Gravel & Crushed Stone Calculator
Convert linear project dimensions into exact scale short tons, metric tonnes, and bulk cubic yards. Calibrated for #57 crushed limestone, crusher run base, pea gravel, and decomposed granite.
How to Figure Gravel and Crushed Stone
Gravel and crushed stone are sold two ways: by the cubic yard for volume and by the ton at the scale. To figure how much you need, measure the area, pick a depth, and let the calculator above turn your dimensions into cubic yards and tons for the material you selected. Whether you are pricing a driveway of crusher run, topping a path with pea gravel, or ordering #57 limestone by the load, the sections below cover the tonnage math, the density of each material, and the depths that hold up.
Bulk Volume to Quarry Scale Tonnage Formulas
To convert yards of gravel to tons, multiply cubic yards by the material density in tons per yard. To go the other way, divide tons by that same factor. A cubic yard of #57 crushed stone weighs about 1.4 tons, so a yard of gravel is roughly 2,800 pounds and one ton works out to about 0.71 cubic yards.
Short Tons (US) = Cubic Yards × Material Density (Tons/yd³)
Cubic Yards = (Length (ft) × Width (ft) × (Depth (in) / 12)) / 27
Tons Needed = ((Square Footage × Depth (in)) / 324) × Bulk Density Factor
1 cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Because bulk density varies from 1.2 to 1.6 tons per cubic yard based on moisture and particle packing, measuring by volume alone leads to weighbridge billing discrepancies.
Quarry Material Specification & Bulk Density Matrix
| Material Specification | Standard Sieve / Size | Density (lbs/ft³) | Density (Tons/yd³) | Yards per 1 Ton | Compaction Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dense Grade Aggregate / Crusher Run (21A) | 3/4" down to fines | 115 lbs/ft³ | 1.55 tons/yd³ | 0.65 yd³/ton | +12% to +15% (Structural Base) |
| #57 Crushed Limestone | 1/2" to 1" clean stone | 104 lbs/ft³ | 1.40 tons/yd³ | 0.71 yd³/ton | +5% (Driveway Top Layer) |
| Pea Gravel (#89 River Pebble) | 3/8" uncrushed round | 100 lbs/ft³ | 1.35 tons/yd³ | 0.74 yd³/ton | +4% (Walkways & Drainage) |
| Decomposed Granite (DG) | 3/8" with quarry fines | 111 lbs/ft³ | 1.50 tons/yd³ | 0.67 yd³/ton | +15% (Pathways & Patios) |
| 3/4" Crushed Granite / Crushed Rock | 3/4" clean angular | 105 lbs/ft³ | 1.42 tons/yd³ | 0.70 yd³/ton | +5% (Driveways & Drainage) |
| Crushed Concrete (Recycled, 21AA) | 1" down with fines | 100 lbs/ft³ | 1.35 tons/yd³ | 0.74 yd³/ton | +10% to +15% (Budget Base) |
| River Rock / Cobble | 1" to 3" rounded stone | 96 lbs/ft³ | 1.30 tons/yd³ | 0.77 yd³/ton | 0% (Decorative Beds) |
| Slate Chippings | 20mm–40mm flat flakes | 85 lbs/ft³ | 1.15 tons/yd³ | 0.87 yd³/ton | +5% (Mulch Replacement) |
Recommended Depths by Application & Coverage per Ton
- Driveway Sub-Base (Heavy Load): 4 to 6 inches of compacted Crusher Run / Dense Grade 21A. 1 ton covers ~45–60 sq ft.
- Driveway Top Dressing: 2 to 3 inches of #57 Crushed Limestone. 1 ton covers ~80–100 sq ft.
- Walkways & Garden Paths: 2 inches of Pea Gravel or 3 inches of Decomposed Granite. 1 ton covers ~100–120 sq ft.
- Pipe Bedding & French Drains: 4 to 6 inches of #57 Washed Aggregate.
What Crushed Stone and Gravel Cost
Bulk crushed stone and gravel run roughly $30 to $60 per ton at the quarry, or about $40 to $80 per cubic yard, with crusher run at the low end and washed or decorative stone higher. Delivery is billed separately and usually adds a flat haul fee plus a rate per mile, so a small local load can cost about as much to deliver as the stone itself.
- Buy by the ton for big loads: Full truckloads are cheapest by the scale ton. Bagged stone at the home center costs several times more per yard and only makes sense for small repairs.
- Order for compacted depth: Dense grades pack down 12 to 15 percent, so buy for the finished thickness, not the loose pile, or you pay for a second delivery.
Take the tons from the calculator, multiply by your local price per ton, then add the delivery fee to estimate the full crushed stone cost before you order.
Authentic Quarry & Contractor FAQ
At a standard 2-inch depth, 1 ton of crushed stone or pea gravel covers roughly 100 square feet. At a 3-inch depth, coverage drops to approximately 70–80 square feet; at a 4-inch depth, it covers about 50 square feet.
For standard #57 crushed limestone (density of 1.4 tons/yd³), 1 short ton equals approximately 0.71 cubic yards. Lighter materials like slate chippings yield roughly 0.87 cubic yards per ton, while dense crusher run yields only 0.65 cubic yards per ton.
A stable gravel driveway uses a two-layer system: a 4-to-6-inch sub-base of compacted Dense Grade 21A (crusher run with stone dust fines that interlock like concrete) topped with a 2-inch wearing layer of angular 3/4-inch (#57) crushed limestone or granite. Avoid uncrushed pea gravel on driveways because round stones shift under vehicle tires.
Quarries load haul trucks using wheel loaders and calculate charges using certified drive-on scale weights (gross weight minus tare weight). Moisture content and compaction alter bulk volume, making scale tonnage the legal transaction standard.
Never pour decorative gravel directly onto loose soil. Excavate 6 to 8 inches, compact the subgrade, lay a commercial non-woven geotextile fabric membrane to prevent aggregate migration, install 4 inches of compacted road base, and finish with a 2-inch aggregate surface layer.
Measure the driveway length and width in feet, then plan on about 4 to 6 inches of compacted crusher run for the base and a 2 inch top layer of #57 stone. As a rough guide, 1 ton of crusher run covers about 45 to 60 square feet at driveway depth, so a 20 by 40 foot driveway needs roughly 14 to 18 tons for the base plus the top course. Enter your exact size above for the yards and tons.
Decomposed granite is laid 3 inches deep for a path and compacted, and it loses about 15 percent of its loose volume under the plate compactor. At 1.5 tons per cubic yard, 1 ton of DG covers about 60 to 65 square feet at a finished 3 inch depth. A 100 square foot path needs roughly 1.1 cubic yards or 1.6 tons once the compaction allowance is included. Pick Decomposed Granite in the material list above and the calculator adds the allowance for you.
Recycled crushed concrete weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot loose, so a ton is about 0.74 cubic yards and a cubic yard weighs about 1.35 tons. It compacts 10 to 15 percent like any base stone with fines, so for a driveway base order about 1.5 tons for every cubic yard of finished compacted depth. Wet piles weigh more, which is why quarry tickets can show 1.5 tons or more per yard.