What this calculator actually does
Gravel quantity starts with volume: area multiplied by depth. Weight cannot be determined from volume alone because aggregate density varies, so this calculator makes density an explicit editable input instead of pretending one tons-per-yard factor is universally correct.
How to use this calculator
Enter the length, width and compacted or placed depth you intend to cover.
Enter a project allowance for irregular edges, settlement or ordering contingency only if appropriate.
Enter the tons-per-cubic-yard density supplied for the actual material to estimate weight.
Where people use it
- •Driveway or path volume planning
- •Landscape-stone quantity checks
- •Comparing cubic-yard and ton supplier quotes
Example: 20 ft × 10 ft × 3 in layer
The geometric volume is 50 cubic feet, or about 1.852 cubic yards before allowance. Ton quantity then depends on the entered material density.
Assumptions and limits
- •Aggregate density changes with material type, grading, moisture and compaction. Verify the bulk-density assumption with the supplier.
- •The result does not include excavation swell, subgrade correction or delivery minimums unless you account for them separately.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the calculator ask for density?+
A cubic yard is volume while a ton is weight. Converting between them requires a material density.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?+
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
Should depth be entered before or after compaction?+
Use the depth that matches your material/order planning method and verify whether the supplier’s recommendation refers to loose or compacted thickness.
Semantic next steps
Continue the calculation
These links move to a different input, formula or project stage rather than a keyword variation of this page.
Square Footage Calculator
Calculate square footage for rectangles, circles and triangles, convert the area to square meters and estimate cost from a price per square foot.
OpenConcrete Calculator — Slab and Cylinder Volume
Estimate concrete volume for a rectangular slab or cylindrical pour in cubic feet, cubic yards and cubic meters, with an optional waste allowance.
OpenFeet and Inches Calculator
Add, subtract, multiply, divide or convert feet and inches, including decimal and fractional inch inputs, with decimal feet and metric equivalents.
OpenBoard Foot Calculator — Lumber Volume & Cost Basis
Calculate board feet from lumber thickness, width, length and quantity, then add an optional waste allowance for a project tally.
OpenBrick Calculator — Bricks, Mortar, Cement, Sand & Cost
Estimate bricks for one or more walls after opening deductions, then calculate wet and dry mortar, cement bags, sand volume and optional material cost from actual brick dimensions and mortar-joint inputs.
OpenConcrete Block Calculator — CMU Blocks, Mortar, Grout, Pallets & Cost
Estimate concrete blocks for a wall after opening deductions, then plan mortar bags, pallets and optional core-fill grout from actual block-face dimensions and editable product coverage, void fraction and bag-yield inputs.
OpenTank Volume Calculator — Capacity, Partial Fill, Gallons, Litres & Weight
Calculate total and partial-fill volume for rectangular, vertical-cylinder, horizontal-cylinder, horizontal-elliptical, horizontal-capsule and spherical tanks, with litres, US/Imperial gallons, remaining capacity, liquid weight and optional fill/drain time.
OpenPipe Volume Calculator — Litres, Gallons, Partial Fill, Weight & Fill Time
Calculate pipe internal capacity from actual bore or outside diameter plus wall thickness, including partial horizontal fill, multiple runs, fittings-length allowance, litres/gallons, fluid weight, volume per metre and optional fill/drain time.
OpenMore in this calculator collection
Browse nearby calculators in the same topic cluster so related pages reinforce each other instead of sitting as isolated URLs.
Free publisher widget
Put this calculator on your website
Give readers the live calculator without rebuilding the math. Copy the responsive embed in one click, or customize width, height, border and corner radius before publishing. The branded MAXScanner attribution stays visible.
Keep the result connected to the real job
MAXScanner keeps the formula and assumptions beside the result so you can verify the number before using it in a drawing, estimate, specification, worksheet or document. Where a supplier, manufacturer, drawing or applicable standard owns a requirement, that source remains authoritative.