Stone calculator
Gravel Coverage Calculator
Coverage runs backwards from tonnage: one ton spread thin covers a lot, spread deep covers very little. Enter area and depth to see both.
Your project
Coverage is entirely depth-driven — 1" covers four times the area of 4".
Crews typically order 5-10% extra to cover compaction, spillage and uneven subgrade.
Delivered gravel coverage typically runs $25-$55 per ton.
Gravel coverage needed
4.2
US tons · includes 5% waste
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Volume
- 3.11 cubic yards
- Volume (cubic feet)
- 84 cu ft
- Total weight
- 8,400 lb
- Density used
- 100 lb per cu ft (1.35 tons/yd³)
- Truckloads (15-ton)
- 1
- Estimated delivered cost
- $168
Quarry densities vary by source and moisture. Confirm tons per cubic yard with your supplier before placing a bulk order — a 10% density difference is a whole extra load on a big job.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
What gravel coverage is
Coverage is the same tonnage math read in reverse. A ton of gravel at 100 lb per cubic foot is 20 cubic feet of material. Spread 2 inches deep, that covers 120 square feet; at 1 inch it covers 240; at 4 inches only 60.
At 100 lb per cubic foot, one cubic yard weighs about 1.35 US tons, and one ton spread 2" deep covers roughly 120 square feet.
How to install it
Rake to a consistent depth rather than an average one. Thin patches show the base and grow weeds, thick patches move underfoot.
The mistake that costs the most
Trusting a single "one ton covers 100 sq ft" rule of thumb. That number is only true at about 2.4 inches with a 100 lb/ft³ stone. Change the depth or the density and it is wrong by a wide margin.
The math behind the calculator
Square feet × (depth in inches ÷ 12) = cubic feet. Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Cubic feet × 100 ÷ 2,000 = US tons. The waste allowance is applied to the volume before the weight conversion, which is how suppliers quote it.
Gravel coverage needed per 100 square feet
At 100 lb per cubic foot, before waste.
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1" | 8.3 | 0.31 | 0.42 |
| 2" | 16.7 | 0.62 | 0.83 |
| 3" | 25 | 0.93 | 1.25 |
| 4" | 33.3 | 1.23 | 1.67 |
| 6" | 50 | 1.85 | 2.5 |
| 12" | 100 | 3.7 | 5 |
Recommended depth by application
| Application | Depth |
|---|---|
| 1" deep | 240 sq ft per ton |
| 2" deep | 120 sq ft per ton |
| 3" deep | 80 sq ft per ton |
| 4" deep | 60 sq ft per ton |
Frequently asked questions
+How many tons of gravel coverage do I need?
Multiply square feet by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then multiply by 100 and divide by 2,000. A 500 sq ft area at 2" needs about 4.17 tons before waste.
+How many tons of gravel coverage are in a cubic yard?
Roughly 1.35 tons at 100 lb per cubic foot. Wet material weighs 5-10% more, which matters when you are buying by the ton and measuring by the yard.
+How deep should gravel coverage be?
1" deep: 240 sq ft per ton. 2" deep: 120 sq ft per ton. 3" deep: 80 sq ft per ton. 4" deep: 60 sq ft per ton.
+What does gravel coverage cost?
$25 – $55 per ton delivered in most US markets, before the haul fee. Short loads carry a minimum charge, so half a load often costs nearly as much as a full one.
+How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?
About 120 square feet at 2 inches deep for typical 100 lb/ft³ crushed stone, 80 square feet at 3 inches and 60 at 4 inches. Lighter stone such as lava rock covers considerably more per ton; dense wet gravel covers less.