Gravel calculator for Montana

For crushed gravel placed 2 inches deep, plan on about 116 square feet from each ton. Use the calculator by entering the area dimensions and depth, then choosing a gravel type; it calculates cubic yards, tons, and a delivered price. It can also estimate landscape rock, because crushed gravel, #57 stone, and similar products are generally near 2,800 lb per cubic yard.

Estimate the gravel quantity you need

1. Use feet when measuring. Rectangles need length and width, while circles use the diameter. Treat an L-shaped driveway as two rectangles, then combine them with multiple-areas mode.
2. Choose the depth in inches. Paths and surface refreshes usually use 2 to 3 inches. For a new driveway, place 4 to 6 inches in two courses rather than one pour.
3. To convert, multiply area by depth in feet to get cubic feet. Divide that figure by 27 for cubic yards, then use 1.4 for tons.

Useful weight and coverage reference figures

Dry crushed gravel typically weighs 2,800 lb in a cubic yard, which works out to 1.4 tons. A ton therefore equals about 0.71 cubic yards. Deeper installation reduces the area each ton will cover:

Project depth guide

• Garden paths and walkways: use 2 to 3 inches of walkway gravel over compacted ground or fabric.
• Existing driveway refresh: Apply 2 inches of fresh surface gravel.
• New driveways: begin with 3 to 4 inches of compacted crusher run, followed by 2 to 3 inches of driveway gravel or #57. The lower layer supports traffic, while the finish layer manages water and provides the visible surface.
• Patios and seating areas: Use 2 to 3 inches within firm edging.
• French drains and wet areas: plan for 12 inches or more of clean stone. Calculate drainage material with the Stone Calculator, since washed rock without fines is called for.

Example calculation: a 50 x 10 ft driveway

For 500 square feet at 4 inches deep, the calculation is 500 x 0.333 = 167 cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives 6.2 cubic yards, or 8.7 tons. Include 5% for compaction, then order about 9 tons, with roughly 60/40 allocated to crusher run base and surface gravel. In areas with deep frost, separating the base from the surface matters. A driveway measured precisely can still fail when a single 2-inch layer is placed directly over soil.

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 placed directly over soil may rut within a season, so put down the base layer before the surface gravel.
• Comparing proposals by square footage alone. A 20 x 10 pad may receive different prices solely because the depths vary, so compare matching tonnages.
• Less than 2 inches leaves too little cover. At one inch, gravel may be swallowed by mud once spring arrives.
• Leaving out the crown. Flat gravel holds water, while a 2% slope directs it away and helps keep fines in place.

Selecting gravel by surface use

Crushed gravel has angular faces that knit together under tire loads, making it suited to traffic areas. Rounded material such as pea gravel and river rock shifts under weight, so reserve it for paths and planting beds. A durable driveway uses a compacting lower course, including crusher run or road base, beneath a draining finish such as driveway gravel or #57. To compare materials or identify stone already in place, submit a photo through the contact form.

How gravel is sold: yards, tons and truckloads

One pile can be described in three units. Cubic yards measure volume, while a ton measures 2,000 lb, equal to about 0.71 yards of gravel. Truckload capacity varies: a single-axle dump truck carries 8 to 10 yards, and a tandem carries 12 to 16 yards (17 to 22 tons). Put every quote in the same unit, preferably tons, before comparing prices. Compare the delivered total as well, since hauling can account for half the aggregate cost. Montana Rock Supply includes free delivery on every order, so the per-ton product price is what applies at your driveway.

Measuring irregular driveways

For a curved drive, measure its length down the centerline and use the average width. A rounded turnaround can be treated as a circle by taking its widest point for the diameter. On sloped ground, deepen the base at the downhill end, where runoff and gravel tend to collect. If a layout is difficult to tape, divide it into rectangles and combine the sections in multiple-areas mode.

Preparing for delivery

• Choose the unloading location before the truck arrives: stable ground with no low wires or septic field crossings.
• Set the delivery pile near the placement area. Moving a yard takes 9 to 14 wheelbarrow loads, and an added 10 feet matters when handling 6 yards.
• Before unloading onto pavement worth protecting, put down a tarp. It can reduce cleanup from an afternoon to ten minutes.
• Pack the base layer before adding the surface material. A rented plate compactor is an option, and truck tires can help when needed.

Gravel questions with numerical answers

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