Gravel calculator for Nebraska
Calculate cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock projects, find the right item to order, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
A ton of crushed gravel spread 2 inches deep covers roughly 116 square feet. This calculator starts with that coverage rate: enter the length, width, and depth, choose the gravel, and see the cubic yards, tons, and delivered price. It can also estimate landscape rock, since crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar materials are near 2,800 lb per cubic yard.
Estimate gravel for your project
- Use feet when measuring. Enter length and width for a rectangle, or diameter for a circle. For an L-shaped drive, measure each rectangle separately and let multiple-areas mode combine the totals.
- Set the depth in inches. Paths and refresh layers generally need 2 to 3 inches. For a new driveway, use 4 to 6 inches in two courses instead of one layer.
- To convert, multiply the area by depth in feet for cubic feet. Divide that total by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel at ~2,800 lb per cubic yard)
Useful gravel weight and coverage figures
Dry crushed gravel is approximately 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. In reverse, a ton comes to about 0.71 cubic yards. As the layer gets deeper, the area covered drops quickly:
| 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 depth by use
- Garden paths and walkways: Plan for 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel on compacted ground or fabric.
- Existing driveway refresh: Apply 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
- New driveways: Start with 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, then add 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The lower course carries the traffic load, while the finish layer drains water and completes the surface.
- Patios and seating areas: Place 2-3 inches within sturdy edging.
- French drains and soggy spots: Use 12 inches or more of clean stone. Calculate these jobs with the Stone Calculator because drainage calls for washed rock with no fines.
Example calculation: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
For 500 square feet at 4 inches deep, calculate 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Dividing that by 27 gives 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Account for 5% compaction and plan on about 9 tons, with roughly a 60/40 mix of crusher run base and surface gravel. That layered approach is especially useful where deep frost works on a driveway. Measuring precisely but placing one 2-inch layer directly over dirt often leads to trouble.
Common project estimates
Use these rough starting points before measuring, calculated at 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 that lead to another delivery
- Leaving out the base on a new driveway. Gravel placed directly over soil can rut within a season, so install the base course before the surface layer.
- Comparing estimates by square area only. Matching 20 x 10 pads can require different material depths, so compare bids at the same tonnage.
- Less than 2 inches is usually too thin. By spring, 1 inch of gravel can sink into mud.
- Leaving the surface flat. Water collects without a crown, while a 2% slope carries it away and helps hold fines in place.
Matching gravel to the surface
Crushed, angular gravel interlocks under traffic, making it suited to places where vehicles travel. Rounded materials such as pea gravel and river rock move under weight, so use them for walking paths and landscape beds. For a durable drive, combine a compacting base like crusher run or road base with a draining top layer like driveway gravel or #57. If you are choosing between products or trying to identify existing material, send a photo through the contact form for identification.
How gravel is measured and sold
The same pile can be measured three ways. Cubic yards indicate volume. A ton is 2,000 lb of weight, equal to about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truckload capacity varies: 8 to 10 yards for a single-axle dump truck and 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons) for a tandem. Compare quotes only after converting them to tons. Use delivered price as the comparison point. Transport can make up half the aggregate cost; with free delivery on every Nebraska Rock Supply order, the per-ton figure shown is what reaches your driveway.
How to measure unusual driveways
Curved lanes and turnarounds need a different approach. For a curve, measure down the drive's center and use its average width. A rounded turnaround can be calculated as a circle using its widest measurement as the diameter. On a slope, make the base deeper at the lower end, where water and gravel move. If one measurement shape does not work, separate the layout into rectangles and total it in multiple-areas mode.
Prepare for delivery
- Choose the unloading area before the truck gets there: solid ground with no low wires or septic field crossings.
- Set the drop near the project. One yard of gravel means 9 to 14 wheelbarrow trips, and 10 extra feet becomes noticeable across 6 yards.
- If gravel will be tipped on pavement, put down a tarp first. It can reduce cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Pack the base layer before adding the top course. A plate compactor is cheap to rent, and truck tires can be used in a pinch.
Gravel answers by the numbers
What coverage comes from 1 ton of gravel?
What is the formula for gravel quantity?
How much gravel covers a 10x10 area?
What is the yard equivalent of a ton of gravel?
What quantity is in a truckload of gravel?
What does a yard of gravel cost?
Is extra material needed for compaction?
Can gravel go directly over grass?
More calculators
Review delivery for your order.
Driveway gravel, #57 and crusher run are sold by the ton and delivered throughout Nebraska.
