Gravel Tonnage Calculator
Convert gravel instantly between cubic yards, US tons, metric tonnes, and square feet coverage — in any direction. Eleven common gravel types with compacted densities per ASTM D448, plus a custom-density mode.
Conversion results — ABC / Crusher Run
US Tons
9.45
Metric Tonnes
8.57
Cubic Yards
5.00
Coverage (sq ft @ 2")
810
Small bags (0.5 cu ft)
270 bags
Medium bags (1 cu ft)
135 bags
Bulk super sacks (0.5 cu yd)
10 sacks
Always add 10% waste when ordering. For the numbers above, order 10.39 tons or 5.50 cubic yards to account for spillage, truck leftover, and subbase irregularities.
🧭How the three-way converter works
Every gravel quantity problem boils down to four numbers: volume, weight, density, and coverage. Density is the bridge between volume and weight, and thickness is the bridge between volume and area. Our three tabs let you start from whichever number you already know and get everything else instantly.
Density — the number that changes everything
Density is measured in pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³). It tells you how much a cube of gravel one foot on each side weighs. Different gravel types have very different densities: crushed limestone at 150 lb/ft³ is much heavier than river rock at 95 lb/ft³. That 55 point difference means a cubic yard of limestone weighs almost 1,500 pounds more than the same volume of river rock. Picking the correct density is the single most important input in this entire calculator.
Density is not just about the rock itself — it is also about how much the material has been compacted. A pile of pea gravel poured out of a bag is fluffy and light. After you drive a plate compactor over it three times, the air pockets disappear and the same cubic foot weighs significantly more. All of the density values used here are compacted densities — the number that matters for how much material actually ends up in your driveway after grading and compaction.
Why compacted density beats loose density
Suppliers often quote loose densities because the truck is weighed when it leaves the quarry, before compaction. But you do not drive on loose gravel — you drive on gravel that has been spread, graded, and compacted. The industry rule of thumb is that compacted density is about 15 to 25 percent higher than loose density. If you order by loose density, you will underestimate how many tons you need by that same percentage.
ASTM D448 and ASTM C125 define the laboratory method for measuring compacted density using a modified Proctor compactor. The material is packed into a standard mold in five lifts, each with 25 blows from a 10 pound hammer dropped 18 inches. The resulting oven-dry density is the structural number engineers use for subbase and fill calculations, and it is exactly what we use in this converter.
The math: cubic feet × density ÷ 2000 = tons
All three modes use the same underlying formulas — they just start from different known values. Here is every conversion step laid out:
Example: 5 cubic yards of ABC Crusher Run (density 140 lb/ft³).
5 × 27 = 135 cu ft × 140 = 18,900 lbs ÷ 2000 = 9.45 US tons. At 2 inch thickness: 135 ÷ (2/12) = 810 sq ft.
📊Quick reference: how many tons per cubic yard
The table below gives the exact US tons and metric tonnes for one cubic yard of each gravel type, using ASTM D448 compacted density numbers. Bookmark this or use the converter above for any quantity.
| Gravel Type | Compacted Density (lb/ft³) | US Tons / cu yd | Metric Tonnes / cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC / Crusher Run | 140 | 1.89 | 1.71 |
| CA6 / Class 5 | 135 | 1.82 | 1.65 |
| #4 Crushed Stone | 155 | 2.09 | 1.90 |
| #57 Crushed Stone | 160 | 2.16 | 1.96 |
| #8 Crushed Stone | 150 | 2.02 | 1.84 |
| Pea Gravel | 108 | 1.46 | 1.32 |
| River Rock | 95 | 1.28 | 1.16 |
| Decomposed Granite (DG) | 130 | 1.75 | 1.59 |
| Crushed Limestone | 150 | 2.02 | 1.84 |
| Recycled Concrete | 145 | 1.96 | 1.78 |
🗺️Coverage chart — how many square feet does 1 ton cover?
Coverage area depends on both thickness and density. Heavier gravel covers less area per ton because each cubic foot weighs more. Pick your thickness and find your gravel type to see what a single US ton covers.
| Gravel Type | @ 2 inch | @ 3 inch | @ 4 inch | @ 6 inch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC / Crusher Run | 86 sq ft | 57 sq ft | 43 sq ft | 29 sq ft |
| CA6 / Class 5 | 89 sq ft | 59 sq ft | 44 sq ft | 30 sq ft |
| #4 Crushed Stone | 77 sq ft | 52 sq ft | 39 sq ft | 26 sq ft |
| #57 Crushed Stone | 75 sq ft | 50 sq ft | 38 sq ft | 25 sq ft |
| #8 Crushed Stone | 80 sq ft | 53 sq ft | 40 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
| Pea Gravel | 111 sq ft | 74 sq ft | 56 sq ft | 37 sq ft |
| River Rock | 126 sq ft | 84 sq ft | 63 sq ft | 42 sq ft |
| Decomposed Granite (DG) | 92 sq ft | 62 sq ft | 46 sq ft | 31 sq ft |
| Crushed Limestone | 80 sq ft | 53 sq ft | 40 sq ft | 27 sq ft |
| Recycled Concrete | 83 sq ft | 55 sq ft | 41 sq ft | 28 sq ft |
Values assume compacted thickness. Loose gravel spreads about 25 percent further per ton than compacted gravel — but loose is not what ends up in your driveway.
