How this planner works
- Volume. Area in square feet × depth in inches ÷ 12 gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Compaction. Materials that pack down get extra: 15% for crusher run, road base and decomposed granite, 5% for crushed stone and sand, nothing for pea gravel, river rock or lava rock.
- Weight. Cubic yards × a typical density for each stone: about 1.4 tons per yard for most gravel, 1.5 for crusher run, 0.6 for lava rock.
- Bags. Common bagged stone is 0.5 cubic feet, so each cubic foot is two bags.
- Trucks. For each stone type, divide its unrounded tons by truck capacity and round up. Add those trips and charge the delivery fee per trip. Ask your supplier about split loads. An area by itself cannot determine the length of edging.
Reference guidance:FHWA guidance on aggregate and compaction. Confirm material coverage and specifications with your supplier.
Worked example: a 50 × 10 ft gravel driveway
A new driveway built in three layers: 4" of #3 stone, 4" of #57 stone and 3" of crusher run on top.
- #3 crushed stone (1½–2"), 4": 6.48 cubic yards, about 8.75 tons (includes 5% for compaction).
- #57 crushed stone (¾"), 4": 6.48 cubic yards, about 9.07 tons (includes 5% for compaction).
- Crusher run / road base, 3": 5.32 cubic yards, about 7.99 tons (includes 15% for compaction).
- Total: about 25.81 tons, which is 3 loads on a 10-ton truck when each stone type is delivered separately.
A smaller job for comparison: a 12 × 10 ft shed base with 5" of #57 stone needs 1.94 cubic yards, about 2.72 tons, or 105 half-cubic-foot bags. At that size, bulk delivery is usually the better deal.
Choosing a stone
- Crusher run / road base has fine dust mixed in, so it compacts into a hard, stable layer. Good as a base or a driveway top.
- #57 stone is clean ¾" crushed stone with no fines. It drains well and suits shed bases and drainage, but it rolls underfoot when used alone.
- #3 stone is large, 1½–2" crushed stone used as the bottom layer of driveways on soft ground.
- Pea gravel is small and rounded. Comfortable to walk on, but it moves around, so it needs edging and a firm base.
Frequently asked questions
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton is about 19 cubic feet. Spread 2 inches deep that covers roughly 115 square feet; at 3 inches, about 75 square feet; at 4 inches, about 58 square feet. Heavier or lighter stone changes this, so use the planner with your stone type.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
Most crushed stone and pea gravel weigh about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Crusher run and road base are at the heavier end because the fines fill the gaps. Lava rock is much lighter, around 0.5 to 0.75 tons. Ask your supplier for the figure they use, since moisture and rock type change it.
Why does the planner add extra for crusher run?
Crusher run, road base and decomposed granite pack down when you compact them, so a 3-inch compacted layer starts out deeper. The planner adds 15% for those materials and 5% for crushed stone that settles a little. Pea gravel and river rock do not compact much, so nothing is added.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bags or bulk?
Bags make sense for very small jobs, roughly under half a cubic yard. Beyond that, bulk delivery by the ton is almost always cheaper per yard and saves a lot of lifting, even after a delivery fee. Compare both using your local prices.
Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?
Under paths, patios and decorative rock beds, a woven landscape fabric helps keep the stone from sinking into soil and slows weeds. Under driveways, a heavier woven geotextile is often used on soft soils. It is less useful under a well-compacted base that will be covered by pavers.