Estimate cubic yards, tons, and cost for driveways, drainage, base layers, and paths.
4 shapes · Depth presets · Supplier-ready
Driveway bases need compactable stone. Drainage layers need clean stone with fewer fines. Decorative paths can use pea gravel or river rock. Match density before you compare ton vs cubic-yard quotes.
| Material | Density | Typical use |
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Measure length × width for the driveway surface, then choose depth by layer. A decorative top layer may be 2–3 inches; a compacted base layer often needs 4–6 inches. Add compaction and waste allowance before you order.
French drains and drainage trenches often use 3–4 inches of clean stone like #57 gravel. Decorative drainage swales may use less. Confirm slope and pipe size with your project plan.
Multiply cubic yards by your material density in lb per yard, then divide by 2,000. Crushed #57 stone is often near 2,431 lb per cubic yard, or about 1.22 US tons per yard.
Driveway bases use compactable material like dense graded aggregate, #411, or bank run. Decorative surfaces and drainage layers often use #57, pea gravel, or river rock.
At 4 inches deep, 100 sq ft needs about 1.23 cubic yards raw volume. At 3 inches deep, the same area needs about 0.93 cubic yards. Add 10–15% extra for compaction and waste on driveways.
Order in whichever unit your supplier quotes. Convert using their density assumption — quarries often price by the ton while landscape yards price by the cubic yard.
Plan 10% for decorative paths and 10–15% for driveways and base layers that compact. Rounding up to the supplier’s minimum load is usually cheaper than a second delivery.
Multiply area by depth in feet to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add 10–15% for compaction and waste on driveways and base layers. Compare cubic yards with your supplier's tons-per-yard quote before scheduling delivery.
For a 20×10 ft driveway section at 4 inches deep, raw volume is about 2.47 cubic yards. With 12% allowance, plan for roughly 2.75 cubic yards before supplier rounding.
Raw volumes at typical depths before compaction or waste. Use the calculator for your exact material and allowance.
Need decorative rounded stone instead? Use the pea gravel calculator for patios, walkways, and beds. For garden beds, see the mulch calculator.
Fifty-pound bags work for small patches, edging, and hand-carry projects. Once you approach one cubic yard, bulk delivery usually wins on price and labor — roughly 50–65 fifty-pound bags per yard adds up fast at retail.
The calculator shows 40 lb and 50 lb bag counts plus bulk-vs-bagged cost when you enter both prices. Quarries often quote by the ton; landscape yards often quote by the cubic yard — convert with the same density before you compare.
Not all gravel serves the same job. Driveway and road-base work needs angular, compactable stone like dense graded aggregate or #411. Drainage trenches and French drains need cleaner stone with fewer fines, such as #57 or coarse gravel, so water can move through the layer.
Decorative paths can use pea gravel or river rock, but those rounded stones do not compact well under vehicle load. If your project mixes roles — a compacted base plus a decorative top — calculate each layer separately or run two estimates at different depths.
Use the depth presets for quick planning: 2 inches for light decorative cover, 3 inches for drainage, 4 inches for driveway surfacing, and 6 inches for a structural base layer. Always confirm local specs when loads, frost depth, or drainage codes apply.
Weight and tonnage depend on material density. A cubic yard of dense graded base can weigh noticeably more than the same volume of #57 stone. Enter your supplier's density or pick the closest preset before you compare a per-ton quote with a per-yard quote.
Quarries often sell by the ton; landscape yards often sell by the cubic yard. Both work — but only after you convert with the same density assumption your supplier uses.
Ask whether delivery minimums, tailgate spread, and compaction are included in the quote. Driveway projects frequently need more allowance than decorative paths because base stone settles under compaction equipment.
