# Gravel Base Calculator (Yards & Tons)

Feet and inches to cubic yards and tons by stone type.

- Page: https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/gravel-base-yards
- Category: Earthwork (https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/c/earthwork)
- Chinese version: https://jianzhujisuan.com/zh/gravel-base-yards.md
- Data checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick result

With the default inputs (Length 20 ft, Width 10 ft, Depth 4 in, Stone type Crushed stone (105 lb/ft³), Compaction Compacted in lifts (+20%)): **Gravel to order 2.96 yd³**

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Default | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | number | 20 | ft |  |
| Width | number | 10 | ft |  |
| Depth | number | 4 | in |  |
| Stone type | select | Crushed stone (105 lb/ft³) | — |  |
| Compaction | select | Compacted in lifts (+20%) | — |  |

## Formula

- **Volume (ft³) = L × W × D(in)/12**: 
- **Loose = compacted × 1.2**: about 20% settlement for graded stone
- **Cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27**: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³
- **Tons = ft³ × density ÷ 2000**: crushed stone ≈ 105 lb/ft³

## Worked example

A 20 ft x 10 ft driveway at 4 in of compacted crushed stone: 66.7 ft³ compacted, 80 ft³ loose = 2.96 cubic yards, about 4.2 short tons, or roughly 96 wheelbarrows. That is a dozen trips by pickup - have a load delivered, most yards start at 10 to 15 yards.

## Questions

### How many yards in a ton of gravel?

Crushed stone runs about 1.35-1.45 short tons per cubic yard, so one ton is roughly 0.7-0.75 yards - use 0.74. Crusher run is heavier at about 1.5 tons per yard and pea gravel lighter at 1.35. Instead of memorising factors, convert from unit weight: tons = yards × 27 × density ÷ 2000.

### How deep should the base be?

4 in compacted for walkways and patio pavers, 6 in for a car driveway, 8-10 in for an RV or light truck, and 4 in under a shed or container pad. Build it in lifts - no more than 4 in loose before compacting. Eight inches placed at once only compacts the surface and the base settles within a season.

### Why add 20% for compaction?

Loose aggregate is full of voids between particles. Vibratory compaction works fines into those voids and rearranges the particles, so the volume drops. Well-graded stone with both coarse and fine particles settles more; single-size pea gravel barely at all. The design thickness gives you a compacted volume, so you must buy the loose volume or you will come up short before reaching design depth.

## Related tools

- [Earthwork Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/earthwork): Enter pit dimensions and slope ratio to get cut volume, backfill and spoil to remove.
- [Backfill Volume Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/backfill): Backfill volume, soil required, surplus to remove and truck loads.
- [Compaction Degree Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/compaction): Dry density and compaction degree from field density, with a pass/fail check.
- [Asphalt Tonnage Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/asphalt-tonnage): Area and thickness to tons, plus coverage per ton.
- [Paver Base and Sand Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/paver-base): Gravel base and bedding sand from one area figure.
- [Mulch Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/mulch-yardage): Area and depth to cubic yards and bags.

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Generated by BuildCalc. All calculations run in your browser; no data is uploaded. Formulas follow national standards and common trade practice; local codes govern.