How to use it
- Enter length and width in feet and depth in inches.
- The tool converts depth, computes cubic feet, then cubic yards and tons.
- View the three results and adjust your order as needed.
What it does Enter the length and width of the area in feet and the depth of gravel in inches. The tool converts the depth to feet, multiplies length × width × depth to give cubic feet, then divides by 27 to get cubic yards. It multiplies cubic yards by 1.4 to estimate tons.
Why it matters Knowing cubic yards helps you order the right amount from suppliers, and tons give you a sense of weight for transport limits.
How to read the results
- Cubic feet – total volume of the hole.
- Cubic yards – the unit most vendors quote.
- Tons (approx) – weight you’ll need to handle, based on 1.4 US tons per cubic yard.
The calculator works instantly in your browser, so you can experiment with different depths before committing to a purchase. You can also round up the cubic yards to the nearest whole number to avoid shortfalls.
Pro tips
- Add 10% extra for compaction and spillage.
- Round up cubic yards to the next whole yard for ordering.
- Convert depth from inches to feet before calculation.
- Check supplier's minimum load size to avoid extra trips.
Real-life examples
- A homeowner planning a new driveway needs to know how much gravel to order.
- A landscaper installing a garden path wants to estimate material weight for truck capacity.
- A DIY enthusiast filling a backyard fire pit wants to avoid ordering too little or too much gravel.
Case study
Sarah needed 2 × 3 × 4 ft of gravel for a patio. Using the calculator she saw the job required 24 cubic feet, 0.89 cubic yards, and about 1.2 tons. She ordered 1 cubic yard, saved $150, and finished on schedule.