Gravel
Tons to Cubic Yards
Gravel is ordered in tons and placed in inches. The calculator connects those two units and adds extra for compaction.
Example area — replace it with the driveway, path, or base you are covering.
Loose gravel packs down. Ordering about 10–20% more than the neat volume is a common way to finish at the depth you measured.
Quick answer
Tons to Cubic Yards: yards = L×W×D in feet ÷ 27. Tons = yards × tons-per-yard for the material. Crushed stone is often ~1.5 ton/yd³; pea gravel ~1.35; bank gravel / crushed concrete ~1.4. Add 10–20% when the stone will compact.
Tons to Cubic Yards: Tons are not yards
A ton of crushed stone is about 0.67 yd³ at 1.5 ton/yd³. Moisture and the quarry change the factor — confirm before you pay. “Tons to cubic yards” searches fail when people assume 1:1. The tons and cubic yards guide keeps concrete and gravel factors side by side.
| Material | Tons per yd³ (typical) | yd³ per ton |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Bank gravel | 1.40 | 0.71 |
| Crushed stone | 1.50 | 0.67 |
| Crushed concrete | 1.40 | 0.71 |
Worked example with the tons to cubic yards
12 × 50 × 0.333 = 200 ft³ = 7.41 yd³ neat. At 1.5 ton/yd³ = 11.1 tons. With 15% extra ≈ 12.8 tons. Depth after compaction is less than loose depth — order the extra if the finished surface must stay at 4 inches.
Under slabs vs driveway stone
Base under a concrete driveway is often compacted crushed stone sized on this page, then the slab on the driveway calculator. Decorative pea gravel beds use the same volume math with a lower tons-per-yard factor.
Gravel driveway calculator — depth and compaction
A gravel driveway calculator is area × depth ÷ 27, then × tons-per-yard. Four inches of compacted stone is not four inches of loose stone dumped on grade — order 10–20% extra when the finished depth must remain after rolling.
Convert tons to cubic yards only with the material factor. Tons to yards calculator searches that assume 1:1 will short a crushed-stone delivery by about a third.
Under-slab base vs decorative gravel
Base under concrete is usually compacted crushed stone sized here, then the slab on a concrete calculator. Decorative pea gravel for beds uses a lower tons-per-yard factor and often a shallower depth. Pick the material preset before you trust the tonnage line.
Ordering stone without the 1:1 trap
How many yards in a ton of gravel? About two-thirds of a yard for crushed stone at 1.5 ton/yd³. Cubic yards to tons gravel runs the other way: yards × 1.5. Write the factor on the delivery ticket when you dispute a short load.
Driveway gravel calculator depths of 4–6 inches are common before a concrete slab; standalone gravel drives may use more. Compaction changes finished depth — order the extra percent when the finished surface must stay flush with a form or apron.
Related tools
Concrete driveway calculator for the slab on top · Tons guide for conversions.
Before you call the plant
Write the neat volume, the waste percent, and the rounded order on one line. Dispatchers prefer a single clear quantity over a story about how you measured the forms.
If a drawing sets thickness, cover, or mix strength, those details override any online default. This page is for planning quantity — not for designing the section.
Before you call the plant
Write the neat volume, the waste percent, and the rounded order on one line. Dispatchers prefer a single clear quantity over a story about how you measured the forms.
If a drawing sets thickness, cover, or mix strength, those details override any online default. This page is for planning quantity — not for designing the section.
Before you call the plant
Write the neat volume, the waste percent, and the rounded order on one line. Dispatchers prefer a single clear quantity over a story about how you measured the forms.
If a drawing sets thickness, cover, or mix strength, those details override any online default. This page is for planning quantity — not for designing the section.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards in a ton of gravel?
About 0.67 yd³ for crushed stone at 1.5 ton/yd³; ~0.74 for pea gravel at 1.35.
How much gravel for a driveway?
12×50×4 in ≈ 7.4 yd³ neat; ~12.8 tons crushed stone with 15% extra.
Why extra percent?
Loose stone packs down. Order more if you need the finished depth after compaction.
Tons to cubic yards formula?
Yards = tons ÷ (tons per yard for that material).