/12) = 166.7 cu ft = 6.17 yd³ → ×1.4 ≈ 8.6 tons → +10% ≈ 9.5 tons. Real drives often split base (larger stone) and surface (smaller) — order two products, not one mystery pile.
UK: 15 m × 3 m drive at 100 mm = 4.5 m³. At 1.6 t/m³ ≈ 7.2 tonnes before compaction. Soft ground may need a deeper sub-base; that is extra volume, not a rounding error.
Answer: Expect high-single-digit to low-teens tons for a short residential gravel drive at ~4 in / 100 mm — get a site-specific density from the quarry.
Sand for the same project
Gravel and sand are separate line items. Typical sand jobs:
- Paver bedding: about 1 inch (25 mm) of coarse sand over compacted base.
- Dry sand density: often planned around 1.35 tons per cubic yard in US supplier tables; coverage ~240 sq ft per ton at 1 in, ~120 sq ft at 2 in.
- Do not substitute. Bedding sand is not driveway gravel; jointing sand is another product again.
Size the sand layer on its own with the Sand Calculator, then keep the gravel order for structural depth only.
Bags vs bulk
Bagged decorative gravel suits planters and tiny borders. Paths and drives almost always cost less as loose tipped or bulk-bagged stone once you pass a ton. Measure twice, pick depth for the use (2–3 in paths, thicker layered drives), convert with the Gravel Calculator, and add compaction allowance before you phone the quarry.
Base, fabric and edges
Volume is only half the job. Excavate deep enough for the finished gravel plus any sub-base. On clay or weed-prone soil, a geotextile under the stone reduces mixing of mud into the gravel — it does not replace thickness. Edge restraints (timber, steel, brick) stop paths migrating into lawns; without edges, the 3 in you ordered thins to 1 in in a season and your coverage maths looks “wrong” when it was the containment that failed.
Compact in layers. Dumping 6 in of stone and waving a plate over the top leaves voids. Split the driveway order into base and surface products if the quarry recommends it; your tonnage still follows area × depth × density, but you will place two smaller deliveries instead of one blended compromise.
If the finished surface will be concrete or asphalt later, the gravel under it is still a gravel calculation — see how much concrete for the slab on top, and keep the two invoices separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
Using about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is roughly 19 cu ft. At 2 in deep that covers about 115 sq ft; at 3 in about 77 sq ft; at 4 in about 58 sq ft. Ask your quarry for their density.
How deep should a gravel path be?
Walkways commonly use 2–3 inches of gravel over a compacted base. Decorative beds can be shallower; driveways need thicker layered builds.
How much gravel for a driveway?
Many drives use 4–6 inches total in layers (base plus surface). Convert L×W×depth to yards, multiply by ~1.4 for tons, add ~10% for compaction.
Do I need sand as well as gravel?
Often yes under pavers (about 1 in bedding sand) or as a levelling layer. Use the Sand Calculator for that layer; do not mix sand tonnage into the gravel order without separating depths.
Get local quotes
Compare quarries on delivered tons — delivery fees often dominate small orders.
USA: Angi / HomeAdvisor UK: CheckatradeSources
- American Rock Supply — Gravel calculator guidance — Typical depths; ~1.4 tons/yd³ for driveway/walkway gravel.
- Illinois Rock Supply — Sand calculator — Dry sand ~1.35 tons/yd³; coverage table by depth.
- Earth Stone Rock — Coverage per ton — ~115 / 75 / 58 sq ft per ton at 2 / 3 / 4 in.
When you are ready to estimate materials or cost for your project, open the Gravel Calculator and enter your measurements.