How much gravel do I need?
A 200 sq ft area at 2 inches deep needs about 1.2 cubic yards of gravel — roughly 1.7 tons. Because gravel is usually sold by weight, the trick is converting your volume into tons. Here's how.
The formula
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4
Depth is normally in inches, so divide by 12 first. The 1.4 figure is the typical weight of crushed gravel per cubic yard — it ranges from about 1.3 to 1.5 depending on the stone and how dry it is, so confirm with your supplier.
A worked example
For a 20 × 10 ft path, 2 inches deep:
- Area: 20 × 10 = 200 sq ft
- Depth in feet: 2 ÷ 12 = 0.167 ft
- Volume: 200 × 0.167 = 33.3 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards
- Weight: 1.23 × 1.4 = ~1.7 tons
Get tons, yards, and bags instantly
Our gravel calculator converts your area and depth into cubic yards, tons, bags, and an estimated cost.
Open the Gravel CalculatorHow deep should gravel be?
| Use | Recommended depth |
|---|---|
| Topping up an existing path | 1–2 in |
| New garden path | 2–3 in |
| Driveway surface layer | 3–4 in |
| Driveway / patio base | 4–6 in (compacted) |
How far does a ton go?
Since gravel is sold by weight, it helps to know the coverage of a single ton at different depths:
| Depth | Area covered by 1 ton |
|---|---|
| 1 in | ~230 sq ft |
| 2 in | ~115 sq ft |
| 3 in | ~77 sq ft |
| 4 in | ~58 sq ft |
Which gravel should you use?
"Gravel" covers a range of products, and the right one depends on the job:
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Pea gravel (smooth, rounded) | Decorative paths and beds — not load-bearing |
| #57 crushed stone (~3/4 in) | Drainage, French drains, driveway topping |
| Crusher run / dense grade | Compactable base for driveways and paver patios |
| Larger #2 / #3 stone | Deep base layers and erosion control |
Bulk vs. bags
For anything more than about a cubic yard, bulk delivery by the ton is far cheaper than bagged gravel. Bags make sense only for small top-ups or when you can't get a truck to the site. Either way, lay landscape fabric underneath to stop the gravel sinking into the soil, and compact deep layers in stages.