Gravel calculator for Maine
Estimate cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock, identify the material to buy, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
Use this calculator by entering the area dimensions and depth, then selecting the material. It returns the needed tons and cubic yards along with the delivered price. For crushed gravel set 2 inches deep, a ton covers roughly 116 square feet, which is the working estimate behind the tool. It can also estimate landscape stone, since crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar rock weigh around 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
Calculate the gravel you need
- Take measurements in feet. For a rectangle, multiply length by width; for a circle, enter its diameter. Split an L-shaped drive into two rectangles, then use multiple-areas mode to combine them.
- Set the thickness in inches. Use 2 to 3 inches for walkways or a gravel refresh. For a new driveway, place 4 to 6 inches in two separate lifts instead of one deep layer.
- To convert, multiply area by depth in feet for cubic feet. Divide that result by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel at ~2,800 lb per cubic yard)
Useful weight and coverage figures
Dry crushed gravel is about 2,800 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. A ton works out to about 0.71 cubic yards. Deeper gravel covers less area:
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 39 sq ft |
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway / walkway gravel | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel (3/8") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| River rock (1–3") | ≈ 2,700 lb | 1.35 |
Recommended depths by job
- Walkways and garden paths: place 2 to 3 inches of path gravel over compacted soil or fabric.
- Existing driveway refresh: add 2 inches of surface gravel.
- For a new driveway, compact 3-4 inches of crusher run for the bottom course, then place 2-3 inches of driveway gravel or #57 above it. The bottom handles traffic loads, while the upper stone provides the finished surface and moves water off.
- Patios and seating areas: use 2-3 inches within firm edging.
- French drains and soggy spots: Plan for 12 inches or more of clean stone. Use the Stone Calculator for these jobs, as drainage needs washed rock with no fines.
Example: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
For five hundred square feet at 4 inches overall, calculate 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Include 5% for compaction and order about 9 tons, with roughly 60/40 split between crusher run base and surface gravel. That layered build is important. In Maine, a single 2-inch layer placed on dirt will not hold up through mud season and frost heave.
Common projects, already figured
Use these rough starting figures before measuring, based on 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway pad | 20 x 10 ft | 4" | 2.5 yd³ | 3.5 tons |
| Two-car driveway | 24 x 20 ft | 4" | 5.9 yd³ | 8.3 tons |
| Country driveway | 50 x 12 ft | 6" | 11.1 yd³ | 15.6 tons |
| Garden path | 20 x 3 ft | 3" | 0.6 yd³ | 0.8 tons |
| Patio seating area | 12 x 12 ft | 3" | 1.3 yd³ | 1.9 tons |
| Shed base | 10 x 12 ft | 4" | 1.5 yd³ | 2.1 tons |
Four reasons for a second load
- Omitting the base beneath a new driveway. Gravel placed right over soil can rut within a season, so install the base layer before the top layer.
- Comparing estimates by area instead of depth. The same 20 x 10 pad may receive different quotes based only on depth, so match the tons before comparing.
- Using less than 2 inches. By spring, one inch of gravel can vanish into mud.
- Forgetting the crown. Water sits on a level surface, while a 2% slope moves it off and helps hold fines in place.
Match gravel to the surface
Use angular crushed gravel wherever tires travel because it binds under load. Rounded material, including pea gravel and river rock, moves around under weight, making it better suited to walking paths and beds. A durable driveway uses a compacting base such as crusher run or road base, topped with a draining layer such as driveway gravel or #57. To choose between materials or identify existing stone, send a photo through the contact form.
Gravel units: yards, tons, and loads
The same material pile can be measured three ways. Cubic yards measure volume, while a ton is 2,000 lb of weight, or about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truckload capacity depends on the truck: 8-10 yards for a single-axle dump truck and 12-16 yards (17-22 tons) for a tandem. Convert quotes to tons before comparing prices. Compare the delivered total, since hauling can account for half the aggregate cost. Delivery is free on every Maine Rock Supply order, so the per-ton product price is what applies at your driveway.
How to measure irregular driveways
Curved lanes and turnarounds need a different measuring approach. Measure a curved drive along its centerline, then use the average width. A bulb-shaped turnaround can be treated as a circle by using its widest span for the diameter. On a slope, make the base course deeper at the downhill end, where runoff carries water and gravel. If the layout is hard to measure, divide it into rectangles and combine the results with multiple-areas mode.
Prepare for delivery
- Choose the unloading area before the truck gets there: use firm ground and avoid overhead wires or crossing a septic field.
- Set the pile down close to where it will be used. Moving 1 yard takes 9-14 wheelbarrow loads, so carrying it an extra 10 feet adds work across 6 yards.
- For a load tipped on pavement worth protecting, spread a tarp first. That can cut cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Pack the base layer before installing the surface gravel. Rent a plate compactor, or use truck tires if necessary.
Gravel answers by the numbers
What area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
How can I calculate gravel quantity?
What gravel amount covers a 10x10 area?
What is the yard equivalent of a ton of gravel?
How large is a gravel truckload?
What does a yard of gravel cost?
Do I need extra material for compaction?
Can gravel be installed directly on grass?
More calculators
This tonnage is delivered free.
Driveway gravel, #57, and crusher run are sold by the ton and delivered throughout Maine.
