How to Use

1
Enter the length and width of the area in feet
2
Enter the desired depth in inches or feet using the dropdown
3
Select your material type from the dropdown to get an accurate weight estimate
4
Click Calculate - results show cubic feet, cubic yards, and approximate tons

Formula

Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Depth in ft) ÷ 27

Convert depth from inches to feet first (divide by 12), multiply the three dimensions together to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Weight is estimated using average tons-per-cubic-yard for each material.

Weight (tons) = Cubic Yards × Material Density

Examples

Driveway: 40 × 12 ft, 4 inches of gravel

40 × 12 × (4/12) = 160 cu ft ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards

Result: 5.93 cu yd (~8.3 tons of gravel)

Garden bed: 10 × 8 ft, 3 inches of mulch

10 × 8 × (3/12) = 20 cu ft ÷ 27 = 0.74 cubic yards

Result: 0.74 cu yd (~0.3 tons of mulch)

Sandbox: 8 × 8 ft, 6 inches of sand

8 × 8 × (6/12) = 32 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.19 cubic yards

Result: 1.19 cu yd (~1.5 tons of sand)

FAQ

A typical gravel driveway uses 4-6 inches of material. This usually consists of a 4-inch base layer of larger crushed stone topped with 2 inches of finer gravel for a finished surface.

Apply mulch 2-4 inches deep for garden beds. Too thin and weeds push through; too thick and it can smother plant roots and trap moisture near the crown of plants.

Order 10% extra to account for settling, uneven ground, and material loss during spreading. For gravel driveways, some contractors recommend 15% overage since gravel compacts significantly under vehicle weight.

It depends on the material and supplier. Mulch and topsoil are typically sold by the cubic yard. Gravel, crushed stone, and sand are often sold by the ton. Some suppliers offer both options - use this calculator's ton estimate to compare pricing when ordering by weight.