Calculators / Ground cover

How much gravel do you need?

Measure the path or driveway and pick the stone. You'll get tons, since that's how the yard sells it, plus the cubic yards.

Order this much

8 tons

That's 5.4 cubic yards of crushed stone, with 10% extra for packing down.

Area: 400 sq ft
Depth: 4 in
Cubic yards: 5.4 yd
Tons: 8

area = 40 ft × 10 ft = 400 sq ft

volume = 400 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 = 133.3 cu ft = 4.9 cu yd

with 10% for compaction = 4.9 × 1.1 = 5.4 cu yd

tons = 5.4 × 1.4 t/yd = 7.6, rounded up to 8

Base

On a new driveway, go in two layers. Crusher run on the bottom, crushed stone on top. Compact each one before the next.

Weight

We used 1.4 tons a yard for crushed stone. Stone runs 1.3 to 1.6 depending on size and how wet it is. Ask the yard what theirs weighs.

Under it

Put woven geotextile fabric down first. It keeps the stone from sinking into the mud and cuts down on weeds.

See woven geotextile fabric on Amazon

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How we work it out

Gravel is measured by volume and sold by weight. We work out the cubic yards, add a little for packing down, then turn it into tons.

cubic yards = sq ft × depth in inches ÷ 12 ÷ 27

order = cubic yards × 1.1 for compaction

tons = order × stone weight (1.3 to 1.5 tons a yard)

We use 1.4 tons a yard for crushed stone, 1.35 for pea gravel, 1.3 for river rock and 1.5 for crusher run. Stone varies by size and how wet it is, so ask the yard for their number. Tons get rounded up to the half ton.

Paths need 2 to 3 in. A driveway needs at least 4 in, and a new one does best with 4 to 6 in of crusher run under 2 to 3 in of crushed stone. Round stone like pea gravel rolls under tires, so keep it on paths.

How much gravel do you need?

Your path or driveway

What it is and how deep

Order this much

How we work it out

Where the numbers come from

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