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Area, depth, tons

Gravel calculator

Estimate cubic yards, tons, delivery allowance, material range, labor range, and installed total for gravel areas.

Reviewed · May 9, 2026

Home Project Estimates

Gravel calculator

May 9, 2026

30 ft by 10 ft area, 3.0 in deep.

Gravel weight
4.5 tons
3.1 cu yd including 10% waste
Calculated volume
75.0 cu ft
300 sq ft at 3.0 in deep
Density
1.45 tons/cu yd
crushed stone planning factor
DIY material total
$203–$543
Gravel plus directional delivery fee
Labor range
$150–$660
Directional spreading and grading labor
Installed total
$353–$1,203
Material, delivery, and labor

Shopping list

  • crushed stone4.5 tons
  • Landscape fabric, edging, compactor rentalAs needed
  • DeliveryConfirm minimum load and drop location

Assumptions

  • 27 cu ft per cubic yard
  • 10% waste and compaction buffer
  • 1.45 tons per cubic yard
  • U.S. near average; pricing data: U.S. near average pricing

Planning estimate only. Not a contractor quote, engineering advice, or permit review.

Project inputs
U.S. near average
Units
ft
ft
in
%
Estimated result

30 ft by 10 ft area, 3.0 in deep.

Gravel weight
4.5 tons
3.1 cu yd including 10% waste
Calculated volume
75.0 cu ft
300 sq ft at 3.0 in deep
Density
1.45 tons/cu yd
crushed stone planning factor
DIY material total
$203–$543
Gravel plus directional delivery fee
Labor range
$150–$660
Directional spreading and grading labor
Installed total
$353–$1,203
Material, delivery, and labor
Compaction, base layers, drainage, edging, and delivery access can change the right gravel quantity.

Shopping list

  • crushed stone4.5 tons
  • Landscape fabric, edging, compactor rentalAs needed
  • DeliveryConfirm minimum load and drop location

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Assumptions in this estimate

  • 27 cu ft per cubic yard
  • 10% waste and compaction buffer
  • 1.45 tons per cubic yard
  • U.S. near average; pricing data: U.S. near average pricing

Saved estimates

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How this is calculated

  • Area is length x width.
  • Volume is area x gravel depth converted from inches to feet.
  • Tons are estimated from cubic yards using a material-specific density factor.

Assumption register

Item Low Typical High Source
Volume conversion 27 27 27 Standard U.S. volume conversion
Checked 2026-05-10 · high confidence
Aggregate density 1.25 1.45 1.65 Landscape gravel planning benchmark
Checked 2026-05-10 · medium confidence
Bulk gravel price 18 40 100 HomeGuide gravel price and Homewyse installed benchmark
Checked 2026-05-10 · low confidence

Last reviewed: May 9, 2026. These values are planning defaults, not live prices.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting compaction and waste.
  • Skipping base prep, landscape fabric, edging, or drainage.
  • Ordering by cubic yard when the supplier quotes by ton without converting density.

FAQ

Should gravel be ordered by ton or cubic yard?

Suppliers use both. This calculator shows tons and cubic yards so you can compare.

How deep should gravel be?

Decorative areas may use a few inches, while driveways often need layered base material and compaction.

Does this include delivery?

A broad delivery allowance is included in DIY material total, but local minimums and dump location matter.

Limitations

This calculator does not design a driveway base, drainage plan, or retaining edge. Compaction, subgrade, and local supplier conversions matter.

This estimate is for planning only. It is not a contractor quote, engineering advice, or permit review.

Next step

Measure once more, compare the result with a real quote or shopping cart, and review the assumptions before buying materials.

Read the DIY vs contractor guide for this project

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