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Ordering gravel is one of those jobs where guessing wrong hurts both ways. Order short and you pay a second delivery fee; order long and you have a pile of rock living on your driveway for a year. The calculator below converts your area and depth into cubic yards, tons, and bags for the most common landscape materials, and the charts underneath explain the numbers so you can sanity-check any quote a supplier gives you.
Gravel Calculator
Estimated bulk material cost: $75 - $135 before delivery. Delivery typically adds $40-$100 per trip depending on distance.
The Math Behind It (So You Can Check Any Supplier's Numbers)
Gravel is sold two ways: by the cubic yard (volume) or by the ton (weight). The volume formula is simple:
Cubic yards = (square feet × depth in inches) ÷ 324
The 324 comes from the fact that one cubic yard spread one inch deep covers 324 square feet. To convert to weight, multiply by the material's density. Most landscape stone lands between 1.3 and 1.5 tons per cubic yard, dense, angular crushed limestone packs at the top of that range, while rounded pea gravel and river rock sit lower.
Coverage Charts
| Depth | Coverage | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | Top-dressing existing gravel |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | Decorative layer over fabric |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | Beds, paths |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | Walkway or pad base |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | Patio base (compacted) |
| 8" | 40 sq ft | Driveway base (compacted) |
| Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 2" | ~100-115 sq ft |
| 3" | ~65-75 sq ft |
| 4" | ~50-55 sq ft |
| 6" | ~33-38 sq ft |
Ranges account for density differences between materials and compaction loss on base stone.
How Deep Should Gravel Be? (By Project)
| Project | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative bed cover | 2-3" | Over landscape fabric so it doesn't sink into soil |
| Garden path | 3-4" | Edging keeps it contained; screenings pack firmer than pea gravel |
| Patio / shed base | 4-6" compacted | Angular crushed stone only, round rock never locks up |
| Gravel driveway | 8-12" compacted | Built in 2-3" lifts, each compacted separately |
| French drain | "envelope" around pipe | Washed stone, wrapped in fabric, never fines |
One rule worth repeating: base layers need angular, crushed stone with fines (what Illinois suppliers call CA6 and other regions call crusher run, road base, or 21A) so it compacts into a near-solid mass. Rounded stones like pea gravel look great on top but roll forever underfoot, they are a surface material, never a base. If your project is a paver patio, the base spec matters more than anything else you buy; we broke that down layer by layer in our paver base guide.
What Gravel Costs in 2026 (Bulk, Per Ton)
| Material | Per ton | Per cubic yard | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed limestone (CA6 / road base) | $18-$30 | $25-$45 | Bases, driveways |
| Limestone screenings | $18-$28 | $25-$40 | Path surfaces, leveling |
| Pea gravel | $20-$40 | $30-$55 | Paths, play areas, drainage |
| River rock 1-3" | $35-$65 | $45-$90 | Decorative beds, dry creeks |
| Decorative / specialty stone | $40-$75 | $50-$100 | Accent beds |
Prices vary by region and quarry distance. Delivery adds $40-$100 per trip; many yards have 1-2 ton minimums for delivery.
Bulk vs. Bags: The Break-Even
A 0.5 cubic foot bag at $5 works out to $270 per cubic yard, five to ten times bulk price. The break-even is roughly half a yard: below that, bags are worth the convenience (no pile, no delivery window, haul them in a sedan). Above it, order bulk. For reference, a typical pickup truck bed safely hauls about half a ton of stone, weight, not volume, is what maxes out first.
Buying topsoil or mulch for the same project? The same volume math applies, and we have calculators for both: our topsoil calculator and mulch calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
At a 2-inch depth, one ton of typical gravel covers roughly 100 square feet. At 3 inches it covers about 65-70 square feet, and at 4 inches about 50 square feet. Lighter materials like pea gravel spread slightly further per ton than dense river rock.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Multiply your area in square feet by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. A 10x20 path (200 sq ft) at 3 inches deep needs about 1.85 cubic yards. Round up to the nearest quarter yard when ordering.
How many tons is a cubic yard of gravel?
Most gravel weighs 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Crushed limestone road base (CA6) runs about 1.5 tons per yard because it packs densely; pea gravel and river rock are closer to 1.35-1.4 tons per yard.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bags or in bulk?
Bulk wins decisively past about half a cubic yard. Bagged stone runs $4-$8 per 0.5 cubic foot bag, which works out to $215-$430 per cubic yard. Bulk gravel is $25-$100 per cubic yard depending on the material, plus a delivery fee. Bags only make sense for small touch-ups or where a truck can't reach.
How deep should gravel be?
For decorative cover over landscape fabric, 2-3 inches. Walkways need 3-4 inches. A patio base needs 4-6 inches compacted, and a gravel driveway needs 8 inches or more, installed and compacted in 2-3 inch lifts.
Rather Have It Delivered, Spread, and Done?
Above the Lawn Services installs decorative stone, gravel paths, and paver hardscaping across Manhattan, Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort, and the surrounding Will County, IL area. We handle the ordering, the delivery, and the wheelbarrow work. Call (815) 520-2558 or request a free estimate online.
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