How to use it
- Enter the length in feet.
- Enter the width in feet.
- Enter the depth in inches.
- Read the cubic yards, tons and cubic feet results.
What it does – The calculator takes the length, width and depth of your project and returns three useful measures: cubic yards (the standard order unit), tons (weight for delivery quotes) and cubic feet (for on‑site planning).
Why it matters – Knowing the exact volume prevents ordering too little material, which can delay a landscaping job, or too much, which wastes money. The ton estimate uses the industry standard 1.4 US tons per cubic yard, so you can compare quotes from suppliers that charge by weight.
How to read the results – Cubic yards is the number you’ll give to a gravel vendor. Multiply that by 1.4 to see the approximate tons. Cubic feet helps you visualize the depth across the area. Round up the cubic yards to the nearest tenth to ensure you have a small buffer, and convert to tons only for budgeting.
Pro tips
- Add 5‑10% extra volume to cover settling and compaction.
- Round up cubic yards to the nearest 0.1 for ordering.
- Compare supplier quotes using tons to catch price‑per‑weight differences.
- Verify depth measurement; a 1‑inch error changes volume by about 3%.
Real-life examples
- Planning a new driveway gravel base for a home renovation.
- Estimating material for a garden pathway around a backyard patio.
- Calculating fill for a sloped yard to improve drainage.
Case study
Sam needed a new gravel path 120 ft long, 4 ft wide and 3 in deep. Using the calculator he saw he required 1.78 cubic yards (≈2.5 tons). He ordered 2 cubic yards, avoiding a short‑fall and saving $45 versus over‑ordering.