Gravel calculator for Louisiana
Find the cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock work, choose the needed product, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
At a depth of 2 inches, 1 ton of crushed gravel spreads across roughly 116 square feet. Use the calculator to enter the length, width, and depth, select the material, and see cubic yards, tons, and delivered price. It also estimates landscape rock: crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar products weigh around 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
Calculate the gravel you need
- Use feet for your measurements. Rectangles need length and width, while circles use diameter. Treat an L-shaped drive as two rectangles, then combine them with multiple-areas mode.
- Set the depth in inches. Use 2-3 inches for paths and refreshes. For a new driveway, build 4-6 inches in two layers instead of placing it all at once.
- Start with area times depth in feet to get cubic 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)
Weight and coverage figures to keep
Dry crushed gravel runs about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, equal to 1.4 tons. A ton comes to roughly 0.71 cubic yards. As depth increases, coverage decreases:
| 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 project
- Garden paths and walkways: use 2-3 inches of walkway gravel over compacted ground or fabric.
- Refreshing an existing driveway: Add 2 inches of surface gravel.
- New driveways: put down 3-4 inches of compacted crusher run, followed by 2-3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The lower course carries the load, and the upper course handles drainage and appearance.
- Patios and seating areas: Use 2-3 inches within firm edging.
- French drains and soggy spots: use 12 inches or more of clean stone. Check the Stone Calculator for sizing, because drainage calls for washed rock without fines.
Example calculation: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
Start with 500 square feet at 4 inches deep: 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. After dividing by 27, the result is 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Allow 5% for compaction, bringing the order to about 9 tons. Plan roughly 60/40 for crusher run base and surface gravel. Keep those as separate layers, especially where wet ground needs a base that holds together, rather than placing one 2-inch layer directly on dirt.
Common projects, already calculated
Use these rough estimates before measuring, based on 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 an extra load is needed
- Omitting the base on a new driveway. Gravel placed directly over soil can rut within a season. Put in the base layer, then the surface gravel.
- Comparing prices by area only. A 20 x 10 pad may need different quantities at different depths, so line up quotes by equal tons.
- At less than 2 inches, gravel can work down into wet mud. One inch is especially prone to disappearing into soft ground.
- Forgetting the crown. Level gravel holds water, but a 2% slope drains it off and helps retain the fines.
Match gravel to the surface
Crushed gravel has angular pieces that bind under traffic, making it the choice for areas with tires. Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they shift under weight and fit paths and planting beds. For a durable driveway, use a compacting base such as crusher run or road base, topped with draining driveway gravel or #57. Need help choosing material or identifying what is already there? Send a photo through the contact form.
How gravel is sold: yards, tons and loads
The same pile can be listed in three units. Cubic yards measure volume. A ton is 2,000 lb by weight, equal to roughly 0.71 yards of gravel. Load capacity depends on the truck: 8 to 10 yards for a single-axle dump truck and 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons) for a tandem. Put quotes into tons before comparing prices. Look at delivered cost, since hauling can make up half the aggregate expense. Louisiana Rock Supply includes free delivery on every order, so the per-ton price shown is the price at your driveway.
How to measure irregular driveways
Curved drives and turnarounds take a little more measuring. Measure a curved lane along its center, then use the average width. For a round turnaround bulb, take the widest span as the diameter. On slopes, make the base course deeper at the downhill end, where water and gravel collect. If the layout is hard to tape out, divide it into rectangles and use multiple-areas mode for the total.
Plan for delivery
- Decide on the drop area before the truck gets there: choose firm ground and keep clear of low wires and septic field crossings.
- Have the load placed near the job. One yard means 9 to 14 wheelbarrow trips, and an extra 10 feet becomes a lot of travel across 6 yards.
- If gravel will be tipped on pavement, put a tarp down first. It can cut cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Pack the base course before placing the surface material. Use a plate compactor, or run truck tires over it if needed.
Gravel answers by the numbers
What area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
How can I calculate my gravel amount?
How much gravel covers a 10x10 area?
How many gravel yards equal a ton?
What does a truckload of gravel hold?
What does a yard of gravel cost?
Do I need extra for compaction?
Can gravel be installed over grass?
Other calculators
Free delivery applies to that tonnage.
Driveway gravel, #57 and crusher run are sold by the ton with delivery throughout Louisiana.
