Stone & Gravel Calculator

Calculate tons, cubic yards, truck loads, and cost for crushed stone, gravel, pea gravel, river rock, and rip rap.

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Depth (inches)

Stone Type

Waste Factor (%)

Cost per Ton ($)

#57 Stone Needed (with 10% waste)

3.80 tons

2.72 cubic yards

Volume (net)	66.67 ft³
Cubic yards (net)	2.47 CY
With 10% waste	2.72 CY
Weight	3.80 tons
Coverage at 4" depth	220 sq ft
Truck loads (10 CY)	1 loads
Truck loads (14 CY)	1 loads
Estimated Cost	$171

info

Danny Reeves:#57 stone is the workhorse — use it for driveways, drainage, and base. #89 pea gravel is for French drains and between pavers. If someone asks for "gravel" without specifying, they usually mean #57.

Methodology

Volume = length × width × (depth in inches ÷ 12). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × density (tons per cubic yard). Stone densities vary by type: #57 stone 1.4 t/CY, #67 stone 1.35 t/CY, pea gravel 1.4 t/CY, crushed stone 1.45 t/CY, river rock 1.3 t/CY, rip rap 1.5 t/CY. Coverage = volume (ft³) ÷ depth (ft) to get square feet at the specified depth. Default costs reflect 2026 national bulk delivery averages. Always add 5–10% for waste and spreading loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size stone should I use for a driveway?

For most residential driveways, use #57 stone (3/4" to 1") as the top layer — it locks together well under traffic and drains properly. For the base layer, use larger #3 or #4 stone (1.5" to 3") at 4–6 inches deep. A three-layer approach works best: large stone base, #57 middle layer, and optional #89 or stone dust top for a smoother surface. Total depth should be 8–12 inches depending on soil conditions.

What is the difference between #57 and #67 stone?

#57 stone ranges from 3/4" to 1" in diameter and is the most commonly used aggregate in construction. #67 stone is slightly smaller, ranging from 1/2" to 3/4". Both work for driveways and drainage, but #57 is preferred for heavier traffic areas because the larger pieces interlock better. #67 is a good choice for walkways and lighter-duty applications where a smoother surface is needed. They weigh about the same per cubic yard.

How deep should gravel be for a driveway?

A gravel driveway should be 8–12 inches deep total, built in layers. The base layer (large stone) should be 4–6 inches, the middle layer (#57) should be 3–4 inches, and an optional top layer of finer stone adds 1–2 inches. On clay soil or in areas with heavy vehicles, go deeper — 12 inches minimum. On sandy, well-draining soil, 8 inches is usually sufficient. Always compact each layer before adding the next.

How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?

A cubic yard of gravel weighs between 2,600 and 3,000 pounds (1.3 to 1.5 tons) depending on the type and moisture content. #57 stone averages about 2,800 lbs/CY (1.4 tons). Crushed stone is slightly heavier at roughly 2,900 lbs/CY (1.45 tons) because the angular pieces pack more tightly. River rock is lighter at about 2,600 lbs/CY (1.3 tons) because the rounded shapes leave more air gaps.

How the Stone & Aggregate Calculator works

Volume is length × width × depth, with depth entered in inches and divided by 12 to reach feet. That gives cubic feet, which divided by 27 gives cubic yards. Waste is applied to the volume — 10% by default — to cover uneven subgrade, spread loss at the edges, and compaction.

Tonnage is the waste-adjusted cubic yards multiplied by the density of the aggregate you picked. The six options run from river rock at 1.3 tons per cubic yard up to rip rap at 1.5, with #57 stone and pea gravel at 1.4 in between. This step matters because aggregate is quoted and delivered by the ton while the job is designed by depth and area.

Cost is tonnage multiplied by your price per ton, which defaults to the typical rate for the selected stone — $40 for pea gravel, $42 for #67, $45 for #57, $50 for crushed stone, $55 for river rock, $60 for rip rap. Coverage runs the math backward and reports how many square feet your volume will spread across at the depth you entered.

Worked example: a 20 ft by 10 ft driveway pad at 4 inches deep is 66.7 cubic feet, or 2.47 cubic yards. Adding 10% brings it to 2.72 cubic yards, which in #57 stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard is 3.80 tons. At $45 a ton the material runs about $171, and that volume covers roughly 220 square feet at the 4 inch depth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tons of #57 stone are in a cubic yard?

About 1.4 tons. The calculator carries densities in tons per cubic yard for six aggregates: river rock at 1.3, #67 stone at 1.35, #57 stone and pea gravel at 1.4, crushed stone at 1.45, and rip rap at 1.5. Aggregate is sold by the ton but specified by volume, so this conversion is what turns a design depth into a delivery ticket.

What is #57 stone used for?

It is the workhorse drainage aggregate — roughly 3/4 inch, well graded, and open enough that water moves through it freely. It is the default for driveway base, French drains, and backfill around foundation drains. Pea gravel is smaller and rounder for walkways and exposed areas, while rip rap is the largest, used for erosion control on slopes and channels.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

Four inches of compacted aggregate is a common residential minimum, and heavier traffic or soft subgrade pushes that to six or eight inches, often in two lifts. The calculator takes depth in inches and converts to feet by dividing by 12, so you can compare the tonnage at 4 versus 6 inches directly before committing.

What does the coverage figure mean?

Coverage is the square footage your waste-adjusted volume will cover at the depth you entered. It is useful in reverse: if you already know the tonnage you can afford, coverage tells you how much area it will actually spread across at that depth. Going shallower covers more ground but gives up load capacity.