How Much Gravel for a 5x20 Walkway?

How much gravel for a 5x20 walkway: at 3 inches deep you need about 0.93 cubic yards, which is roughly 1.3 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The walkway covers 100 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 0.31 yards.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 5x20 walkway

Area: 5 × 20 = 100 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.250 ft.
Cubic feet: 100 × 0.250 = 25.0 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 1.3 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Gravel needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
2 in	0.62	0.9	1.0
3 in	0.93	1.3	1.4
4 in	1.23	1.7	1.9
6 in	1.85	2.6	2.9

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. For foot traffic, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.

Ordering tips

Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
Delivery size. 1.4 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 1.3 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.

Where gravel fits

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 8x16 area at 4 inches takes about 2.2 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.
Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel for a 5x20 walkway?

About 1.3 tons at 3 inches deep, or 1.4 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 5x20 walkway at 3 inches?

About 0.93 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 5x20?

100 square feet.

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