How to use it
- Enter length and width in feet
- Input depth in inches
- Read cubic yards, tons, and cubic feet instantly
Gravel coverage depends on area and depth. This calculator converts your dimensions into cubic yards, tons, and cubic feet so you know exactly how much to order.
Why it matters: ordering too little means delays and extra delivery fees; ordering too much wastes money. The result in tons uses the industry estimate of 1.4 US tons per cubic yard — a standard weight for typical gravel.
How to read it: cubic yards tells your volume; cubic feet is the same volume in smaller units; tons gives you the weight for ordering. If your depth is shallow, the cubic yards drop fast — every inch counts.
Use the result to compare quotes from suppliers, who often sell by the ton or the cubic yard.
Pro tips
- Add 10% waste allowance for spillage and grading
- Round up to the nearest half yard — suppliers charge per full/half unit
- Order slightly over rather than under — running out means a second delivery fee
- Common mistake: confusing depth in inches with feet — double-check before calculating
Real-life examples
- Planning a 20x30 ft driveway base layer
- Filling a 10x15 ft garden bed to 3 inches deep
- Calculating fill for a French drain trench
Case study
Maria needed gravel for a 24x40 ft patio base. Before the calculator, she guessed 12 tons and overpaid. After entering 24 ft × 40 ft × 4 in depth, she got 11.85 cubic yards (16.6 tons) — ordered exactly that, saved $200, and had no waste.