How Much Gravel for a 3x15 Walkway?

How much gravel for a 3x15 walkway is a quick volume problem. 45 square feet at 3 inches comes to 0.42 cubic yards. Gravel usually weighs about 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 0.6 tons.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 3x15 walkway

Area: 3 × 15 = 45 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
Cubic feet: 45 × 0.250 = 11.2 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.42 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 0.6 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Gravel needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
2 in	0.28	0.4	0.4
3 in	0.42	0.6	0.6
4 in	0.56	0.8	0.9
6 in	0.83	1.2	1.3

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 walkway

Dig the path a few inches below grade, compact the bottom, add fabric if needed and install edging on both sides so the material stays on the walk. This walkway sees foot traffic, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.

Ordering tips

Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
Delivery size. 0.6 tons fits in a single 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 about 0.6 tons this job is small enough that bagged material could work; a 0.5 cubic foot bag holds about 1/54 of a yard, so compare the bag count with a bulk minimum.
Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the walkway as firm ground allows.

When to choose gravel

Good uses:

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 14x28 area at 3 inches takes about 5.1 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Where estimates go wrong

Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel for a 3x15 walkway?

About 0.6 tons at 3 inches deep, or 0.6 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 3x15 walkway at 3 inches?

About 0.42 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 walkway?

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 3x15?

45 square feet.

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