How Much Gravel for a 30x36 Parking Pad?
A 30 by 36 foot parking pad is 1,080 square feet. How much gravel for a 30x36 parking pad depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 13.33 cubic yards or 18.7 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 30x36 parking pad
- Area: 30 × 36 = 1,080 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 1,080 × 0.333 = 360.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 13.33 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 18.7 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Gravel needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 6.67 | 9.3 | 10.3 |
| 3 in | 10.00 | 14.0 | 15.4 |
| 4 in | 13.33 | 18.7 | 20.5 |
| 6 in | 20.00 | 28.0 | 30.8 |
About gravel
Because ’gravel’ covers so many products, the weight per yard moves with stone size and how much fine material is in the pile. Rounded stone with no fines rolls under tires; crushed stone with fines locks together. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.
Preparing the parking pad
Dig out organic soil, compact the subgrade and set an edge so the stone does not migrate onto the lawn. A pad that holds parked weight for long periods benefits from a dense base under the surface stone. Since the parking pad carries parked vehicles, a little extra depth is cheap insurance.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 20.5 tons may take more than one typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the parking pad as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for gravel
Best suited to:
- Rural driveways and lanes where low upfront cost matters
- Drainage areas and around downspouts
- Temporary access while a site is under construction
Poor fit for:
- Steep slopes, where loose stone washes downhill
- Spots plowed often, since plows push gravel into the lawn
- Areas next to doors, because stone tracks inside
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of gravel (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 8x16 area at 3 inches takes about 1.7 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Where estimates go wrong
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Questions people ask
How many tons of gravel for a 30x36 parking pad?
About 18.7 tons at 4 inches deep, or 20.5 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 30x36 parking pad at 4 inches?
About 13.33 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Usually around 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should gravel be for a parking pad?
The table above shows 2 to 6 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 30x36?
1,080 square feet.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Gravel for a 30x24 Parking Pad?
- How Much Gravel for a 30x30 Parking Pad?
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