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Gravel Calculator
Add one or more areas and a depth to get the volume, the weight in metric tonnes and US short tons, and an optional cost — using a density you can check and change.
An estimate for ordering. Suppliers may sell by loose volume or by weight, and compacted gravel takes more material than its finished volume suggests.
How it's calculated
- Area: length × width, π × (diameter ÷ 2)², or the area you enter.
- Volume = area × depth, added up for every area, then increased by your allowance.
- Weight = volume × bulk density. 1 tonne = 1,000 kg; 1 US short ton = 907.18474 kg.
Worked example
A 10 m² path at 0.1 m deep needs 10 × 0.1 = 1 m³. At a density of 1,600 kg/m³ that weighs 1,600 kg — 1.6 metric tonnes or 1.76 US short tons — before the allowance.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need?+
Multiply each area by its depth to get the volume, add an allowance for compaction and uneven ground, then multiply by the material's bulk density to get the weight. 10 m² at 10 cm deep is 1 m³; at 1,600 kg/m³ that's 1,600 kg (1.6 tonnes) before any allowance.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?+
It depends on the stone. At 1,680 kg/m³ (dry gravel) one cubic yard weighs about 1,284 kg — 1.28 metric tonnes or 1.42 US short tons. Lighter loose or crushed material weighs less, wet gravel more. Ask your supplier for the density of what they sell.
Are tonnes and tons the same?+
No. A metric tonne is 1,000 kg. A US short ton is 2,000 lb (907.18 kg). A UK long ton is 2,240 lb (1,016 kg). The calculator labels metric tonnes and US short tons separately.
How deep should gravel be?+
As a rough guide, decorative paths and borders are 5 cm (2 in), footpaths 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) and driveways 10–15 cm (4–6 in) over a compacted sub-base. Follow your installer or supplier's advice for your ground.
Where do the density figures come from?+
The presets come from published Engineering ToolBox tables (linked under the material picker, checked 6 October 2026). Real gravel varies with size, shape, grading and moisture, so every preset can be edited.