#57 Gravel Calculator
1.85 yd³ (50 ft³)
Compacted target → order 2.04-2.22 yd³ loose.
≈ 2.22-2.96 tons (Gravel / crushed stone (#57 class) density band, confirm at the scale).
- Volume: yd³ = sq ft × depth(in) ÷ 324 (1 yd³ covers 324 sf at 1"). Definitional geometry (Texas AgriLife Extension).
- Compacted base: order ~10-20% extra loose volume to reach compacted depth (trade convention, labeled, not codified).
- Tonnage is a band: Gravel / crushed stone (#57 class) ≈ 1.2-1.6 t/yd³ (SME Mining Engineering Handbook band via expert canon; ±15% moisture/gradation). Moisture alone moves this ±15%, so confirm with your supplier's scale.
Why This One Is Different
Ordering #57 stone for a driveway base or a drain trench and not sure how many tons to have delivered? Punch in your area and target depth and this tool returns cubic yards, then layers on the standard compaction allowance so the number you order matches the number you need after the plate compactor finishes, plus a tonnage band for the delivery truck. #57 is the workhorse open-graded gravel, roughly pea- to marble-sized with the fines screened out, so it locks together under a roller instead of packing into a solid mass the way road-base gravel does. That open structure is exactly why driveway and drain-rock specs call for it, and also why the loose material you dump measures more than the compacted layer you end up with.
Where the Numbers Come From
- One cubic yard of gravel fills 108 sq ft at 3" deep or 54 sq ft at 6", the same area × depth ÷ 324 relationship used for any bulk material. Source: Texas AgriLife Extension, 'How Much Compost, Soil or Mulch Do I Need to Purchase?'
- #57 gravel runs the same 1.2-1.6 ton-per-cubic-yard band as general crushed stone; moisture and gradation can swing delivered weight ±15%. Source: SME Mining Engineering Handbook density band (via construction-estimating canon)
- Because #57 stone is open-graded, order roughly 10-20% more loose volume than the finished compacted depth, a trade convention rather than a code figure. Source: trade convention, labeled as such (not codified in a standard)
More Questions
What's the difference between #57 stone and pea gravel?
#57 is a larger, angular, open-graded stone that locks together under compaction, which is why it's used for load-bearing bases. Pea gravel is smaller and rounder, stays loose, and is used for walkways and decorative beds instead.
Related Calculators
Formulas, waste factors, and cost models on this page follow the sourced conventions on our methodology page. Estimates only; verify with your supplier and local code.