Stone Calculator (Tons of Gravel & Rock)
A stone calculator turns the dimensions of the area you want to cover — length, width, and depth of the layer — into the tons of material you need to order from the quarry, along…
- Accurate unit conversion
- Practical examples included
- Instant results as you type
Stone Calculator (Tons of Gravel & Rock)
Enter your numbers and press Calculate
How to use the stone calculator
1. Measure the length and width of the area to cover, in feet. If the shape is irregular, split it into rectangles, run each one separately, and add up the tons. 2. Enter the depth of the layer, in inches. A path or decorative bed needs about 2 inches; a gravel driveway for cars calls for 4 to 6 inches, sometimes split into a base plus a top course. 3. Pick the stone type from the dropdown. Each option locks in a typical density in tons per cubic yard: gravel 1.4, sand 1.35, crushed stone 1.5, river rock 1.35. Choose "Custom density" if your quarry quotes a different figure. 4. If you pick custom density, type your value in tons per cubic yard. That field only affects the result when the dropdown is on "Custom density"; with any other type, the table density takes over. 5. Read the result. The tool shows the cubic yards of void to fill, the tons to order, and the total weight in pounds at the same time, handy for working out how many truck trips you need.
One cubic yard of settled gravel covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, so the tonnage climbs fast as soon as you increase the depth: nail down the depth before you order.
Stone densities and the formula the calculator uses
The calculation chains two steps. First the volume of the void, expressed in cubic yards (the unit quarries use to bill bulk material):
cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × (depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27
The ÷ 12 turns inches into feet and the ÷ 27 converts cubic feet into cubic yards (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). Then we apply the material density:
tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard) pounds = tons × 2,000
Densities change with the material, its moisture, and its grading. These are the typical values the tool uses:
Table of common densities (tons per cubic yard):
- Gravel (pit run / drainage aggregate): 1.40
- Sand (dry, loose): 1.35
- Crushed / compactable stone: 1.50
- River rock / decorative stone: 1.35
If your quarry quotes density in another unit, remember that 1 ton per cubic yard is about 1.186 metric tonnes per cubic meter.
Worked example. A gravel path 20 feet long by 10 feet wide at 4 inches deep, in gravel (density 1.4):
cubic yards = 20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 2.4691 yd³ tons = 2.4691 × 1.4 = 3.4568 tons pounds = 3.4568 × 2,000 = 6,913.58 lb
That is a little over three and a half tons: one trip with a small dump truck. Raise the depth to 6 inches and the tonnage jumps to about 5.19 tons — a 50% increase for just 2 extra inches.
Worked stone tonnage examples
Four typical cases run through the tool, described step by step.
Sand bed for pavers. A 12-by-12-foot patio with a 2-inch sand setting bed, in sand (density 1.35). The volume works out to 12 × 12 × (2 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 0.8889 cubic yards; times 1.35 gives exactly 1.2 tons, or 2,400 pounds. That fits easily in a landscaping pickup.
Gravel driveway for cars. A drive 40 feet long by 12 wide with 6 inches of crushed stone (density 1.5). The void is 40 × 12 × (6 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 8.8889 cubic yards; at density 1.5 that is 13.33 tons and 26,666.67 pounds. That already means about two trips with a mid-size dump truck.
Decorative river rock bed. A planter 8 feet by 4 with 3 inches of river rock (density 1.35) takes up 8 × 4 × (3 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 0.2963 cubic yards, which equals a round 0.4 tons, that is 800 pounds. A couple of large bulk bags cover the order.
Fill with custom density. An area 30 feet by 15 at 5 inches deep with a quarry density of 1.6 tons per cubic yard (picking "Custom density"). The volume is 30 × 15 × (5 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 6.9444 cubic yards; at 1.6 that is 11.11 tons and 22,222.22 pounds. Remember to add a 5–10% allowance on top of these figures before placing the order: stone settles, and you always lose a little at edges and in handling.
About this calculator
A stone calculator turns the dimensions of the area you want to cover — length, width, and depth of the layer — into the tons of material you need to order from the quarry, along with the cubic yards and the equivalent weight in pounds. Stone, gravel, and sand are sold by weight while the job is measured by area, so the conversion runs through volume and density. The key fact is that each material weighs differently: gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, dry sand roughly 1.35, and crushed stone up to 1.5. Enter your dimensions in feet, pick the stone type (or type your own density), and the tool returns the cubic yards of void, the tons to order, and the weight in pounds so you can plan the haul.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
At gravel's typical density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one cubic yard weighs about 1.4 tons (2,800 pounds). Dry sand is a little lighter, around 1.35 t/yd³, and compactable crushed stone a little heavier, up to 1.5 t/yd³. If your quarry quotes a different density, enter it with the custom density option to fine-tune the tonnage.
What gravel depth should I use for a driveway?
A walking path or decorative bed needs about 2 inches. A driveway for cars calls for 4 to 6 inches, ideally split into a crushed-stone base plus a top course. Remember that tonnage scales directly with depth: going from 4 to 6 inches raises the material by 50%, so it pays to settle on the depth before you order.
Why does the calculator use cubic yards and pounds?
Because they are the units quarries and aggregate suppliers in the United States work with: bulk material is billed by the cubic yard or the short ton (2,000 pounds). Showing cubic yards lets you compare quotes by volume, tons lets you compare quotes by weight, and pounds help you plan how many truck trips you need based on each truck's load capacity.
Should I order extra material for waste?
Yes. The theoretical tonnage does not account for settling or losses at edges, in handling, and during hand spreading. Standard practice is to order 5–10% above the result, especially for crushed stone that gets compacted. For a thin decorative bed, 5% is usually enough; for a base you will roll and compact, lean toward 10%.