Yard · Aggregate
Estimate gravel volume in cubic yards, tons, or bags for paths and pads.
Scenarios fill US defaults. Overage ≠ compaction.
Scenario templates
Area mode
Depth presets
Combined order factor: ×1.1 (10% overage).
Tons per cubic yard — planning table
| Material | ton / yd³ | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | rounded decorative |
| River rock | 1.3 | varies by size |
| Crushed stone / #57 | 1.4 | common driveway stone |
| Crusher run / dense grade | 1.5 | compacts tighter |
| Sand (planning) | 1.35 | ask yard for moisture |
| Limestone screenings | 1.45 | fines + rock |
Click a row to apply. Moisture and gradation change real tickets — verify with the yard.
Optional prices (your yard)
What you are covering
Volume ≈ length × width × depth (same unit system). Diagram is schematic — not a site survey.
Primary order quantity (overage)
2.75 yd³
Rounded to 0.25 yd · raw 2.72 yd³
3.85 ton
At 1.4 ton/yd³
Breakdown
Order round-up step
Tip: if the yard sells by the ton, order the ton figure — ordering “2.7 tons” because you saw “2.7 yd³” leaves you short. Overage covers edges; compaction allowance is separate if you expect the loose pile to settle.
Same area — auto variants from current inputs.
Current
2.75 yd³
3.85 ton
Depth +1″
3.5 yd³
4.9 ton
No overage
2.5 yd³
3.5 ton
LEAST VOLUME
Coverage volume (rectangle or total sq ft), overage vs optional compaction allowance, tons from an inline density table, bag counts, optional material cost from your $/yd or $/ton, and payload trips.
Does not replace
Supply yard
Crushed stone
Paths, pads, and surface courses over a prepared base
Pea gravel
Decorative paths, play areas, and drainage surrounds
Crusher-run / dense-grade
Compactable driveway base and pad underlayment
Crushed limestone
Light-colored paths, French drains surrounds, and base rock where available
Concrete / masonry sand
Pavers bedding, leveling courses, and mix sand (not a substitute for structural base)
Landscape fabric
Weed barrier under mulch or decorative stone (optional)
Starting points for planning — not a site-specific design. Footnotes point to sources on this page.
| Topic | Typical starting value | Source notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative / path surface course | About 2–4 in compacted surface stone over a prepared base | Common DIY practice; confirm with your supplier. Not an NRCS thickness recipe. |
| Driving-surface aggregate example | ~8 in loose → ~6 in compacted (municipal DSA context) | Penn State Dirt & Gravel Road Studies, DSA Handbook Appendix G — road context, adapt cautiously. |
| Aggregate base lift thickness (highway practice) | Compacted lifts often ≤ 6 in unless approved otherwise | CDOT Standard Specs §304 — illustrates lift discipline, not a home recipe. |
| Waste / overage for DIY ordering | Often start around 10% | Rule of thumb for edges/settling — not a lab density factor. Ask the yard. |
| Density (crushed stone planning) | ~1.3–1.5 ton/yd³ depending on product & moisture | Supplier ticket / scale. Presets are planning aids only. |
Short DIY narratives. Numbers match the one-click scenario presets in the calculator (US units).
Forum and yard questions usually start the same way: measure the rectangle, pick a depth, convert to cubic yards, then decide whether the supplier sells by the yard or the ton. Enter length and width in feet (or meters) and depth in inches (or centimeters). Paths often sit around 2–4 inches of surface stone; structural bases run thicker and should follow local practice or an engineered section. Scene guides: pea gravel patio · driveway gravel depth.
Cubic yards measure volume. Tons measure weight and need a density (ton/yd³) from your yard’s ticket — moisture and product grade change the number. Bags are fine for patches; bulk wins once the job is larger than a few dozen bags. This tool shows all three so you can compare before you call.
NRCS’s aggregate surfacing guide calculates thickness from load, subgrade strength, and aggregate quality — there is no single residential driveway depth that applies everywhere. Highway specs (for example CDOT §304) emphasize placing aggregate in lifts and compacting each lift; DIY projects rarely hit laboratory density targets, but placing material in thinner lifts still matters.
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft). Depth in inches is converted first (inches ÷ 12). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. We multiply by (1 + waste%/100) before showing order quantities. Tons = waste-adjusted yards × density. Bag count = ceil(waste-adjusted ft³ ÷ bag size).
A 20 ft × 10 ft path, 4 in deep: 20 × 10 × (4÷12) = 66.67 ft³ ≈ 2.47 yd³. With 10% waste → about 2.72 yd³. At 1.4 ton/yd³ → about 3.80 ton.
Measure length × width × depth of the area you will cover. This calculator converts that rectangle into cubic yards (and optional tons or bags). Paths often use about 2–4 inches of surface stone over a prepared base; full driveway sections are thicker and site-specific — there is no universal residential depth.
Your area measurement naturally produces cubic yards. Many yards bill by the ton because trucks are weighed. Tons = yards × density (ton/yd³) from the supplier ticket. Never treat a yard number as a ton number.
Bags work for small patches. Once you need more than a few dozen bags, bulk by the yard or ton is usually cheaper and faster. Compare price per cubic foot before you order.
There is no universal DIY number. Surface courses are often a few inches; full sections may include several inches of base and subbase. NRCS designs thickness from site factors; municipal DSA examples are road-context references — ask local builders or your AHJ for driveways that carry vehicles.
DOT specs often target ~95% of maximum density with lift limits. On this tool, overage % is an edges/spillage ordering cushion; compaction allowance is a separate optional % if you expect the loose lift to settle. Neither is a compaction certificate or lab density target.
We cite extension services, manufacturer guidance, and municipal/IRC reprints. This is not legal advice, not a substitute for a licensed engineer or architect, and not approval from your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Adopted codes and product warranties vary by place and year — verify before you buy or cut.
Engineering guidance for earth/aggregate surfacing; thickness depends on load, subgrade, and aggregate quality — not a single DIY driveway number.
Example placement: about 8 in loose aggregate compacted to ~6 in for driving-surface aggregate contexts. Municipal/road context — adapt cautiously for home driveways.
Highway-spec practice: place ABC in lifts (compacted layer typically ≤6 in unless approved); density targets ~95% max. Illustrates lift/compaction discipline, not a residential DIY recipe.
Full site bibliography: Sources hub.
Buy-depth after existing, bags↔bulk ledger, multi-bed, coverage table.
X/12, degrees, % slope, rafter teaser, pitch compare.
Line length & angle — not IRC span-table design.
Deck rise, treads, Standard/Flush mount, 3D stairs.
Stringer length + IRC R311.7 table on one screen.