Gravel calculator for South Dakota
Figure cubic yards and tons for gravel or landscape rock, find the right material, and have it delivered free.
Enter your project dimensions
At 2 inches deep, one ton of crushed gravel will cover roughly 116 square feet. It is a useful starting point for figuring quantities on a job, including pads and approaches that need a solid base before spring runoff. Enter the length, width, and depth, select the gravel type, and the calculator returns cubic yards, tons, and the delivered price. It also applies to landscape rock because crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar materials weigh close to 2,800 lb for each cubic yard.
Calculate the gravel needed for your project
- Start with measurements in feet. For a rectangle, use its length and width; for a circle, enter the diameter. Split an L-shaped drive into two rectangles and combine the totals in multiple-areas mode.
- Enter depth in inches. Walkways and gravel touch-ups use 2 to 3 inches. Build a new driveway with 4 to 6 inches in two layers rather than one pour.
- Find cubic feet by multiplying area by depth in feet. For cubic yards, divide by 27; for tons, multiply by 1.4.
Tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crushed gravel at ~2,800 lb per cubic yard)
Gravel weight and coverage reference
Dry crushed gravel weighs around 2,800 lb in a cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. A ton works out to about 0.71 cubic yards. More depth means less coverage:
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers | 1 ton covers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | ≈ 116 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | ≈ 77 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | ≈ 58 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | ≈ 39 sq ft |
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | Tons per yard |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway / walkway gravel | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel (3/8") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4") | ≈ 2,800 lb | 1.40 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 lb | 1.50 |
| River rock (1-3") | ≈ 2,700 lb | 1.35 |
Recommended depths by project
- Garden paths and walkways: place 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel on compacted ground or fabric.
- Existing driveway refresh: Apply 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
- New driveways: lay 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, then add 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The lower course carries the load, and the upper course handles drainage and the finished look.
- Patios and seating areas: use 2 to 3 inches held by solid edging.
- French drains and soggy spots: use 12 inches or more of clean stone. Calculate drainage material with the Stone Calculator because this work needs washed rock without fines.
Example: a 50 x 10 ft driveway
For five hundred square feet at 4 inches total, 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Allow 5% for compaction and order about 9 tons, with roughly 60/40 split between crusher run base and surface gravel. Keep those as separate layers. A driveway measured to the inch still should not receive one 2-inch layer directly over dirt.
Common projects, already calculated
Use these planning estimates before measuring, based on 1.4 tons per cubic yard:
| Project | Typical size | Depth | Volume | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-car driveway pad | 20 x 10 ft | 4" | 2.5 yd³ | 3.5 tons |
| Two-car driveway | 24 x 20 ft | 4" | 5.9 yd³ | 8.3 tons |
| Country driveway | 50 x 12 ft | 6" | 11.1 yd³ | 15.6 tons |
| Garden path | 20 x 3 ft | 3" | 0.6 yd³ | 0.8 tons |
| Patio seating area | 12 x 12 ft | 3" | 1.3 yd³ | 1.9 tons |
| Shed base | 10 x 12 ft | 4" | 1.5 yd³ | 2.1 tons |
Four causes of a second delivery
- No base beneath a new driveway is a common mistake. Put surface gravel straight on soil and it can rut within a season. Build the base layer first, then apply the top layer.
- Pricing quotes by area only. Two estimates for an identical 20 x 10 pad may vary just because of depth. Compare equal tonnage.
- Less than 2 inches is too thin. One inch of gravel can work down into mud by spring.
- Leaving out the crown. Water sits on a level surface, but a 2% slope directs it away and keeps fines in place.
Match gravel to the surface
For areas that carry vehicle traffic, use angular crushed gravel because the pieces compact together under load. Pea gravel and river rock are rounded, so they can shift and spread when driven on; they work better in planting beds and on walking paths. Build a durable driveway with a compacting layer such as crusher run or road base, then add a draining top layer like driveway gravel or #57. If you are choosing between products or trying to identify material already in place, text a photo to (605) 525-9259 and we can identify it.
How gravel is measured: yards, tons, and loads
The same pile can be described three ways. A cubic yard measures volume. A ton is 2,000 lb of weight and equals about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truckload refers to capacity: 8 to 10 yards for a single-axle dump truck, or 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons) for a tandem. Put quotes into tons before comparing prices. Compare the delivered total. Aggregate hauling can account for half the cost; delivery is free on every South Dakota Rock Supply order, so the listed per-ton price is what applies at your driveway.
How to measure irregular driveways
Curved drives and turnarounds need a different approach. Measure a curved lane down its centerline, then use its average width. Treat a round turnaround as a circle and use the widest span for its diameter. On slopes, make the base course deeper at the downhill end, where runoff carries gravel. If a shape will not measure cleanly, divide it into rectangles and total them in multiple-areas mode.
Prepare for the delivery
- Choose the drop location before the truck arrives: firm ground away from low wires and septic field crossings.
- Have the load placed near the work area. One yard of gravel means about 9 to 14 wheelbarrow loads, so hauling it an extra 10 feet becomes significant across 6 yards.
- For a load tipped on pavement, spread a tarp first. That can cut cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
- Pack the base course before placing the surface course. A rented plate compactor works well, though truck tires can do the job in a pinch.
Gravel answers in numbers
What area does 1 ton of gravel cover?
How can I calculate my gravel quantity?
What gravel quantity covers a 10x10 area?
How many gravel yards make up a ton?
What is the size of a gravel truckload?
What is the price of a yard of gravel?
Do I need extra material for compaction?
Is gravel okay to install over grass?
Other calculators
Free shipping applies to that tonnage.
Driveway gravel, #57, and crusher run are sold by the ton with delivery throughout South Dakota.
