FitAndFillGravel Calculator: Cubic Yards and Tons
Estimate how many cubic yards and how many tons of gravel, crushed stone or sand you need for an area and a depth, with typical weights by material.
How the calculation works
volume (ft³) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12 cubic yards = volume (ft³) ÷ 27, then × (1 + extra) tons = cubic yards × weight of the material (tons per cubic yard) The weight per cubic yard is what turns volume into tons. These typical values come from a supplier's product catalog; yours may differ.
| Material | Typical tons per yd³ |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone #57 or #67 | ≈ 1.35 |
| Crushed stone #4 | ≈ 1.25 |
| Pea gravel | ≈ 1.35 |
| Road base (stone with fines) | ≈ 1.55 |
| Stone dust (screenings) | ≈ 1.35 |
| Crushed concrete paver base | ≈ 1.3 |
| Concrete sand | ≈ 1.35 |
| Mason sand | ≈ 1.3 |
| Fill dirt | ≈ 1.25 |
| Topsoil | ≈ 1.1 |
Worked example
A 50 ft × 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep holds 50 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 166.67 ft³, which is 6.17 yd³. With crushed stone #57 at 1.35 tons per yd³ that is 8.33 tons.
With a 10 % allowance for settling and waste you would order 6.79 yd³, or about 9.17 tons.
Assumptions and limits
- The area is a rectangle with an even depth.
- Tons are U.S. short tons (2,000 lb). The weight per cubic yard is a typical figure for each material; it changes with moisture, source rock and supplier, so confirm it with your supplier or enter your own.
- The extra percentage covers settling, compaction and waste. It is an allowance you can change, not a rule.
- Prices are only what you type in; the tool does not look up local prices.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
It depends on the material, its moisture and the supplier. In one supplier's catalog most crushed stone and pea gravel are about 1.35 tons per cubic yard, #4 stone about 1.25, and road base about 1.55. Ask your supplier for the figure for the product you will buy and enter it with the custom option.
Why do some suppliers sell by the ton and others by the yard?
Practices vary. For example, that same catalog prices stone and sand by the ton and topsoil and fill dirt by the cubic yard. This tool shows both so you can compare quotes.
Are these metric tons?
No. They are U.S. short tons (2,000 lb), the unit U.S. suppliers use.
How deep should the gravel be?
It depends on the use (a path, a patio base, a driveway), the soil and local conditions, so this tool does not recommend a depth. Check with your supplier or local guidance, then enter the depth you plan to use.
Why add extra?
Loose gravel settles and compacts once it is installed, and some is lost during delivery and spreading. The 10 % default is an allowance you can change, not a rule.
Sources
- WeGravel product catalog: tons per cubic yard by material (e.g. #57 stone ≈ 1.35, pea gravel ≈ 1.35, road base ≈ 1.55, topsoil ≈ 1.10)
- Unit definition: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
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