Gravel Calculator

How much gravel do you need? This free gravel calculator gives instant cubic yards, tons, and bag count for any rectangle, circle, or ring (annulus) — with material-specific densities, the compaction multiplier built in, and standards-cited methodology from ASTM D448, AASHTO M43, ICPI, TxDOT, Caltrans, and the IRC.

Most online gravel calculators bury the compaction factor in body copy or skip it entirely. That is why a 10-yard order shows up and only fills 8 yards of compacted base. The fix: this calculator applies a 1.10× multiplier for open-graded stone (#57/#67/#8/pea/river/lava) per the AASHTO #57 TDS (~8% settlement) and 1.20× for dense-graded base (crusher run, DGA, RCA) per TxDOT Item 247 + Caltrans §26 — visible, overrideable, and explained inline.

Built-in regional naming: "crusher run" = "DGA" = "ABC stone" = "21A" = "Item 4" = "GAB" = "Class 2" — the calculator labels and tooltips show every regional alias so a contractor in NC and a homeowner in NJ are ordering the same material. Free, no signup.

View material estimation guides →

Gravel Calculator

Material-specific densities, compaction multipliers per AASHTO / TxDOT / Caltrans spec, and built-in regional naming for crusher run / DGA / ABC stone / 21A. Outputs cubic yards, tons, and bag count.

1. Area shape & dimensions

ft
ft

2. Depth & material

in

AASHTO #57 stone · ASTM D448 / AASHTO M43 No. 57. 100% pass 1½″, 95–100% pass 1″. Open-graded — drains freely, self-compacts about 8% under a vibratory plate (Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS). Most common drainage and driveway-top stone in the US.

Also called: #57 stone · "fifty-seven" · 57 limestone · 57 granite

3. Compaction & waste

×

Default 1.10×

%

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How to Use This Calculator

  1. Pick a shape: rectangle (length × width), circle (diameter), or annulus / ring (outer diameter × inner diameter).
  2. Enter dimensions in feet, then enter the FINISHED, compacted depth in inches. The calculator handles the loose-to-compacted conversion for you.
  3. Pick a material from the grouped dropdown: open-graded crushed stone (#57, #67, #8, #4 ballast), dense-graded base (crusher run / DGA / ABC / 21A / Class 2, or RCA), or decorative (pea gravel, river rock, lava rock).
  4. Leave the compaction toggle on for default multipliers (1.10× clean stone, 1.20× dense base) — or enter a manual override if your engineer or supplier specifies otherwise.
  5. Adjust waste %: 10% is the industry default for rectangular projects on firm subgrade; check the "sloped or soft subgrade" box to bump to 15%.
  6. Click Calculate: instantly get cubic yards, tons (with low/high range from published density spread), and 0.5 cu ft bag count — plus a bag-vs-bulk recommendation, the geometric-vs-ordered math breakdown, and a coverage table at alternate depths.

Why compaction and material-specific density matter

Two factors drive most gravel ordering mistakes. First, compaction: loose-delivered crusher run shrinks 15–25% when placed in lifts and compacted to ≥95% relative compaction per Caltrans §26 / 100% max dry density per TxDOT Tex-113-E — order the geometric volume and you will be a fifth short. Second, density: a generic 2,410 lb/yd³ used by most calculators understates dense crusher run (actually 2,700+ lb/yd³) and dramatically overstates lava rock (actually 1,100–1,400 lb/yd³). This calculator uses material-specific densities from Rohrer's TDS, NRMCA, and Gravelshop data — and shows the range so you can talk to your supplier in their units.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons in a cubic yard of gravel?

It depends on the material. Most crushed stone and gravel runs 1.4–1.7 tons per cubic yard (Inch Calculator). Specific densities the calculator uses, all from supplier TDS or DOT data: AASHTO #57 stone ≈ 1.24 t/yd³ (Rohrer's TDS rodded 98.7 lb/ft³ × 27); #67 stone ≈ 1.25 t/yd³; pea gravel ≈ 1.35 t/yd³; crusher run / DGA ≈ 1.35 t/yd³ (range 1.20–1.50); river rock ≈ 1.30 t/yd³; recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) ≈ 1.25 t/yd³ (NRMCA — 85–95% of virgin aggregate); lava rock ≈ 0.62 t/yd³ — roughly half the weight of river rock per cubic yard. Wet material adds 5–10%. Many generic calculators apply a single 2,410 lb/yd³ to every material, which understates dense crusher run and overstates lava rock by 2× — use a material-specific density.

What size gravel should I use for a driveway?

