Menu
For kidsColoring pages with your business name
Contractors & trades / Gravel Calculator

Gravel Calculator

Cubic yards and tons of gravel for a driveway, path or pad, and a job price with labor and markup.

Enter a number of at least 0

Enter a number of at least 0

Enter a number from 0 to 48

2 in for paths, 4 in for a driveway top layer, 6–8 in for a new driveway base.

%

Enter a number from 0 to 100%

Gravel settles when compacted. 10–15% is a common allowance.

Enter a number from 0.1 to 3

Typical figure, not exact: most gravel and crushed stone weighs 1.3–1.5 tons per yd³. Ask your supplier.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

Typical bulk price, not a quote. Delivery is often extra.

Turn on to price the job, not just the material.

h

Enter a number from 0 to 10000

Total crew and machine hours for spreading and grading.

$

Enter a number of at least 0

What one hour costs you, including payroll taxes and equipment.

%

Enter a number from 0 to 500%

Added on top of materials + labor. A 25% markup is a 20% margin.

Job price
$947.22
6.79cubic yards
9.51tons
500 sq ftarea
$0job price $947.22
  • Materials
  • Labor
  • Profit
Volume before compaction6.17 yd³
Gravel to order6.79 yd³ · 9.51 tons
Materials · 9.51 tons × $45.00$427.78
Labor · 6 h × $55.00$330.00
Markup · 25% on cost$189.44
Job price$947.22

Profit is 20.0% of the price. Most yards sell gravel in whole or half tons, so round up.

Turn this into a quote

A one-page PDF for your customer, filled in from the numbers above. Your markup isn't shown.

Quote total
Job done? Make an invoice from this →
See breakdown

How the gravel calculation works

  1. Cubic feet = length × width × depth in feet

    A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in deep is 50 × 10 × 0.333 = 166.7 cu ft.

  2. Divide by 27 for cubic yards, then add compaction

    166.7 ÷ 27 = 6.17 yd³. With 10% extra for compaction it is 6.79 yd³.

  3. Multiply yards by the weight to get tons

    Gravel typically weighs about 1.4 tons per yard, so 6.79 yd³ is about 9.51 tons. Ask your supplier for their figure.

  4. Add labor and your markup

    Spreading and grading hours × your hourly cost, plus markup on the total cost, gives the price to quote.

Worked example. A 50 × 10 ft driveway topped with 4 in of gravel and 10% for compaction needs 6.79 yd³, about 9.51 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. At $45 a ton the gravel costs $427.78. With 6 labor hours at $55 ($330) and a 25% markup ($189.44), the job price is $947.22.

Gravel FAQ

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

Multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 4 in needs about 6.2 yd³, or 6.8 yd³ with 10% for compaction.

How many tons of gravel do I need for a 100 ft driveway?

For a 100 × 12 ft driveway with a 4 in top layer: 400 cu ft ÷ 27 = 14.81 yd³, or 16.30 yd³ with 10% for compaction. At 1.4 tons per yard that is about 22.8 tons. A 6–8 in base layer for a new driveway needs 1.5 to 2 times as much again.

How many tons are in a yard of gravel?

Typically 1.3–1.5 tons, depending on the stone and moisture. This calculator uses 1.4 as a starting point; your supplier can give the exact figure.

How much does a yard of pea gravel cover?

One cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

A new driveway usually has 4–8 in of larger base stone with 2–4 in of smaller top gravel. Resurfacing an existing driveway often needs only 2–3 in.

How do I price a gravel job?

Add the gravel cost, delivery, crew and machine hours at your full hourly cost, then add your markup. A 25% markup on cost is a 20% margin on the price.

Related calculators

Landscape Stone CalculatorTons of river rock or landscape stone for a bed, and a job price with labor and markup.Sand CalculatorBags, tons or cubic yards of sand for paver bedding, fill or a sandbox, and a job price with labor and markup.Cubic Yard CalculatorConvert length, width and depth in feet or inches into cubic yards, tons and truckloads, then price the job with hauling and markup.Asphalt CalculatorHow many tons of asphalt a driveway or lot needs, what it costs, and the price to quote with labor and markup.Paver CalculatorCount pavers, gravel base and bedding sand for a patio or walkway, then add labor and markup to price the install.Contractor Bid CalculatorBuild a job bid from materials, labor, labor burden, overhead and profit, and see what each dollar of the price is paying for.Fence CalculatorCount the posts, rails and pickets for a wood fence, add up the materials, and get the price to quote with labor and markup.