Ordering Gravel: Depth, Cubic Yards & Delivery
Gravel is sold by volume or weight, but those are not interchangeable quantities. Start with the area and intended depth, then confirm density and compaction assumptions with the supplier before booking a delivery.
Figur Editorial · Practical calculations, examples and planning assumptions · 2026-10-26
Choose the depth before calculating volume
Measure the length and width of the area and decide which layer you are estimating. A decorative surface layer and a load-bearing driveway base are different jobs. This guide does not specify the right construction depth for your soil, drainage or vehicle loads.
For several layers, estimate each material independently. If a project specifies a compacted depth, ask how much loose material is needed to reach it. Do not assume that the delivered loose depth and finished compacted depth are equal.
Worked example: 12 × 40 ft at 3 inches
Area = 12 × 40 = 480 square feet. A 3-inch layer is 0.25 ft deep, so volume = 480 × 0.25 = 120 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get 4.4444 cubic yards before any extra material or compaction adjustment.
At 4 inches, volume becomes 480 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 5.9259 cubic yards. One additional inch adds about 1.48 cubic yards here, a 33.3% increase. Check low spots rather than assuming a uniform layer across an uneven base.
Convert cubic yards to tons only with a stated density
Weight = volume × bulk density. If the supplier gives an illustrative density of 1.4 US short tons per cubic yard, 4.4444 cubic yards weighs about 6.22 short tons. The example density is not a universal value for gravel.
Stone type, grading, moisture and packing change bulk density. Confirm whether a quote uses US short tons, metric tonnes or another unit. Use the supplier's density for the actual product; a calculator's default density is only a starting assumption.
Check what the delivery quote includes
Ask whether the ticket records weight or volume, how the load is rounded and whether the minimum order exceeds your estimate. Compare the delivered total, not just the material price: haul distance, small-load fees and a second trip can change the decision.
Plan a suitable unloading location and protect anything the truck may damage. Keep any extra-material allowance separate from a compaction adjustment so you do not unknowingly apply the same allowance twice. Confirm the finished installation requirements with the person doing the work.
- Record area, layer depth and units.
- Confirm loose versus compacted quantities.
- Get product-specific density and a delivered price.