How to use the gravel calculator
Choose the material, enter the length and width of the area in feet and how deep you want it in inches. The calculator returns cubic yards (how landscape yards sell bulk material), tons (how quarries sell stone), the number of bags if you are buying at a store, and a delivered price range for your state.
For round beds, measure the diameter and use length = width = diameter × 0.89. That gives the same area as the circle.
Gravel formula: cubic yards to tons
Tons = Cubic yards × Density (≈1.35–1.4 tons per yd³ for gravel)
Example: a 40 × 10 ft area 4 inches deep is 133 cu ft, or 4.94 cubic yards. Crushed stone weighs about 1.35 tons per yard, so order about 6.7 tons.
| Material | Weight per yd³ | Common bag size |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone / #57 | ~1.35 tons | 0.5 cu ft |
| Pea gravel | ~1.40 tons | 0.5 cu ft |
| River rock | ~1.35 tons | 0.5 cu ft |
| Sand | ~1.30 tons | 0.5 cu ft |
| Topsoil | ~1.10 tons | 0.75 cu ft |
| Mulch | ~0.40 tons | 2 cu ft |
How deep should gravel or mulch be?
| Project | Recommended depth |
|---|---|
| Garden path / walkway | 2–3 in over landscape fabric |
| Patio base under pavers | 4–6 in, compacted |
| Gravel driveway (top layer) | 4 in over a 4–6 in base layer |
| New gravel driveway (total) | 8–12 in in 2–3 layers |
| Mulch beds | 2–3 in (never piled against trunks) |
| Playground surfacing | 9–12 in of wood chips or pea gravel |
How much does gravel cost in 2026?
Bulk prices per cubic yard before delivery are typically: crushed stone $38–$68, pea gravel $42–$77, river rock $70–$160, decomposed granite $55–$100, sand $26–$52, topsoil $15–$50 and mulch $25–$45. Delivery usually adds $60–$150 per load within about 20 miles.
Gravel cost by state
40×10 ft crushed stone driveway section, 4 in deep, delivered — estimated cost by state. Figures use the same assumptions as the calculator above.
| State | Low | High | vs. US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| US average | $248 | $486 | — |
| Alabama | $235 | $461 | -13% |
| Alaska | $272 | $534 | +25% |
| Arizona | $244 | $478 | -4% |
| Arkansas | $234 | $459 | -14% |
| California | $269 | $529 | +22% |
| Colorado | $251 | $492 | +3% |
| Connecticut | $262 | $513 | +14% |
| Delaware | $252 | $494 | +4% |
| District of Columbia | $263 | $515 | +15% |
| Florida | $243 | $476 | -5% |
| Georgia | $239 | $468 | -9% |
| Hawaii | $279 | $548 | +32% |
| Idaho | $242 | $474 | -6% |
| Illinois | $258 | $505 | +10% |
| Indiana | $243 | $476 | -5% |
| Iowa | $243 | $476 | -5% |
| Kansas | $241 | $472 | -7% |
| Kentucky | $240 | $470 | -8% |
| Louisiana | $238 | $466 | -10% |
| Maine | $248 | $486 | 0% |
| Maryland | $250 | $490 | +2% |
| Massachusetts | $267 | $525 | +20% |
| Michigan | $248 | $486 | 0% |
| Minnesota | $255 | $499 | +7% |
| Mississippi | $232 | $455 | -16% |
| Missouri | $246 | $482 | -2% |
| Montana | $244 | $478 | -4% |
| Nebraska | $241 | $472 | -7% |
| Nevada | $252 | $494 | +4% |
| New Hampshire | $252 | $494 | +4% |
| New Jersey | $264 | $519 | +17% |
| New Mexico | $239 | $468 | -9% |
| New York | $267 | $525 | +20% |
| North Carolina | $237 | $464 | -11% |
| North Dakota | $244 | $478 | -4% |
| Ohio | $245 | $480 | -3% |
| Oklahoma | $236 | $462 | -12% |
| Oregon | $254 | $497 | +6% |
| Pennsylvania | $251 | $492 | +3% |
| Rhode Island | $258 | $505 | +10% |
| South Carolina | $236 | $462 | -12% |
| South Dakota | $238 | $466 | -10% |
| Tennessee | $238 | $466 | -10% |
| Texas | $240 | $470 | -8% |
| Utah | $244 | $478 | -4% |
| Vermont | $250 | $490 | +2% |
| Virginia | $244 | $478 | -4% |
| Washington | $258 | $505 | +10% |
| West Virginia | $239 | $468 | -9% |
| Wisconsin | $249 | $488 | +1% |
| Wyoming | $241 | $472 | -7% |
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
Work out cubic yards (length × width × depth in feet ÷ 27), then multiply by about 1.35–1.4 for most gravel. A 40×10 ft area at 4 inches is about 4.9 yd³, or about 6.7 tons.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 4 inches deep, one ton of crushed stone covers roughly 60 sq ft. At 2 inches deep it covers about 120 sq ft.
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which is 13.5 standard 2 cu ft bags of mulch.
How much does a load of gravel cost?
A typical 10–15 ton dump-truck load of crushed stone costs about $300–$750 for the material plus $60–$150 for delivery, depending on your area and the stone type.
What is the best gravel for a driveway?
Use larger crushed stone (#3 or #4) for the base and #57 or crusher run for the top layer. Angular crushed stone locks together; round pea gravel shifts under tires.