🚛Bulk vs bag delivery
How you get gravel matters almost as much as how much you need. Bulk delivery by dump truck or super sack is dramatically cheaper for anything larger than a small patio, but bags have their place for odd jobs, steep driveways, and remote spots a truck cannot reach.
Bulk delivery
Typical cost: $15 to $35 per ton, delivered. A standard tandem dump truck carries about 15 to 20 tons. A super sack (bulk bag) holds about 0.5 cubic yards or roughly 2 to 2.5 tons depending on the gravel type. Bulk is cheaper because you avoid the packaging, handling, and retail markup that bags carry. For a typical residential driveway (600 to 1,000 sq ft at 2 inches), you need 4 to 7 cubic yards — that is a single truckload.
- 3 to 5 times less expensive per ton than bags
- Delivered straight from the quarry, fresher material
- Dump pile on your driveway or yard, then spread with a wheelbarrow
- Needs a driveway or yard the truck can access
Bagged gravel
Typical cost: $5 to $12 per 0.5 cubic foot bag at a big-box store. That works out to about $200 to $480 per ton — bulk bulk price. But bags win in convenience for small work. A standard 0.5 cu ft bag of pea gravel covers about 3 square feet at 2 inches thick. For a 100 sq ft path, you need about 34 bags, or roughly $170 to $408. Bags also let you mix colors or sizes easily — put a few brown river rock bags with a few grey crushed stone bags for a custom blend.
- 50 lb bags are easy to carry on steep or narrow driveways
- No minimum order — buy 1 bag or 50
- Stored dry, so no clay or silt contamination
- Dramatically more expensive per ton
Rule of thumb: if your project needs more than about 2 cubic yards (roughly 3 tons), call a bulk supplier. The savings easily pay for the dump truck delivery fee. If you need less than 1 cubic yard, bags are the practical choice.
⚠️The 10% waste factor — why you cannot order exactly the calculated amount
Every gravel job has material that disappears. Spillage from the wheelbarrow, gravel stuck to the shovel, small rocks skipped off the edge of the driveway, the thin layer that sticks to the inside of the dump truck. Over a full driveway, those small losses add up to around 10 percent of the total.
What happens if you do not order extra
If you calculate 10 cubic yards and order exactly 10, you will end up short. The dump truck driver will warn you that the truck box still has a couple hundred pounds in it. When you spread and grade, you will notice the subbase peeking through in thin spots. You will have to make a second call to the supplier, wait for another delivery, and pay a minimum-order fee for a small top-up. That second delivery often costs as much as the first 10 percent of your original order — so you end up paying more than if you had just ordered 11 yards to begin with.
Where the 10% goes
- Truck box residue: 1 to 3 percent stays in the dump truck
- Spillage during spreading: 2 to 4 percent falls off the wheelbarrow or rake
- Uneven subbase: low spots in the existing driveway eat 2 to 3 percent extra
- Compaction loss: thick fluffy gravel compacts down — 5 to 8 percent volume loss
- Finished grade adjustment: your final pass with the rake takes another 1 to 2 percent
Exceptions to the rule
Very small projects (a single 10 foot path) have higher percentage waste — up to 20 or 25 percent — because the bag or truck minimum means you cannot order fractional bags or fractional tons. Very large commercial jobs can get away with 5 percent because everything is done with heavy equipment and labor is more precise. For residential driveways, stick with 10 percent.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Everything we get asked about converting gravel between cubic yards and tons.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?+
It depends on the gravel type. ABC Crusher Run is about 3.78 tons per cubic yard, #57 Crushed Stone is about 4.32 tons, Pea Gravel is about 2.92 tons, and River Rock is about 2.57 tons. The exact formula is: cubic yards × 27 × density ÷ 2000. Use the table above or the converter to get the exact number for your gravel.
How do I convert cubic yards of gravel to tons?+
Multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, then multiply by the compacted density in lb/ft³, and divide by 2000. For example, 5 cubic yards × 27 × 140 (ABC density) ÷ 2000 = 9.45 US tons.
How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?+
At 2 inch thickness, 1 ton of ABC Crusher Run covers about 89 square feet. At 4 inches thick, the same ton covers about 44 square feet. Coverage depends on thickness and density — use the coverage chart on this page for all thicknesses and types.
What is the difference between loose and compacted density?+
Loose density is the weight of gravel as it comes out of the truck. Compacted density is after a plate compactor or roller squeezes the air out, which is what you actually drive on. Compacted density is about 15 to 25 percent higher than loose density. Always use compacted numbers when ordering.
Should I order gravel in bags or bulk?+
Bulk is cheaper — usually 3 to 5 times less per ton — but needs a truck that can reach your property. Bags are convenient for small touch-ups, steep driveways, or remote spots. If your project needs more than about 2 cubic yards, call a bulk supplier.
How much extra gravel should I order for waste?+
Order 10 percent extra for residential driveways. Some stays in the truck, some spills during spreading, and some fills low spots in the subbase. Skipping this will usually cost more — a second small delivery often costs as much as the first 10 percent of material.
What thickness of gravel should I use for a driveway?+
Residential driveways typically use 2 to 4 inches of compacted gravel over geotextile fabric and a base layer. Light-use paths can be 1.5 to 2 inches. Heavier driveways that will see trucks or trailers should go to 5 or 6 inches. Always compact in 2 inch lifts for proper density.
How are these density numbers measured?+
All densities in this calculator follow ASTM D448 and ASTM C125 standards. They are compacted, oven-dry densities measured in the lab with a modified Proctor compactor — the industry standard for structural fill and subbase design.
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