Gravel Calculator
Free, with no sign up. Calculations run on your device; your entries stay in this browser.
Material quantity
Area: rectangle = length × width; circle = π × (diameter / 2)²; or enter total area. ft³ = area in ft² × depth in inches / 12; yd³ = ft³ / 27; m³ = ft³ × 0.3048³. US short tons = yd³ × density.
Primary source: NIST SP 811 volume conversions; area × depth gives the volume of a uniform layer.
The editable typical density starts at 1.4 US short tons/yd³ (2,800 lb/yd³). MnDOT Documentation Requirements, page 152, aggregate base Class 6 example uses 1.4 tons per loose cubic yard (read 2026-10-04). It is a reference example, not a universal gravel density. Moisture, grading and compaction change weight and coverage; check with your supplier.
Worked example
A 10 ft × 8 ft rectangle at 3 inches deep needs 80 × 3 / 12 = 20 ft³ = 0.740741 yd³ ≈ 0.566337 m³. At 1.4 US short tons/yd³, estimated weight is 1.037037 short tons. Check with your supplier before ordering.
Use a common depth for the whole measured area. Circle input is diameter across the bed, not radius. Changing units reinterprets the values: enter dimensions in the selected unit, and always enter depth in inches. No allowance for settling, compaction or waste is added.
How to use this tool
Choose rectangle, circle or total area. Enter dimensions in feet or metres and depth in inches, then Calculate the gravel quantity.
Frequently asked questions
Is a ton the same as a cubic yard?
No. A cubic yard measures volume. A US short ton is 2,000 pounds of weight. Density in short tons per cubic yard connects the two.
Why can I edit density?
Gravel weight varies with the material, moisture and compaction. The 1.4 short tons per cubic yard starting value is a cited typical reference; check with your supplier.
Does the result include compaction or extra material?
No. The calculation gives a uniform geometric layer at the entered depth. Ask your supplier how loose delivery volume relates to your planned finished layer.