Gravel calculator for Delaware
Calculate the cubic yards and tons needed for gravel or landscape rock, select the material, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
For a 2-inch layer, a ton of crushed gravel goes about 116 square feet. Use the calculator by entering the area dimensions and depth, then choose the gravel type to see cubic yards, tons, and the delivered price. It can also estimate landscape rock. Crushed gravel, #57 stone, and comparable products weigh around 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
Calculate your gravel amount
- Use feet for the measurements. Rectangles need length and width, while circles use the diameter. Break an L-shaped driveway into two rectangles, then combine them with multiple-areas mode.
- Enter the depth in inches. Walkways and gravel refreshes need 2-3 inches. For a new driveway, build 4-6 inches in two layers instead of placing it all at once.
- To get cubic feet, multiply the area by depth in feet. Divide that result by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel at ~2,800 lb per cubic yard)
Useful gravel weights and coverage
Dry crushed gravel weighs about 2,800 lb in a cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. A ton works out to about 0.71 cubic yards. Deeper gravel covers less area:
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 39 sq ft |
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway / walkway gravel | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel (3/8") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| River rock (1-3") | ≈ 2,700 lb | 1.35 |
Recommended depths by job
- Garden paths and walkways: put down 2-3 inches of walkway gravel on compacted ground or fabric.
- Refreshing an existing driveway: Spread 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
- New driveways: start with 3-4 inches of compacted crusher run, then add 2-3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. In the clay-over-rock ground around Wilmington, the base carries the weight, while the upper layer drains and provides the finished surface.
- Patios and seating areas: Install 2-3 inches within sturdy edging.
- French drains and wet areas: Use 12 inches or more of clean stone. Check those quantities with the Stone Calculator because drainage needs washed rock without fines. In Sussex County, account for where drain water can go in the high water table.
Example: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
For 500 square feet with 4 inches of material, calculate 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. After dividing by 27, the result is 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Include 5% for compaction, bringing the order to about 9 tons. Plan roughly a 60/40 split of crusher run base and surface gravel. Using two layers is important, especially instead of placing one 2-inch layer directly on soil after measuring only the finished driveway depth.
Common project estimates
Estimate first, then measure. These figures use 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway pad | 20 x 10 ft | 4" | 2.5 yd³ | 3.5 tons |
| Two-car driveway | 24 x 20 ft | 4" | 5.9 yd³ | 8.3 tons |
| Country driveway | 50 x 12 ft | 6" | 11.1 yd³ | 15.6 tons |
| Garden path | 20 x 3 ft | 3" | 0.6 yd³ | 0.8 tons |
| Patio seating area | 12 x 12 ft | 3" | 1.3 yd³ | 1.9 tons |
| Shed base | 10 x 12 ft | 4" | 1.5 yd³ | 2.1 tons |
Four reasons for an extra delivery
- Leaving out the base on a new driveway. Gravel placed directly on soil may rut within a season. Install the base layer, then the surface gravel.
- Comparing estimates by square footage only. A 20 x 10 pad can have different depths in two quotes, so line them up by tonnage.
- Installing less than 2 inches. A 1-inch layer can work down into mud before spring.
- Leaving the surface without a crown. Water pools on level gravel; a 2% slope drains it away and helps fines stay put.
Choosing gravel by surface
Use angular crushed gravel where vehicles travel because the pieces key together under weight. Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they shift and spread when loaded; they work better in garden beds and on paths. For a driveway, put a compacting layer such as crusher run or road base below a free-draining finish such as driveway gravel or #57. This matters on beach-house driveways over sand. To compare materials or identify what is already installed, text a photo to (302) 406-2968 and we'll identify it.
How gravel is measured: yards, tons and loads
One pile has three measurements. Cubic yards measure volume. A ton equals 2,000 lb and is about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truck capacity depends on the truck: 8-10 yards for a single-axle dump truck and 12-16 yards (17-22 tons) for a tandem. Put quotes in the same unit by converting to tons before comparing prices. Compare delivered price only. Hauling can account for half the aggregate cost. Delaware Rock Supply provides free delivery on every order, so the per-ton price shown is what reaches your driveway.
How to measure irregular driveways
Curved drives and turnarounds need a different measuring approach. Measure a curved lane down its center, then use the average width. For a round turnaround bulb, take the widest distance as its diameter. On a slope, make the downhill base thicker because water and gravel travel there. If a layout will not fit one measurement, separate it into rectangles and total them in multiple-areas mode.
Plan for delivery
- Set the drop location before the truck arrives. Choose firm ground and keep clear of low wires and septic field crossings.
- Set the load down near the project. One yard of gravel means 9-14 wheelbarrow trips, so an added 10 feet makes a difference across 6 yards.
- If the load is going on pavement you want to keep clean, put down a tarp. It can cut cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Before adding the top layer, compact the base course. Rent a plate compactor, or use truck tires if that is all you have.
Gravel questions with numbers
What does 1 ton of gravel cover?
How can I calculate gravel needed?
What covers a 10x10 area with gravel?
How many gravel yards make a ton?
What size is a gravel truckload?
What is the cost of a yard of gravel?
Do I need extra material for compaction?
Can gravel go directly over grass?
Other calculators
This tonnage includes free delivery.
Driveway gravel, #57 and crusher run are sold by the ton with delivery across Delaware.
