Gravel Coverage Calculator

Find out how far the gravel you already have will go, then check coverage by depth.

I already have gravel. How much area will it cover?

in.

Coverage per cubic yard by depth

One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Coverage = 27 ÷ depth in feet.
DepthCoverage per cubic yardCoverage per ton (at 1.50 t/yd³)
1 in.324 sq ft216 sq ft
2 in.162 sq ft108 sq ft
3 in.108 sq ft72 sq ft
4 in.81 sq ft54 sq ft
6 in.54 sq ft36 sq ft

How material density affects coverage

Coverage by volume depends only on depth. Coverage by weight also depends on density: a ton of river rock (about 1.20 tons per cubic yard) occupies more volume, and therefore covers more ground, than a ton of crushed stone (about 1.50). If a supplier quotes you tons, ask for their density figure to convert accurately.

Practical notes

  • Compaction reduces finished depth, so loose coverage looks larger.
  • Uneven subgrade absorbs more material than a flat calculation.
  • Larger stone sizes do not spread as evenly at shallow depths, so thin layers may look patchy.

Starting from dimensions instead? Use the main gravel calculator. To convert between weight and volume, open the gravel tons to cubic yards calculator.