Gravel coverage chart: yards, tons and square feet
Use these tables to size a job at a glance. They assume loose gravel at 105 lb per cubic foot, which is about 1.42 US tons per cubic yard. Your stone may weigh more or less, so check the figure with your supplier and then run the exact numbers in the gravel calculator.
How much area does gravel cover?
The deeper you spread gravel, the less ground it covers. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so it covers 324 square feet at 1 inch and half that at 2 inches.
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers (sq ft) | 1 ton covers (sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 | 229 |
| 2 inches | 162 | 114 |
| 3 inches | 108 | 76 |
| 4 inches | 81 | 57 |
| 6 inches | 54 | 38 |
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Find your area down the side and the depth across the top. Add 5 to 10 percent for uneven ground and spillage, and more for base stone that will be compacted.
| Area (sq ft) | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.6 yd³ | 0.9 yd³ | 1.2 yd³ | 1.9 yd³ |
| 200 | 1.2 yd³ | 1.9 yd³ | 2.5 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ |
| 300 | 1.9 yd³ | 2.8 yd³ | 3.7 yd³ | 5.6 yd³ |
| 500 | 3.1 yd³ | 4.6 yd³ | 6.2 yd³ | 9.3 yd³ |
| 1,000 | 6.2 yd³ | 9.3 yd³ | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ |
| 2,000 | 12.3 yd³ | 18.5 yd³ | 24.7 yd³ | 37.0 yd³ |
How many tons of gravel do I need?
The same jobs in US tons, at 1.42 tons per cubic yard.
| Area (sq ft) | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.9 tons | 1.3 tons | 1.8 tons | 2.6 tons |
| 200 | 1.8 tons | 2.6 tons | 3.5 tons | 5.3 tons |
| 300 | 2.6 tons | 3.9 tons | 5.3 tons | 7.9 tons |
| 500 | 4.4 tons | 6.6 tons | 8.8 tons | 13.1 tons |
| 1,000 | 8.8 tons | 13.1 tons | 17.5 tons | 26.3 tons |
| 2,000 | 17.5 tons | 26.3 tons | 35.0 tons | 52.5 tons |
Dense base stone such as crusher run can weigh noticeably more per yard than pea gravel. See typical weights by material.
Metric chart: cubic metres and tonnes
For jobs measured in square metres and millimetres, at 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre.
| Area (m²) | 25 mm deep | 50 mm deep | 75 mm deep | 100 mm deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.25 m³, 0.4 t | 0.50 m³, 0.8 t | 0.75 m³, 1.2 t | 1.00 m³, 1.6 t |
| 20 | 0.50 m³, 0.8 t | 1.00 m³, 1.6 t | 1.50 m³, 2.4 t | 2.00 m³, 3.2 t |
| 50 | 1.25 m³, 2.0 t | 2.50 m³, 4.0 t | 3.75 m³, 6.0 t | 5.00 m³, 8.0 t |
| 100 | 2.50 m³, 4.0 t | 5.00 m³, 8.0 t | 7.50 m³, 12.0 t | 10.00 m³, 16.0 t |
UK visitors can use the UK gravel calculator for tonnes, bulk bags and pounds sterling.
Which depth should I pick?
Decorative top layers and paths are usually 2 to 3 inches. Driveways commonly use a compacted base of 4 to 6 inches under 2 to 3 inches of top stone. The driveway calculator handles both layers at once, and the French drain calculator takes the pipe out of the trench volume.
Last updated: . Planning guidance only. Confirm quantities with your supplier.