Gravel Calculator

Calculate gravel volume from your measurements, then add supplier density if you also need an estimated weight.

Gravel volume calculator

Units
Area and depth

Section 1

Shape

For a square, enter the same length and width.

Enter the finished depth you plan to use.

Used for context only. It does not change the volume or supply a density.

Add another area — a second bed or a path, for example — to calculate a combined total.

Advanced optionsExtra material / handling allowance

Adds the percentage you choose to the order volume for waste, handling or contingency. It is separate from compaction.

Result

Your result will appear here

Enter your measurements and calculate to see volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic metres.

How this calculator works

The calculator multiplies the measured area by the finished depth you enter. That gives the volume of gravel the space holds when finished.

Volume = Area × Finished depth

Area and depth must use compatible units. The calculator converts them for you.

With length and width in feet and depth in inches, the shortcut is:

Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324

Supported shapes

  • Rectangle: length × width. Use equal sides for a square.
  • Circle: π × radius². Enter a radius or a diameter.
  • Triangle: base × perpendicular height ÷ 2.
  • Known area: an area you have already measured.

Add sections to combine several areas; their volumes are added together. Unit conversions use NIST published factors.

Before you order gravel

Volume first, weight second

Volume comes straight from your measurements, so it is marked Calculated. Weight is different: it depends on the bulk density of the actual product — how much a given volume weighs, including the spaces between stones. Bulk density changes with the stone, its size range, moisture, and whether it is loose or compacted.

That is why this calculator does not assume a weight for you. If your supplier sells by the US short ton, ask them for the product's loose bulk density and enter it after calculating volume. The weight is then marked Estimated.

Solid-rock specific gravity is not the same thing. A cubic yard of gravel includes air between the stones, so a rock's particle density cannot be used to convert delivered volume into weight.

Irregular areas

For an irregular space, measure its area directly and use Known area, or split it into simple shapes and add each as a section. Several beds or paths? The Landscape Rock Calculator is set up for combining areas.

Extra material is your choice

The Extra material / handling allowance starts at 0%. Add a percentage only if you want extra for waste, handling or contingency. It is separate from compaction, which is available in the Gravel Driveway, Crusher Run, Road Base and Paver Base calculators.

Already know your volume and just need a price? Use the Gravel Cost Calculator.

Worked examples

Example: 20 ft × 30 ft area at 2 in deep

  1. Area: 20 ft × 30 ft = 600 ft²
  2. Depth: 2 in = 0.1667 ft
  3. Volume: 600 × 0.1667 = 100.0 ft³
  4. Cubic yards: 100.0 ÷ 27 = 3.70 yd³

Result: 3.70 cubic yards (2.83 cubic metres). No density is needed for this answer.

Example: circular bed, 8 ft diameter at 3 in deep

  1. Radius: 8 ft ÷ 2 = 4 ft
  2. Area: π × 4² = 50.27 ft²
  3. Depth: 3 in = 0.25 ft
  4. Volume: 50.27 × 0.25 = 12.57 ft³
  5. Cubic yards: 12.57 ÷ 27 = 0.47 yd³

Result: 0.47 cubic yards (0.36 cubic metres).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?

There is no single answer. The weight of a cubic yard depends on the bulk density of the specific product and its condition — loose delivered or compacted. Ask your supplier for the product’s bulk density and enter it after calculating volume to get an estimated weight.

Why doesn’t the calculator show the weight in US short tons automatically?

Named materials such as pea gravel or crushed stone do not have one reliable density. Showing a tonnage without your supplier’s figure would imply more certainty than the data supports, so weight appears only after you enter an applicable bulk density.

What is the difference between required volume and order volume?

Required volume is what your measurements need. Order volume adds any Extra material / handling allowance you choose. With the default 0%, they are the same.

Does choosing a material change the result?

No. The optional material setting only adds context. Your volume depends on your measurements alone.

Can I use metric units?

Yes. Switch Units to Metric. Values you have already entered are converted, not reinterpreted, and results show cubic metres alongside cubic yards and cubic feet.

Sources & methodology

Every result on this page is geometry plus unit conversion. External sources are listed with how they are used — only NIST conversion factors enter the arithmetic.