Whether you’re planning a new driveway, garden path, or landscaping project, knowing how to calculate the amount of gravel you need is crucial. This guide will walk you through the process of determining how many cubic yards of gravel your project requires.
Step 1: Measure Your Area
Start by measuring the length and width of the area you want to cover with gravel. Make sure all your measurements are in feet. For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and calculate each section separately.
Step 2: Determine the Depth
Decide how deep you want your gravel layer to be. This typically ranges from 1 to 4 inches, with driveways often requiring a minimum of 4 inches. Convert your depth measurement to feet by dividing the number of inches by 12.
Step 3: Calculate the Volume in Cubic Feet
Use this formula to calculate the volume:
Volume (cubic feet) = Length × Width × Depth
For example, if your area is 10 feet long, 10 feet wide, and you want a gravel depth of 1 foot:
10 × 10 × 1 = 100 cubic feet
Step 4: Convert to Cubic Yards
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide your result by 27:
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
Using our example: 100 ÷ 27 ≈ 3.7 cubic yards
Step 5: Account for Compaction
It’s wise to add 5-10% extra to your calculated amount to account for compaction and potential measurement errors.
Additional Considerations
Gravel Weight: If you need to know the weight, multiply your cubic yards by 1.4 to 1.7 tons per cubic yard, depending on the gravel density.
Coverage Guide: As a rule of thumb, 1 cubic yard of gravel typically covers about 162 square feet at a 2-inch depth.