Gravel calculator for Vermont
Calculate material in cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock, identify the item needed, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
Plan on roughly 116 square feet from a ton of crushed gravel placed 2 inches deep. For Vermont mud-season work, that coverage estimate gives the calculator its starting point. Fill in the length, width, and depth, then choose the material to see cubic yards, tons, and a delivered price. Landscape rock can be figured here as well: crushed gravel, #57 stone, and related products weigh close to 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
Calculate the gravel you need
- Start by measuring in feet. Rectangles need length and width, while circles use diameter. Divide an L-shaped drive into two rectangles, then use multiple-areas mode to combine the totals.
- Enter depth in inches. Use 2 to 3 inches for paths and refresh work. For a new driveway, build 4 to 6 inches in two courses rather than placing one layer.
- For the conversion, multiply area by depth in feet to find cubic feet. Divide that figure 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)
Gravel weight and coverage reference
For dry crushed gravel, a cubic yard is roughly 2,800 lb, which is 1.4 tons. A ton therefore equals about 0.71 cubic yards. More depth means less area covered:
| 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 |
Project depth guide
- Garden paths and walkways: use 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel on compacted ground or fabric.
- Existing driveway refresh: spread 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
- New driveways: install 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run as the lower course, followed by 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The lower course carries the load, and the finish layer moves water and provides the finished look.
- Patios and sitting spaces: use 2 to 3 inches contained by solid edging.
- French drains and wet areas: allow 12 inches or more of clean stone. Use the Stone Calculator for these jobs, because drainage calls for washed rock with no fines.
Example: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
Start with five hundred square feet at 4 inches overall: 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. After dividing by 27, the result is 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Include 5% for compaction and plan on about 9 tons, divided about 60/40 between crusher run base and surface gravel. Keep the courses separate. A frequent phone-order issue is measuring a drive carefully, then planning to spread one 2-inch layer directly over dirt.
Common projects, already estimated
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 errors behind repeat deliveries
- Leaving out the base on a new driveway. Gravel set directly on soil can rut within a season. Install the base course first and the surface course after.
- Comparing estimates only by square area. Two quotes for an identical 20 x 10 pad may differ just because of depth, so compare equivalent tons.
- Below 2 inches, gravel is easily lost to spring mud. A one-inch layer can disappear by spring.
- Skipping the crown. Water stands on a flat drive, while a 2% slope moves it off and helps hold fines in place.
Choosing gravel by use
Put angular crushed gravel where vehicles travel, since its sharp edges compact and hold in place under traffic. Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they can move around under a load; reserve those for walkways and landscape beds. For Vermont driveways facing freeze-thaw cycling, use a compactable layer such as crusher run or road base beneath a draining finish like driveway gravel or #57. To compare materials or identify existing stone, text a photo to (802) 214-7850.
How gravel is measured and sold
One pile is measured in three different ways. Cubic yards measure volume, while a ton is 2,000 lb of weight, equal to about 0.71 yards of gravel. Load size depends on the vehicle: a one-axle dump truck carries 8 to 10 yards, while a tandem carries 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons). Put quotes in tons before comparing prices. Compare the delivered amount, too. Hauling can make up half the cost of aggregate. Vermont Rock Supply provides free delivery on every order, so the listed per-ton amount is the price delivered to your driveway.
Measure irregular driveways
Curved lanes and turnarounds need a different measuring method. Measure a curved lane along its centerline, then use the average width. For a bulb-shaped turnaround, use the widest measurement as the diameter of a circle. At the downhill end of a slope, make the base course thicker because runoff and gravel collect there. If the layout will not measure as one shape, divide it into rectangles and combine them in multiple-areas mode.
Prepare for delivery
- Decide on the dump location before the truck gets there: use firm ground and avoid low wires or septic field crossings.
- Have the material placed near the job. One yard takes 9 to 14 wheelbarrow trips, and an extra 10 feet matters when moving 6 yards.
- If gravel is being tipped on pavement worth protecting, put down a tarp. That can cut cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Pack the base course before adding the surface layer. A rented plate compactor is useful, and truck tires can work when needed.
Gravel answers by the numbers
What area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
How can I calculate my gravel quantity?
How much gravel covers a 10x10 area?
What is the yard equivalent of a ton of gravel?
What does a gravel truckload hold?
What is the cost of a yard of gravel?
Do I need extra material for compaction?
Can gravel be installed over grass?
More calculators
This tonnage includes free shipping.
Driveway gravel, #57 and crusher run are sold by the ton and delivered throughout Vermont.
