How Much Does a Yard of Gravel Cover? Square Feet by Depth
How much does a yard of gravel cover? One cubic yard of gravel spread 4 inches deep covers about 81 square feet. Spread it 2 inches deep and the same yard stretches to about 162 square feet; at 6 inches it covers only 54. The rule behind every one of those numbers is simple: divide 324 by the depth in inches. The catch is that gravel settles and packs down, and the ground under it is rarely perfect, so the area you actually finish is usually a bit smaller than the paper figure. Below is the chart, the math, and the allowances I would build in before calling the quarry.
Gravel and base calculator →The 324 rule, explained
A cubic yard is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, which is 27 cubic feet. If you spread that volume 1 inch thick, each square foot of ground holds one-twelfth of a cubic foot, so the yard covers 27 × 12 = 324 square feet. Every extra inch of depth divides that area again:
- Area one yard covers (sq ft) = 324 ÷ depth in inches
- Yards you need = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324
The rule works for any gravel or stone, whether it is pea gravel, #57, crusher run, or river rock, because it is pure volume. Weight only comes into it when the supplier sells by the ton, which is covered further down.
Gravel coverage per cubic yard by depth
The first column is the straight volume math for loose stone. The second takes off a 10 to 15 percent allowance for compaction and settling, which is a reasonable planning range for crushed stone that will be tamped or rolled. Rounded stone like pea gravel packs down less, so you can lean toward the first column for it.
| Depth | Loose coverage per yard | After a 10 to 15% allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | about 280 to 295 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | about 140 to 147 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | about 94 to 98 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | about 70 to 74 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | about 47 to 49 sq ft |
| 8 inches | about 40 sq ft | about 35 to 37 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | about 23 to 25 sq ft |
If you prefer to start with cubic feet, our cubic feet to cubic yards guide walks through the conversion step by step.
A yard is not a ton
Plenty of landscape yards price gravel by the cubic yard, but quarries and many bulk suppliers sell it by the ton. They are not the same amount. A cubic yard of common crushed stone or gravel weighs roughly 2,400 to 3,000 pounds, or about 1.2 to 1.5 tons, depending on the rock and how wet it is. That means a ton of gravel is usually only two-thirds to four-fifths of a yard, and it covers less ground than a yard does. If your quote is in tons, use how much a ton of gravel covers instead of this chart, or convert with tons to cubic yards for gravel. For the weight ranges by stone type, see how much a yard of gravel weighs.
Typical depths for common projects
Depth drives everything, so settle it before you measure. These are common planning depths, not code requirements; soft or wet ground calls for more.
| Project | Typical depth | Coverage per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative ground cover over fabric | 2 inches | about 160 sq ft |
| Garden path or gravel walkway | 2 to 3 inches | about 108 to 162 sq ft |
| Pea gravel patio | 3 to 4 inches | about 81 to 108 sq ft |
| Top-up layer on an existing gravel driveway | 2 to 3 inches | about 108 to 162 sq ft |
| Shed base | 4 to 6 inches | about 54 to 81 sq ft |
| New gravel driveway, built in layers | 8 inches or more total | about 40 sq ft or less |
A new driveway is usually built from a coarse base stone with a finer, tighter layer on top, so figure each layer separately. How to build a gravel driveway covers the layers, and driveway gravel sizes explains which stone goes where.
Three worked examples
Shed pad, 10 by 12 feet, 4 inches deep. 10 × 12 × 4 ÷ 324 = about 1.5 cubic yards. Add 15 percent for tamping and you are near 1.7, so order 2 yards and use the rest to dress the edges.
Driveway refresh, 12 by 50 feet, 2 inches deep. 12 × 50 × 2 ÷ 324 = about 3.7 cubic yards. At roughly 1.4 tons per yard that is a little over 5 tons, which fits in one small dump truck load. Order 4 yards, or about 5.5 tons if the supplier sells by weight.
Garden path, 3 feet wide and 40 feet long, 3 inches deep. 3 × 40 × 3 ÷ 324 = about 1.1 cubic yards. Pea gravel settles little, so 1.25 yards covers it with a small cushion. That is only about 7 or 8 level loads in a 6 cubic foot barrow; see how many wheelbarrows are in a yard if you are moving it by hand.
Why your yard covers less than the chart says
- Compaction. Crushed stone with fines locks together and loses height when it is tamped or driven on. That is the reason for the allowance column.
- Soft ground. On bare soil, the first inch or so of stone gets pushed into the dirt. A layer of geotextile fabric cuts that loss and keeps the gravel from mixing into mud.
- Uneven grade. Low spots soak up extra stone. A measured average depth is only as good as how flat the ground is, so rake out humps and fill dips first.
- Edges and spill. Without edging, loose gravel creeps outward and spreads thinner than planned. A delivery dumped on a driveway also leaves a little behind no matter how well you shovel.
Ordering tips
- Round up to the supplier’s increment. Many yards sell in half or whole yards. Being half a yard short on a Saturday costs more in a second delivery fee than the extra stone would have.
- Ask about minimums. Bulk delivery often carries a minimum charge, so a small job may cost about the same whether you take 1 yard or 3.
- Bags only for tiny jobs. Bagged gravel adds up fast; a yard takes dozens of bags. See how many bags of gravel are in a yard before you load a cart.
- Match the stone to the job. Angular stone such as #57 stone stays put on driveways, while round pea gravel is comfortable underfoot but rolls on slopes.
Questions people ask
How many square feet does a yard of gravel cover?
Divide 324 by the depth in inches. One cubic yard covers about 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches, and 54 at 6 inches before any allowance for compaction.
How much does a yard of gravel cover at 2 inches deep?
About 162 square feet of loose stone. If the gravel will be tamped or driven on, plan on roughly 140 to 147 square feet to allow for settling.
How many yards of gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length by width in feet, multiply by the depth in inches, and divide by 324. A 12 by 50 foot driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 7.4 cubic yards, so order 8 or a little more to cover compaction.
Is a yard of gravel the same as a ton?
No. A cubic yard of typical gravel or crushed stone weighs about 1.2 to 1.5 tons, so a ton is less than a yard and covers less ground. Check which unit your supplier quotes before you order.
How much area does a yard of pea gravel cover?
The same volume math applies: about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep or 81 at 4 inches. Pea gravel settles less than crushed stone, but it spreads at the edges, so edging helps it stay at depth.
Related guides
- How much does a ton of gravel cover?
- How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
- Tons to cubic yards for gravel
- How many bags of gravel in a yard?
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