Measure Twice › Landscaping & yard
Gravel Calculator
Enter the area and depth to see how much gravel, sand, soil or mulch to order, in bulk or bags.
Worked example
- Area length 20 ft
- Area width 10 ft
- Depth 3 in
- Material Crushed gravel
Result:
- Crushed gravel needed
- 1.85 yd³
- Approximate weight
- 2.27 tonnes
- In 2 ft³ (56.6 L) bags
- 25 bags
- Area covered
- 200 ft²
Price either bulk or bags, not both — leave the other price blank.
Load this example into the calculator
How the gravel calculator works
Length × width × depth gives the volume. Weight is estimated from the typical density of the material you pick, which matters because some suppliers sell by the tonne and others by the yard. Bags are the common 2 ft³ (56.6 L) size.
volume = length × width × depth
weight = volume × density
bags = volume ÷ 2 ft³, rounded up
| Material |
Approx. density |
| Crushed gravel |
1.6 t/m³ |
| Pea gravel / river rock |
1.5 t/m³ |
| Sand |
1.6 t/m³ |
| Topsoil / garden soil |
1.2 t/m³ |
| Bark mulch |
0.4 t/m³ |
Densities change with moisture and grade, so ask your supplier for theirs if you’re buying by weight.
Tips
- Bulk beats bags above roughly one cubic yard. Most landscape yards deliver in half-yard or half-metre increments.
- Compaction: a gravel base compacts by roughly 10–20%. Order extra if you’re laying a compacted base for a patio or shed.
- Driveways and paths usually need a coarser base layer under the finish gravel. Run the calculator once for each layer.
Tools and materials
- Landscape rake at Amazon.ca
Spreads gravel, soil or mulch to an even depth.
- Hand tamper at Amazon.ca
For small areas; rent a plate compactor for bigger ones.
Where to buy in Metro Vancouver
Local suppliers we've checked. Nobody pays to be listed. Call ahead for prices, minimums and delivery to your area.
Gravel, sand and soil (bulk)
- Meadows Landscape Supply in Pitt Meadows
Topsoil, bark mulch, gravel, sand, pavers and wall block, delivered across Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
- North Shore Landscape Supply Centre in North Vancouver
Road base, clear crush, soils and mulch, plus Belgard, Barkman and other wall block. Flat-fee delivery.
Related calculators
- Topsoil Calculator
Enter your lawn or garden bed's size and depth to see how much topsoil to order, in bulk or bags.
- Mulch Calculator
Enter your garden bed's size and depth to see how much mulch to buy in bulk or bags.
- Concrete Patio Calculator
Replacing grass with concrete? Enter the slab size to get every layer, from how deep to dig to how much ready-mix to order.
Last updated October 28, 2026