Standard residential driveway is a layered system: a 4–6″ base of dense-graded compactable stone (crusher run / DGA / 21A / ABC stone / Class 2 — same product, regional names) compacted in 2–3″ lifts, then a 2–3″ top course of #57 or #3 stone for surface drainage. Total compacted depth 8–12″ per Bovees and Port Aggregates. On heavy clay subgrade (Southeast red clay, Gulf coast clay), bump base to 10–12″ and add a non-woven geotextile separation fabric. In cold-frost regions (MN, ND, NY interior), bump base to 10–14″ to reach near frost depth — frozen subgrade soils expand ~9% by volume per FHWA frost-penetration data and heave shallow gravel.

Crusher run vs #57 stone — which is better?

Different products for different jobs. Crusher run (also called DGA, 21A, ABC stone, GAB, Item 4, Class 2 base, flex base — all regional names for the same material) is ¾″ minus to dust, well-graded with fines that lock when compacted. Use it as a base under pavers, slabs, sheds, or driveways where you need a stable compacted layer. #57 stone is ¾–1″ clean angular stone per ASTM D448 — open-graded, drains freely, self-compacts about 8% under a vibratory plate (Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 TDS). Use it as a driveway top course, drainage stone, or anywhere you need water to pass through. Rule of thumb: crusher run for the compacted base; #57 for the surface or where drainage matters.

How deep should gravel be for a driveway?

Total compacted depth 8–12″ for standard residential / passenger-vehicle driveways, in 2–3 layers per HelloGravel: a 4–6″ dense-graded base (crusher run / DGA), a middle ~2–3″ middle course, and a 2–3″ top of #57 or pea-grade stone. Heavy vehicles or RV pads can push the base to 14–18″ (Bovees). On clay subgrade (Southeast / Texas Gulf), build up to ≥10″ to mitigate flooding and pumping (Port Aggregates). On cold-climate frost-susceptible subgrade, extend the base toward the frost depth: northern MN/ND ~80″ deep is impractical, so design for proper drainage instead of frost-depth excavation. Compact each lift to ≥95% relative compaction per Caltrans §26 — vibratory plate compactor, water-misted, in 2–3″ loose lifts.

Do I need landscape fabric under gravel?

Recommended on clay or soft subgrade and required under any paver base; optional on firm well-drained subgrade. ICPI Tech Spec 2 calls for a separation geotextile over fine-grained (silt or clay) subgrades to prevent the soil from pumping up through the base aggregate over time. For decorative gravel on landscape beds, a 4–6 oz non-woven landscape fabric extends service life dramatically — debris and weed seeds will press through any thinner barrier within two seasons of foot traffic. For driveways on red clay or Gulf clay, the fabric is the difference between a 10-year build and an annual re-grade. Skip it only on sand or well-drained sandy loam.

How much gravel do I need for a French drain?

Per IRC R405.1, the drain pipe (perforated 4″ corrugated or rigid) sits on at least 2″ of washed gravel and is covered by at least 6″ of the same washed gravel, with the envelope extending at least 1 foot beyond the outside edge of the footing. A typical 16″ × 16″ trench cross-section with 4″ pipe works out to about 0.72 cubic feet of gravel per linear foot of trench (after subtracting the pipe). Use ¾–1″ washed gravel — #57 or #67 per ASTM D448 is the standard call. Avoid pea gravel (rounded — does not lock together) and crusher run (fines clog drainage) inside a French drain envelope. Plug your trench L × W × D into the calculator (rectangle), pick #57 stone, set compaction OFF for drainage stone.

How many bags of gravel in a cubic yard?

54 bags. The dominant retail bag size at Home Depot and Lowe's is 0.5 cubic feet (Hunker confirms: 'A 50-pound bag of pea gravel is equivalent to 0.5 cubic foot, so two 50-pound bags cover 1 cubic foot.'). 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so 27 ÷ 0.5 = 54 bags. At typical 100 lb/ft³ density, each 0.5 ft³ bag weighs about 50 lb, so a yard is roughly 2,700 lb / 54 bags. Practical bag-vs-bulk rule: under ½ yd³ (27 bags) bagged is the practical choice; above 2 yd³ (108 bags) bulk delivery wins on labor, time, and trips — most residential dump-truck deliveries have a 1–3 yd³ minimum.

Can you compact #57 stone?

Partly. #57 is open-graded — large angular pieces with no fines to lock them together — so it does not compact the way crusher run does. Per the Capitol Flexi-Pave AASHTO #57 spec sheet: 'Using compaction equipment, #57 stone will typically compact about one inch in vertical height, which is equivalent to about 8% settlement.' Run a vibratory plate compactor over a 4″ lift and you'll get about ¼″ of settlement — the stones reorient, not densify. For a load-bearing compacted base, use crusher run (or DGA / ABC / 21A / Class 2 base, regional names) and target ≥95% relative compaction per Caltrans §26 or 100% maximum dry density per TxDOT Tex-113-E. The calculator applies a 1.10× multiplier to open-graded stone to account for the orientation settlement.