How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Patio Base or Path? Tons per 100 Sq Ft
Quick answer: At a 4-inch depth, 100 sq ft of gravel needs about 1.23 cubic yards, or 1.73 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard. With a 10% allowance for compaction and an uneven base, plan on about 1.9 tons per 100 sq ft. A 12 x 12 ft patio base needs about 2.8 tons, and a 3 x 30 ft path at 3 inches needs about 1.3 tons.
Gravel is sold by weight, but projects are measured by area and depth. That mismatch is why people either overbuy or end up with a thin spot. The free home improvement calculators at RenoCalcs bridge the gap, and the reference table below lets you estimate at a glance.
Tons per 100 Sq Ft
These figures use 27 cubic feet per cubic yard and 1.4 tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb), a middle value for crushed stone and gravel.
Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Tons with 10% extra
2 in | 0.62 | 0.86 | 0.95
3 in | 0.93 | 1.30 | 1.43
4 in | 1.23 | 1.73 | 1.90
6 in | 1.85 | 2.59 | 2.85
Real weights range from about 2,400 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard depending on stone type and moisture, so use your supplier’s figure when you have it.
Worked Example 1: 12 x 12 ft Patio Base
• Area: 144 sq ft
• Volume at 4 inches: 144 x 0.333 = 48 cubic feet, or 1.78 cubic yards
• With 10% extra: 1.96 cubic yards
• Weight: 1.96 x 1.4 = 2.74 tons, so order about 2.8 tons
Worked Example 2: 3 x 30 ft Garden Path
• Area: 90 sq ft
• Volume at 3 inches (0.25 ft): 22.5 cubic feet, or 0.83 cubic yards
• With 10% extra: 0.92 cubic yards
• Weight: about 1.28 tons, so order about 1.3 tons
The gravel calculator does all of this from your length, width, and depth, and rounds the shopping figure up to the next tenth of a ton.
Choosing the Right Depth
• Garden paths: 2 to 3 inches
• Patio or shed bases: about 4 inches
• Driveways: 4 to 6 inches, often layered with larger stone below and finer stone on top
Soft soil or heavy loads call for a thicker base, so check with a local supplier or contractor.
Compaction and Waste
Loose gravel compresses as you work it, which is why a 10% allowance is a sensible default. Compact base layers in passes of a few inches rather than all at once, and the surface will stay firmer. Landscape fabric underneath suppresses weeds and keeps stone from sinking into soft soil.
Bulk or Bagged?
Bagged gravel is convenient for tiny jobs. Above about one cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper, but you need a spot where the truck can tip the load and a plan for moving it.
Finishing the Surroundings
Outdoor projects tend to spread. While you have the wheelbarrow out, you might repaint a porch, a garden room, or an adjoining wall. The paint calculator estimates gallons from room dimensions, door and window counts, and the number of coats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of gravel for 100 sq ft?
About 1.73 tons at 4 inches deep, or about 1.9 tons with a 10% extra allowance.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Typically about 2,400 to 3,000 lb, with 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) a common planning value.
How deep should gravel be under a patio?
About 4 inches is typical for patio bases, thicker on soft soil or under heavy loads.
Ready to Order?
Measure the area, choose the depth, and add 10% for compaction. Ask your supplier for their weight per cubic yard, plan where the delivery will be tipped, and compact in layers. These numbers are estimates, so check local requirements for anything structural.
Quick answer: At a 4-inch depth, 100 sq ft of gravel needs about 1.23 cubic yards, or 1.73 tons at 1.4 tons per cubic yard. With a 10% allowance for compaction and an uneven base, plan on about 1.9 tons per 100 sq ft. A 12 x 12 ft patio base needs about 2.8 tons, and a 3 x 30 ft path at 3 inches needs about 1.3 tons.
Gravel is sold by weight, but projects are measured by area and depth. That mismatch is why people either overbuy or end up with a thin spot. The free home improvement calculators at RenoCalcs bridge the gap, and the reference table below lets you estimate at a glance.
Tons per 100 Sq Ft
These figures use 27 cubic feet per cubic yard and 1.4 tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb), a middle value for crushed stone and gravel.
Depth | Cubic yards | Tons | Tons with 10% extra
2 in | 0.62 | 0.86 | 0.95
3 in | 0.93 | 1.30 | 1.43
4 in | 1.23 | 1.73 | 1.90
6 in | 1.85 | 2.59 | 2.85
Real weights range from about 2,400 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard depending on stone type and moisture, so use your supplier’s figure when you have it.
Worked Example 1: 12 x 12 ft Patio Base
• Area: 144 sq ft
• Volume at 4 inches: 144 x 0.333 = 48 cubic feet, or 1.78 cubic yards
• With 10% extra: 1.96 cubic yards
• Weight: 1.96 x 1.4 = 2.74 tons, so order about 2.8 tons
Worked Example 2: 3 x 30 ft Garden Path
• Area: 90 sq ft
• Volume at 3 inches (0.25 ft): 22.5 cubic feet, or 0.83 cubic yards
• With 10% extra: 0.92 cubic yards
• Weight: about 1.28 tons, so order about 1.3 tons
The gravel calculator does all of this from your length, width, and depth, and rounds the shopping figure up to the next tenth of a ton.
Choosing the Right Depth
• Garden paths: 2 to 3 inches
• Patio or shed bases: about 4 inches
• Driveways: 4 to 6 inches, often layered with larger stone below and finer stone on top
Soft soil or heavy loads call for a thicker base, so check with a local supplier or contractor.
Compaction and Waste
Loose gravel compresses as you work it, which is why a 10% allowance is a sensible default. Compact base layers in passes of a few inches rather than all at once, and the surface will stay firmer. Landscape fabric underneath suppresses weeds and keeps stone from sinking into soft soil.
Bulk or Bagged?
Bagged gravel is convenient for tiny jobs. Above about one cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper, but you need a spot where the truck can tip the load and a plan for moving it.
Finishing the Surroundings
Outdoor projects tend to spread. While you have the wheelbarrow out, you might repaint a porch, a garden room, or an adjoining wall. The paint calculator estimates gallons from room dimensions, door and window counts, and the number of coats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tons of gravel for 100 sq ft?
About 1.73 tons at 4 inches deep, or about 1.9 tons with a 10% extra allowance.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Typically about 2,400 to 3,000 lb, with 2,800 lb (1.4 tons) a common planning value.
How deep should gravel be under a patio?
About 4 inches is typical for patio bases, thicker on soft soil or under heavy loads.
Ready to Order?
Measure the area, choose the depth, and add 10% for compaction. Ask your supplier for their weight per cubic yard, plan where the delivery will be tipped, and compact in layers. These numbers are estimates, so check local requirements for anything structural.
