How Much Does a Cubic Yard of Gravel Cover? Coverage Chart by Depth
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or by the ton, and the area it covers depends on how deep you spread it. This chart shows coverage at common depths so you can order with confidence.
Coverage chart
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so a 1-inch layer covers 324 square feet. Each extra inch of depth cuts the coverage proportionally. The ton column assumes gravel that weighs 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
| Depth | Per cubic yard | Per ton |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | 231 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | 116 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | 77 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | 58 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | 39 sq ft |
Converting yards and tons
The weight of gravel varies with the type of stone and how wet it is. Many common crushed stones weigh roughly 1.2 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and 1.4 is a typical middle figure. At 1.4, one ton is about 0.71 cubic yards. Your supplier will know the figure for the product they sell, so ask. You can change the density in our gravel calculator.
Example: a driveway
A 12×50 foot driveway is 600 square feet. At 4 inches deep, that needs 600 ÷ 81 = 7.4 cubic yards, or about 10.4 tons. Add 10 percent for settling and compaction, and you would order about 8.1 cubic yards, or 11.4 tons.
Which depth to use
- Decorative beds and paths: 2 to 3 inches
- Driveways: 4 to 6 inches over a compacted base
- Under pavers or a patio: depth set by the product instructions
Our guide to gravel vs crushed stone vs pea gravel explains which stone suits each job.
Common mistakes
- Ordering by the cubic yard when the supplier sells by the ton, or the other way around
- Forgetting that gravel settles after you spread it
- Ignoring the weight of wet gravel
- Using one depth for a whole project when different areas need different thicknesses
Measure the area, decide the depth, divide area by the coverage per yard, and add 10 percent. That is the amount to order.
Enter the size of your driveway, path or bed to get cubic yards and tons of gravel to order.
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