Gravel & fill cubic yards calculator

Gravel cubic yards calculator — driveways, base layers, and landscaping

Gravel and crushed stone are sold by the ton at most quarries and landscape suppliers, not by the cubic yard. But you measure your project in linear and area dimensions. This calculator bridges the two: enter your area and depth, get cubic yards, then convert to tons based on the material type so you can call the supplier with the right number.

Why tonnage matters — and why it varies by material

Unlike concrete (which is always roughly 4,050 lb/CY), gravel density varies by material type and moisture content:

• Crushed stone #57, #411, dense-grade aggregate — approximately 1.4–1.5 tons per cubic yard. The most common base materials. Angular particles lock together and pack tightly, making them heavier than rounded gravels.
• Pea gravel and river rock — approximately 1.35– 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Rounded particles have more void space, slightly lighter per yard.
• Sand (masonry sand, concrete sand) — approximately 1.3–1.45 tons per cubic yard depending on moisture. Wet sand weighs more than dry sand.
• Fill dirt and topsoil — approximately 1.0–1.2 tons per cubic yard for typical loam; heavier for clay, lighter for sandy soil with high organic content.
• Decomposed granite (DG) — approximately 1.35 tons per cubic yard. Popular for pathways, xeriscaping, and Southwestern landscapes.

Depth guide by application

• Walkways and garden paths — 2 inches of surface gravel over a compacted base. Enough to walk on comfortably and suppress weeds. Add landscaping fabric underneath to limit migration into soil.
• Residential driveway surface — 2–3 inches of clean gravel (#57 or pea gravel) over a base layer.
• Driveway base layer (dense-grade) — 4–6 inches compacted depth for light residential, 6–8 inches for trucks or heavy loads. This is the structural layer.
• French drain trenches — fill trench to 3–4 inches above perforated pipe with #57 clean stone. Drainage aggregate must be washed and clean — dust and fines will clog the drain.
• Playground safety surfacing — 9–12 inches of pea gravel or engineered wood fiber for fall zones under equipment (ASTM F1292 compliance).
• Leach field / septic drain field — 12 inches of washed #57 stone around and above perforated pipe; engineered per local septic code.

Compaction: order more than you think you need

Loose aggregate has 30–40% air void space between particles. When you compact base material — whether with a plate compactor, a roller, or just vehicle traffic over time — those voids close and the material settles. A 6-inch compacted depth requires roughly 7.5–8 inches of loose material. That's a 20–25% compaction factor.

This calculator applies a waste/compaction factor you can adjust. For base aggregate that will be mechanically compacted, use 20–25%. For surface decorative gravel that won't be compacted, 5–10% accounts for spillage and settling at edges only.

Gravel types at a glance

• Crushed stone #57 — 3/4 inch clean angular crushed limestone or granite. Best drainage, does not compact tight. Use for drainage beds, pipe backfill, leach fields.
• Dense-grade aggregate (#411, crusher run, 21A)— blend of crushed stone and fines that locks together under compaction. The correct material for driveways, road base, and structural fill.
• Pea gravel — small (3/8 inch) smooth rounded stone. Comfortable underfoot, attractive, but shifts constantly and doesn't compact. Best for decorative beds, playgrounds, and drainage sumps.
• Decomposed granite (DG) — finely crushed granite that forms a hard, permeable surface when compacted. Popular in arid climates for driveways and paths. Stabilized DG adds a resin binder for harder surface.
• River rock / fieldstone — smooth rounded stones 1–3 inches, primarily decorative. Used around foundations, in dry creek beds, and as mulch alternative.

How much fits in a truck?

A standard 10-wheel dump truck carries 10–14 tons (roughly 7–10 CY of gravel). A tandem-axle dump carries 12–16 tons. A tri-axle can carry 18–22 tons. Know your access: can a fully loaded dump truck reach your pour site? If not, you may need smaller delivery vehicles or a conveyor, which adds cost.