How it works
The calculator multiplies the area by the depth, adds any extra you enter, and – if you give a density – multiplies the volume by it to get the weight.
Area = Length × Width
Volume = Area × Depth × (1 + Extra ÷ 100)
Weight = Volume × Weight per volume
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Units are converted internally, so you can enter the area in feet, the depth in inches and the density in tons per cubic yard or pounds per cubic foot. A US short ton is 2,000 lb; a metric tonne is 1,000 kg.
The density is the uncertain number. It depends on the stone and on whether it is measured loose or compacted, so use the figure your supplier quotes for the exact product.
Worked example
Inputs
- Measure by
- Dimensions
- Area length
- 20 ft
- Area width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 3 in
- Weight per volume
- 1.4 tons/cu yd
- Extra
- 0 %
Result
- Gravel volume
- 1.85 cu yd (50 cu ft)
- Weight
- 2.59 short tons (5,185 lb)
- Same weight in the other ton unit
- 2.35 t
Common mistakes
- Guessing the density. Two gravels can differ widely in weight per cubic yard; a wrong figure makes the tonnage wrong even when the volume is right.
- Confusing US short tons with metric tonnes. A short ton is 2,000 lb, a metric tonne is 1,000 kg (about 2,205 lb). The calculator shows both – check which one your supplier quotes.
- Entering depth in feet instead of inches. A 3 in layer is a quarter of a foot.
- Measuring the finished depth of a compacted layer and ordering that volume of loose material. Loose stone compacts when rolled or tamped, so more goes in than the final layer suggests.
Assumptions and limits
- The area is a rectangle, or you have entered its total area, and the depth is the same everywhere.
- Weight is volume × the density you enter. No density is assumed – without one, only the volume is shown.
- Compaction and settling are covered only by the extra allowance you enter.
- Nothing is rounded; suppliers sell bulk material in their own increments.
Frequently asked questions
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
It depends on the material. A Wisconsin DOT research report found compacted aggregate weighing about 1.5–2.2 tons per cubic yard depending on gradation; loose stone weighs less. Ask your supplier for the figure for the product you are buying.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide by 27, since a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet (NIST Handbook 44). The calculator shows both.
Is the weight in short tons or metric tonnes?
With US units the main weight is in US short tons (2,000 lb) and pounds; the second line shows the same weight in metric tonnes. With metric units it is the other way round. Order in the unit your supplier uses.
Can I use this for sand, topsoil or base rock?
For the volume, yes – any material spread in an even layer works the same way. For the weight, enter the density your supplier gives for that material.
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C – General Tables of Units of Measurement — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Exact unit definitions: 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 yd³ = 27 ft³, 1 US gal = 231 in³, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg.
- Aggregate unit weights – WisDOT research report 0092-22-05 — Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Compacted aggregate unit weights of about 1.5–2.2 tons per cubic yard depending on gradation; loose material weighs less.
Method reviewed November 2, 2026