Gravel calculator for Wyoming
Calculate cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock, find the item to buy, and receive free delivery.
Enter your project dimensions
Plan on 116 square feet from a ton of crushed gravel when spread 2 inches deep. This calculator uses that coverage rate to take the guesswork out of ordering. Fill in the length, width, and depth, then choose the material to see cubic yards, tons, and delivered cost. It can also estimate landscape rock, as crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar aggregate weigh close to 2,800 lb for each cubic yard.
Figure the gravel quantity for your project
- Take all measurements in feet. For a rectangle, use its length and width; for a circle, use the diameter. Treat an L-shaped drive as two rectangles, then use multiple-areas mode to combine them.
- Set the depth in inches. Walkways and refresh layers usually use 2-3 inches. For a new driveway, install 4-6 inches in two layers rather than one placement.
- To calculate volume, multiply area by depth in feet for cubic feet. Divide by 27 to find cubic yards, then use 1.4 to convert to tons.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel at ~2,800 lb per cubic yard)
Useful gravel weight and coverage figures
For dry crushed gravel, use about 2,800 lb per cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. In reverse, 1 ton comes to about 0.71 cubic yards. As the layer gets deeper, it 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
- Garden paths and walkways: Use 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel on compacted ground or fabric.
- Existing driveway refresh: apply 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
- New driveways: Build with 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, then add 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The bottom course carries traffic, while the surface layer drains water and finishes the drive.
- Patios and seating areas: Install 2-3 inches within firm edging.
- French drains and soggy spots: Install 12 inches or more of clean stone. Use the Stone Calculator for drainage projects, as they need washed rock with no fines.
Example calculation: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
For five hundred square feet at 4 inches overall, 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Divide that by 27 for 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Include 5% for compaction, then order about 9 tons, divided about 60/40 between crusher run base and surface gravel. That two-course arrangement matters, especially where Wyoming melt leaves soft ground. Accurate measurements alone do not make up for placing one 2-inch layer directly over dirt.
Common projects with quantities ready
Use these rough figures until measurements are taken, 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 driveway base. Gravel placed directly over soil may rut within a season. Put in the base course, then the top layer.
- Comparing bids by area only. The same 20 x 10 pad can have different prices when depths vary, so compare quotes at the same tonnage.
- Avoid a layer under 2 inches. In Wyoming, 1 inch of gravel can sink into mud once spring arrives.
- Failing to crown the surface. Water stands on a flat area, but a 2% slope moves it off and helps keep fines in place.
Selecting gravel for each application
Use angular crushed gravel where vehicles travel because it interlocks when loaded. Rounded material such as pea gravel and river rock shifts under tires, so reserve it for walkways and landscape beds. For a lasting driveway, start with a compactable layer like crusher run or road base, then add a draining top layer such as driveway gravel or #57. Choosing between materials or trying to match the existing rock? Text a photo to (307) 207-5216 for help identifying it.
Gravel units: yards, tons and truckloads
One pile has three measurements. A cubic yard measures volume. A ton measures 2,000 lb, or roughly 0.71 yards of gravel. A truckload depends on capacity: 8 to 10 yards in a single-axle dump truck and 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons) in a tandem. Put all quotes into tons before comparing them. Compare the delivered amount only. Hauling can make up half the aggregate cost; every Wyoming Rock Supply order includes free delivery, so the per-ton amount shown is the price at your driveway.
How to measure unusual driveway shapes
Curved drives and turnarounds need a different approach. Measure a curved lane along its centerline, then use the average width. For a turnaround bulb, use its widest measurement as the circle diameter. On slopes, deepen the base at the lower end, where water and gravel collect. If a layout will not measure cleanly, divide it into rectangles and total the sections with multiple-areas mode.
Planning a proper delivery
- Choose the unloading location before the truck gets there: stable ground, away from low wires and septic field crossings.
- Set the load down as near the job as possible. Moving one cubic yard takes 9-14 wheelbarrow trips, so an extra 10 feet becomes a lot of travel across 6 yards.
- Protect pavement before dumping by putting down a tarp. Cleanup can take ten minutes instead of an afternoon.
- Roll or compact the base layer before adding surface gravel. Rent a plate compactor if possible, though truck tires can do the job in a pinch.
Gravel questions with measured answers
What coverage comes from 1 ton of gravel?
What is the formula for calculating gravel?
What gravel quantity covers a 10x10 area?
How many gravel yards equal one ton?
What quantity is in a gravel truckload?
What does a yard of gravel cost?
Do I need to allow material for compaction?
Is gravel okay to install over grass?
Other calculators
Your calculated tonnage includes free delivery.
Driveway gravel, #57 and crusher run are sold by the ton with delivery throughout Wyoming.
