How many tons of gravel for 200 square metres at 3 cm deep?

Volume is 200 × 0.03 = 6 m³. At a typical gravel density of 1,680 kg/m³ that's 10,080 kg, or 10.08 metric tons.

How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover?

At 2 inches deep, roughly 100 square feet per US ton for standard gravel. Deeper coverage means less area — about 65 sq ft at 3 inches.

Should I order extra for settling and waste?

Yes, 5 to 10% over the calculated amount for uneven subgrade, spreading loss, and settling. Add it after you get the base result.

Why does the gravel type change the tonnage?

Bulk density differs. Pea gravel packs denser than loose crushed stone, so the same volume weighs more and costs more per area covered.

Does the calculator account for compaction?

No — it estimates loose gravel. If the layer will be compacted (a driveway base, for example), plan a greater loose depth, since compacted stone loses roughly 20% of its loose volume.

Is a metric ton the same as a US ton?

Close but not identical. A metric ton is 1,000 kg (about 2,205 lb); a US short ton is 2,000 lb (about 907 kg). This calculator reports metric tons; multiply by 1.102 for short tons.

Gravel Calculator Tons

Gravel is priced and delivered by the ton, but a project is laid out by area and depth. Bridging the two — area × depth for volume, volume × density for weight — is what keeps you from ordering half a load short or paying to haul away a leftover pile. This calculator also folds in an optional cost estimate if you enter a price per ton.

The gravel tonnage formula

is the area and the depth, both converted to metres so comes out in cubic metres. is the gravel’s bulk density in kg/m³ (about 1,680 for standard gravel, 1,780 for pea gravel, 1,600 for loose crushed stone). Dividing the mass in kilograms by 1,000 gives metric tons.

Worked example

The calculator’s defaults are 200 m² at 3 cm deep, standard gravel at 1,680 kg/m³.

Add 5–10% for settling and spreading loss, so order about 10.6 to 11.1 tons.

Gravel Calculator Tons worked example diagram — A visual read of the worked example above — the same numbers the calculator returns for its default inputs.

How far a load goes

Depth	Area 10 tons of standard gravel covers
2 cm	~298 m²
3 cm	~198 m²
5 cm	~119 m²
10 cm	~60 m²

How to Calculate Gravel in Tons (step by step)

Step One: Convert the area to square meters

The calculator first converts the selected area into square meters. If your area is already in square meters, the conversion factor is one.

Area in square meters = entered area × area conversion factor

200 m² = 200 × 1 = 200 m²

Step Two: Convert the depth to meters

Depth must use the same base length system as the area calculation. For the default centimeter setting, multiply the entered depth by 0.01.

Depth in meters = entered depth × depth conversion factor

3 cm = 3 × 0.01 = 0.03 m

Step Three: Calculate gravel volume

Multiply the converted area by the converted depth. This produces the amount of space the gravel must fill.

Volume = area × depth

Volume = 200 × 0.03 = 6 m³

Step Four: Estimate gravel weight

The calculator multiplies volume by the selected bulk density. The default gravel density is 1,680 kilograms per cubic meter.

Weight = volume × gravel density

Weight = 6 × 1,680 = 10,080 kg

Step Five: Convert kilograms to tons

There are 1,000 kilograms in a metric ton, so divide the estimated weight by 1,000.

Gravel needed in tons = weight in kilograms ÷ 1,000

Gravel needed = 10,080 ÷ 1,000 = 10.08 tons

Step Six: Estimate the material cost

If you enter a price per ton, the calculator multiplies that price by the estimated tonnage. The default price is zero, so the default cost estimate is zero dollars.

Estimated cost = gravel needed in tons × price per ton

Estimated cost = 10.08 × $0 = $0

What your results mean

The primary result is the estimated amount of gravel to order in tons. For the default inputs, the project needs 10.08 tons of the selected gravel type, filling 6 m³ and weighing approximately 10,080 kg.

The estimate depends heavily on depth and density. A small increase in depth increases the required volume directly, while a denser gravel type increases the tonnage without changing the space being filled. For real projects, compare the result with your supplier’s stated bulk density and delivery minimums.

Ordering tip

Consider adding 5% to 10% for settling, uneven subgrade, and handling waste. For the default result, that means planning for approximately 10.58 to 11.09 tons after applying the allowance.

About the formula: The calculator finds volume by multiplying area by depth, then estimates weight using the selected gravel density. Tons are calculated by dividing kilograms by 1,000.