Gravel calculator for Arkansas

At 2 inches deep, one ton of crushed gravel covers roughly 116 square feet. This calculator uses that benchmark to calculate your material needs. Add the length, width, and depth, choose a gravel type, and see cubic yards, tons, and the delivered price. It also applies to landscape rock, as crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar products weigh close to 2,800 lb per cubic yard.

Calculate the gravel you need

1. Use feet when measuring. Rectangles need length and width, while circles use the diameter. Break an L-shaped driveway into two rectangles, then combine them with multiple-areas mode.
2. Depth is entered in inches. Use 2 to 3 inches for paths and surface refreshes. Build a new driveway with 4 to 6 inches in two layers instead of placing one thick layer.
3. Find cubic feet by multiplying area by depth in feet. Divide that result by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 for tons.

Useful weight and coverage figures

Dry crushed gravel weighs about 2,800 lb for each cubic yard, or 1.4 tons. In reverse, a ton equals about 0.71 cubic yards. As depth increases, coverage decreases quickly:

Recommended depths by use

• Garden paths and walkways: install 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel over compacted ground or fabric.
• Existing driveway refresh: add 2 inches of surface gravel.
• New driveways: put down 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, followed by 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The bottom layer carries traffic, and the upper layer provides drainage and a finished surface.
• Patios and seating areas: place 2 to 3 inches within sturdy edging.
• French drains and soggy spots: plan for 12 inches or more of clean stone. Calculate these with the Stone Calculator because drainage needs washed rock without fines.

Example calculation: 50 x 10 ft driveway

Start with 500 square feet and a 4-inch combined depth: 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Converting that volume by 27 gives 6.2 cubic yards, equal to 8.7 tons. Account for 5% compaction, so the order should be about 9 tons. Plan on roughly 60/40 crusher run for the base and surface gravel on top. Two separate layers are needed. Measuring a drive precisely does not make a single 2-inch application directly over dirt an adequate plan, particularly where Delta gumbo stays wet.

Common project estimates

Use these preliminary estimates before measuring, calculated at 1.4 tons per cubic yard:

Four errors that lead to another delivery

• Leaving out the base on a new driveway. Gravel laid straight over soil can rut within a season, so install the base layer first and the surface layer after.
• Looking only at area when comparing quotes. A 20 x 10 pad may receive different quotes because the depths differ, so compare matching tonnage.
• Using less than 2 inches. By spring, one inch of gravel can sink into mud.
• Overlooking the crown. Water collects on a level surface, while a 2% slope directs it away and helps fines stay put.

Choosing gravel for each surface

Use angular crushed gravel where vehicles travel because the pieces bind together under weight. Rounded options such as pea gravel and river rock shift under tires, making them better suited to walkways and landscape beds. Build a longer-lasting drive with a compactable layer like crusher run or road base, followed by a draining top layer such as driveway gravel or #57. In the Delta, gumbo clay may call for geotextile beneath the base. Not sure which material you have or which one to choose? Text a photo to (501) 596-6225 for help identifying it.

Gravel sold by yards, tons and loads

One pile of material is measured three ways. Cubic yards measure volume. A ton measures 2,000 lb, equal to about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truckload capacity depends on the truck: 8 to 10 yards for a single-axle dump truck and 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons) for a tandem. Convert quotes to tons before comparing prices. Compare the delivered price only. Aggregate hauling can make up half the cost, and free delivery on every ARS order means the shown per-ton price is what reaches your driveway.

Measuring irregular driveways

Measuring curves and turnarounds takes a different approach. Follow the center of a curved lane with the tape, then use its average width. Treat a bulb turnaround as a circle and measure the widest span for its diameter. On a slope, increase base thickness at the downhill end because that is where water and gravel collect. If one measurement will not work for the layout, separate it into rectangles and total them in multiple-areas mode.

Preparing for delivery

• Choose the truck drop location ahead of time: use firm ground and avoid low wires and septic field crossings.
• Keep the drop point near the job. One yard of gravel takes 9 to 14 wheelbarrow trips, so an extra 10 feet becomes significant across 6 yards.
• For a pavement surface you want to protect, spread a tarp before unloading. Cleanup goes from an afternoon to ten minutes.
• Before placing the surface course, compact the base course. A rented plate compactor works well, though truck tires can be used in a pinch.

Gravel answers in numbers

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