Example: a 30 × 3 ft garden path, 3 in deep
- Area: 30 × 3 = 90 sq ft. Volume: 90 × (3 ÷ 12) = 22.5 cu ft.
- Add 10% for compaction: 24.75 cu ft, or 0.92 cu yd.
- Weight: at about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, roughly 1.3 tons.
- Order 1 cu yd in bulk — or 50 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
How it's calculated
- Volume = area × depth (inches ÷ 12 = feet).
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
- Tons = cubic yards × about 1.4, the weight of typical crushed stone or pea gravel.
- Add the compaction allowance, then round up to what you can buy: ¼ cu yd in bulk, or whole bags.
Assumptions
- Density 1,660 kg/m³ — about 1.4 US tons (2,800 lb) per cubic yard. Real stone ranges from roughly 1.3 to 1.6 tons per yard; ask your supplier for theirs.
- 10% extra by default: gravel settles and compacts when tamped or driven on.
- Bags: 0.5 cu ft (about 50 lb) in the US, or 25 kg.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Around 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) for typical crushed stone or pea gravel. Denser stone and wet gravel weigh more — up to about 1.6 tons per yard — so check your supplier's figure if you're ordering by the ton.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
About 115 sq ft at 2 in deep, 77 sq ft at 3 in and 58 sq ft at 4 in.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
New gravel driveways are usually built in layers: a base of larger crushed stone topped with 2–4 inches of smaller gravel, often 8–12 inches in total. To refresh an existing driveway, 2–3 inches of new gravel is typical. Calculate each layer separately — the stone sizes differ.
How deep should gravel be for a path?
2–3 inches of pea gravel or small crushed stone over landscape fabric works for most garden paths.
How many bags of gravel make a cubic yard?
About 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft (27 ÷ 0.5) — roughly 1.4 tons of bags to lift. For anything over half a yard, bulk delivery is usually easier and cheaper.
Why add extra gravel?
Loose gravel compacts by roughly 10–15% when you tamp it or drive on it, and some always ends up beyond the edges. The default 10% covers that.