Use this calculator to estimate how much gravel your project needs and what it will cost. Enter your dimensions, choose a material, and it gives you the quantity in tons and cubic yards, the material cost, delivery, and a total project range. The figures cover new driveways, resurfacing top-ups, paths, and patios.
Your project
Dimensions
3 inches is standard for passenger vehicles. Add a 4 to 6 inch compacted sub-base beneath this layer for new builds.
Material
Labor rates vary by region. Estimates use $1.50 to $2.50 per sq ft for typical contractor work.
Dimensions
Material
Material
Getting it to site
Your estimate
Delivery estimate
Based on typical 10-ton loads at $80 to $150 per delivery. Actual delivery charges vary by distance from quarry and supplier.
How the calculator works
The calculator uses three inputs: the area of your project in square feet, the depth of gravel in inches, and the price range per ton for your chosen material.
It converts your area and depth into cubic feet, then into cubic yards by dividing by 27. It adds a 10 percent waste factor to cover compaction, spillage, and uneven ground, then multiplies the cubic yard figure by the density of your material to get the tonnage. Most crushed stone uses a mid-range density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard; lighter decorative gravels such as pea gravel use 1.3. Finally it multiplies the tonnage by the low and high price per ton to give a cost range for the gravel.
The calculator works out delivery separately, based on typical 10-ton loads at $80 to $150 per delivery, the range most aggregate suppliers across the US charge. If you choose to collect the material yourself, delivery drops off the total. If you select a labor option, it adds a per-square-foot rate.
The result shows a mid-point estimate with a low-to-high range. Use the mid-point for an initial budget and the full range to allow for regional price variation.
Material prices used in the calculator
Gravel prices vary by region, supplier, and season. The figures below are bulk delivery prices as of 2026 and reflect what most homeowners pay at a local quarry or landscape supplier. Bagged material from home improvement stores costs two to four times more and is not practical for large projects.
| Material | Price range per ton | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run | $18 to $28 | New driveways, base layers |
| #57 crushed stone | $25 to $40 | Drainage, driveway top course |
| Pea gravel | $30 to $50 | Patios, paths, decorative |
| Decomposed granite | $40 to $70 | Dry-climate driveways, paths |
| Crushed limestone | $20 to $35 | Driveways, base, drainage |
| Recycled concrete | $10 to $20 | Budget driveways, base layers |
For a full breakdown of how each material performs on cost, compaction, and durability, see the driveway gravel cost guide, which covers all six materials with regional pricing and a cost-per-square-foot comparison.
How much does gravel coverage vary by depth?
Depth changes how much material you need more than any other input. The table below shows how many square feet one ton of gravel covers at each common depth, using a density of 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | Coverage per ton (sq ft) |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | about 216 |
| 2 inches | about 108 |
| 3 inches | about 72 |
| 4 inches | about 54 |
| 6 inches | about 36 |
A standard residential driveway needs 3 inches of surface gravel over a compacted base. Paths and patios usually need 2 inches. Resurfacing an existing driveway usually takes 1 to 2 inches, depending on how much material has worn away.
For new builds, the surface gravel sits on a compacted sub-base that the calculator does not include. The sub-base is usually 4 to 6 inches of crusher run or compacted road base. To estimate a full new build including the base, run the calculator twice: once for the sub-base depth with crusher run selected, and once for the surface layer with your chosen top material.
Understanding your quantity result: tons vs. cubic yards
US suppliers sell gravel by the ton. Home improvement stores sell it by the cubic yard or the bag. The calculator gives you both figures because you may need to convert between them depending on your supplier.
The conversion here is 1.4 tons per cubic yard, which fits crusher run and most crushed stone at normal moisture levels. Pea gravel is lighter, around 1.25 to 1.35, so the calculator uses 1.3 for it. Wet material weighs more than dry. If your supplier quotes by the cubic yard and the calculator shows tons, divide the ton figure by the density to get cubic yards, or just use the cubic yard figure the calculator already gives you.
Always round up to the nearest half-ton when ordering, never down. The calculator shows a suggested order quantity rounded up for this reason. Running out mid-project and waiting on a second delivery costs you time and money.
Delivery: how many loads and what it costs
Most suppliers deliver in 10-ton loads. The calculator shows how many loads your project needs and a cost range for delivery. On smaller projects under 5 tons, some suppliers add a premium for a partial load or set a minimum order. On projects over 20 tons, it is worth asking about a bulk discount.
Delivery cost depends mostly on the distance from the quarry or yard to your site. $80 to $150 per load is realistic for most suburban and rural deliveries within 30 miles. Urban deliveries and long hauls can top $200 per load. If you have a suitable vehicle and trailer, choosing to collect the gravel yourself in the calculator removes the delivery cost.
If access is restricted, such as a steep driveway or a narrow gate, check with your supplier that their truck can reach the drop point before you order. A drop point the truck cannot reach means wheelbarrowing material from the street, which adds a lot of time and cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 12 x 50 foot driveway?
At 3 inches deep, a 600 square foot driveway (12 by 50 feet) needs about 8.6 tons of gravel, including a 10 percent waste factor. At the crusher run price of $18 to $28 per ton, the gravel alone costs $155 to $241. One 10-ton load covers the order with a small surplus.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need for a 200 square foot patio?
At 2 inches deep, a 200 square foot patio needs about 1.36 cubic yards of gravel, or roughly 1.8 tons. Pea gravel at $30 to $50 per ton puts the material cost at $53 to $88 before delivery.
What is the cheapest gravel for a driveway?
Recycled concrete is the lowest-cost option at $10 to $20 per ton and compacts well. Crusher run is the most cost-effective purpose-made driveway material at $18 to $28 per ton, and it compacts into a firm, stable surface that holds up to traffic better than open-graded stones. The best gravel for driveways guide compares cost, stability, and maintenance for each material side by side.
Does the calculator include the cost of a base layer?
No. The calculator estimates surface gravel only. A new driveway build usually also needs a 4 to 6 inch compacted sub-base of crusher run or road base beneath the surface layer. Run the calculator a second time with crusher run selected and your sub-base depth to get a separate estimate for that layer. For full guidance, the gravel driveway base requirements guide covers depth, material, and compaction specs.
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives you a useful budget estimate, not an exact quote. Prices vary by region, season, and supplier, and gravel density varies between stone types and moisture levels. The 10 percent waste factor suits most projects, but irregular shapes, steep slopes, and very soft sub-grades may need more material. Always confirm quantities with your local supplier before you order.
Related pages
The pages below cover specific materials and project types in more detail.
For pricing, coverage, and durability data on every major aggregate, the driveway gravel cost guide is the main hub for cost content and compares all the options side by side.
If you already have a surface and want to budget for a top-up rather than a new build, the gravel driveway resurfacing cost guide covers how to measure what has worn away, what a top-up costs, and how often each material needs redoing.
If you have not settled on a gravel type yet, the best driveway gravel guide compares stability, drainage, and maintenance for each aggregate, so you can choose based on your site before you look at cost.
If you are still working out the size of a new driveway, the driveway dimensions guide covers standard widths, lengths, and turning space, so the area you enter into the calculator matches a realistic footprint.