How the calculator works
Every bulk material is sold by the cubic yard or the ton, and the quarry converts between them with a density. We do the same.
A 60 by 12 foot driveway topped with 4 inches of crusher run is 240 cubic feet, or 8.9 cubic yards. Crusher run weighs about 1.4 tons a yard, so that is 12.4 tons before compaction. Gravel packs down 10 to 20 percent when you run a plate compactor or just drive on it, so order 14 to 15 tons. That is one full tandem dump truck, and at $38 a ton delivered it comes to about $550.
Weight per cubic yard
| Material | Tons per yd³ | Pounds per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run, #57, #67 gravel | 1.35–1.45 | 2,700–2,900 |
| Pea gravel, river rock | 1.30–1.40 | 2,600–2,800 |
| Granite screenings, M10 | 1.45–1.55 | 2,900–3,100 |
| Sand, damp | 1.30–1.40 | 2,600–2,800 |
| Topsoil, loose | 1.00–1.20 | 2,000–2,400 |
| Fill dirt, clay, damp | 1.25–1.40 | 2,500–2,800 |
| Concrete, cured | 2.0 | 4,000 |
| Hardwood mulch | 0.35–0.45 | 700–900 |
How deep?
A gravel driveway on firm ground wants 4 inches of base; on soft or clay ground, 6 to 8 inches, ideally in two lifts with the bigger stone (#3 or #4) on the bottom. A barn pad or parking area that will see trucks: 6 inches minimum. Walkways and patios, 2 to 3 inches over compacted base. For concrete, a sidewalk is 4 inches, a driveway or shop slab 5 to 6, and anything that will carry a tractor or a loaded trailer 6 inches with rebar.
Concrete: bags or a truck?
An 80-pound bag of concrete mix yields 0.6 cubic feet; it takes 45 bags to make a yard. Under about a yard, bags make sense. Above that, call a ready-mix plant: most charge $140 to $180 a yard in 2026 with a short-load fee under 4 or 5 yards. A 12 by 12 slab at 4 inches is 1.8 yards, which is 80 bags of mixing by hand or one short truck. The truck wins.
Truckloads
A single-axle dump truck carries 8 to 10 tons; a tandem 15 to 20; a tri-axle 22 to 25. Most quarries and landscape yards deliver by the full load or charge the same delivery fee for a partial, so sizing a project to fill a truck saves money. A half-ton pickup can haul about three quarters of a yard of gravel (1 ton) safely, which is why a driveway takes a dump truck and a flower bed takes a pickup.
Frequently asked
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
For a 4-inch layer, multiply length × width in feet by 0.0173 to get tons of crusher run, then add 15% for compaction. A 100 × 12 foot driveway needs about 24 tons.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
About 2,800 pounds, or 1.4 tons, for crusher run and #57 stone. Pea gravel is slightly lighter; screenings and stone dust slightly heavier.
How many cubic yards in a dump truck?
A tandem dump truck holds 10 to 14 cubic yards of gravel, which is 15 to 20 tons. A single-axle holds 5 to 7 yards. Ask your supplier what their truck carries; it varies.
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
45 bags. Each 80-pound bag yields 0.6 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. A 60-pound bag yields 0.45 cubic feet, so 60 of those.
How much topsoil do I need to cover 1,000 square feet?
At 2 inches deep, 6.2 cubic yards, which is about 7 tons loose. At 4 inches, 12.4 yards. Order 10 to 20 percent extra; topsoil settles.