Gravel & Stone Calculators
Six calculators with the right density for each stone – crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, decorative rock and rip rap.
Every stone is different. Pea gravel is round and light, #57 stone is angular and heavier, crusher run packs down hard, and lava rock weighs half as much as any of them. These calculators use the right density for each material, so the tonnage you order matches what actually arrives on the truck.
On this page
Which stone calculator should I use?
| Your project | Best material | Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway base or shed pad | Crusher run / #411 (dense, compacts hard) or #57 clean stone (drains) | Crushed stone |
| Driveway top layer | 3/4″ crushed gravel or #57 | Gravel |
| Patio, path or play area | Pea gravel (3/8″) – comfortable underfoot | Pea gravel |
| Dry creek bed, borders, drainage swale | River rock 1–3″ or 3–5″ | River rock |
| Flower beds, xeriscaping, around trees | Decorative chips, marble, slate, lava rock, DG | Landscape rock |
| Shoreline, ditch or slope protection | Rip rap (Class A, B or C) | Rip rap |
| French drain or behind a retaining wall | Washed 3/4″–1 1/2″ stone (no fines) | Crushed stone |
Stone and gravel densities at a glance
All of our calculators convert volume to weight with the densities below. Tons per cubic yard is the figure most suppliers quote – if yours gives you a different number, type it into the “custom density” box and the results update instantly.
| Material | lb / ft³ | lb / yd³ | US tons / yd³ | kg / m³ | tonnes / m³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, 3/4"–1" (general) | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 1,682 | 1.68 |
| Pea gravel (3/8") | 96 | 2,592 | 1.30 | 1,538 | 1.54 |
| Crushed stone #57 (3/4") | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 1,682 | 1.68 |
| Crusher run / #411 / ABC (dense) | 125 | 3,375 | 1.69 | 2,002 | 2.00 |
| Stone dust / screenings | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1,602 | 1.60 |
| River rock, 1–3" | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1,602 | 1.60 |
| Decorative / landscape rock | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1,602 | 1.60 |
| Lava rock | 50 | 1,350 | 0.68 | 801 | 0.80 |
| Limestone, crushed | 100 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 1,602 | 1.60 |
| Granite, crushed | 105 | 2,835 | 1.42 | 1,682 | 1.68 |
| Recycled concrete | 95 | 2,565 | 1.28 | 1,522 | 1.52 |
Three rules of thumb for ordering stone
- 1 cubic yard ≈ 1.4 tons ≈ 100 sq ft at 3″ deep. Memorise this and you can sanity-check any quote in your head.
- Angular stone for structure, round stone for looks. Crushed (angular) stone locks together and is right for anything you walk or drive on. Round river rock and pea gravel look great but roll underfoot and need edging.
- Order 5–10% extra, 15–20% for compacted base. Running one wheelbarrow short means a second delivery fee. The allowance field in every calculator handles this.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gravel and crushed stone?
Gravel is a general term for small loose stone. In the trade, gravel often means naturally rounded stone (like pea gravel or river gravel) while crushed stone is quarried rock that has been mechanically broken, giving angular pieces that lock together. Crushed stone is better for bases and driveways; rounded gravel is better for decorative areas and drainage.
What do #57, #411 and crusher run mean?
These are gradation sizes. #57 is clean 3/4″ stone with no fines – it drains well and is used for drainage, pads and driveway tops. #411 is #57 mixed with stone dust, which compacts into a hard base. Crusher run (also called crush-and-run, ABC or road base) is a dense mix of stone from about 3/4″ down to dust and is the standard driveway and paver base material.
How many tons of stone are in a cubic yard?
Most stone is 1.3–1.5 tons per cubic yard when loose: pea gravel about 1.3, 3/4″ crushed stone about 1.4, and dense crusher run about 1.7. Lightweight lava rock is only about 0.7 tons per yard.
Can I mix these calculators for a layered driveway?
Yes – run the crushed stone calculator for the base layer (crusher run, 4–6″, 20% allowance) and the gravel calculator for the top layer (3/4″ gravel, 2–3″, 5% allowance), then add the two tonnages together.
