Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Gravel needed
1.22
cu yd
Suggested order (nearest half-yard)
1.5
cu yd
Total cubic feet
30.0
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter length (ft).
- 2Enter width (ft).
- 3Enter depth (in).
- 4Enter waste/compaction factor (%).
- 5Read your gravel needed on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Some landscape suppliers and smaller stone yards sell and deliver gravel by the cubic yard rather than by weight, which is a simpler unit to reason about directly from your area and fill depth without needing a density conversion. This calculator takes length, width, and depth (or a direct area entry) and computes cubic feet, divides by 27 to get cubic yards, and applies a waste/compaction allowance, mirroring the concrete cubic-yard math but calibrated for the depths typical of gravel paths, drainage trenches, and base layers rather than structural slabs. Because gravel yards often sell by increments (half-yard, full-yard scoops from a loader), the tool rounds and shows the raw figure alongside a suggested order size so you're not stuck asking for 2.37 cubic yards from a supplier who only sells in half-yard steps.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Length: 40 ft
- Width: 3 ft
- Depth: 3 in
- Waste/compaction factor: 10 %
Results
- Gravel needed: 1.22
- Suggested order (nearest half-yard): 1.5
- Total cubic feet: 30
What each field means
Inputs
- Length (ft)
- The length used in the calculation, measured in ft. Starts at 40 ft so you have a working example on load.
- Width (ft)
- The width used in the calculation, measured in ft. Starts at 3 ft so you have a working example on load.
- Depth (in)
- The depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 3 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–24 in.
- Waste/compaction factor (%)
- The waste/compaction factor used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 10 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–25 %.
Results
- Gravel needed
- cu yd
- Suggested order (nearest half-yard)
- cu yd
- Total cubic feet
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why do some suppliers sell gravel by volume instead of weight?
Smaller landscape yards using loader buckets often price and scoop by the cubic yard since that's how their loader bucket is calibrated, while larger quarries and construction suppliers weigh trucks on a scale and bill by the ton.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons if I need both?
Multiply cubic yards by roughly 1.4 for standard gravel density, or use the dedicated gravel tons calculator if you know your specific material's density rating.
Why round to the nearest half yard?
Most stone yards load with a bucket calibrated in half or full yard scoops, so ordering a rounded amount avoids confusion or a small shortfall from an odd fractional order.
What depth should a gravel path use?
2-3 inches is typical for a decorative walking path over compacted base, while driveways need a thicker compacted base layer, often 4-6 inches.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Gravel Cubic Yards Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-cubic-yards-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-cubic-yards-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gravel Cubic Yards Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Gravel Cubic Yards Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-cubic-yards-calculator) (2026).