Coverage per cubic yard
How much area does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard of gravel covers about 162 ft² at 2 inches, 108 ft² at 3 inches, or 81 ft² at 4 inches. Layer depth sets the area, so the material does not change it.
One cubic yard is 27 ft³. These areas assume an even layer at the depth shown. No extra gravel for waste or compaction is included.
Calculate gravel for your projectSquare feet per cubic yard by layer depth
The table divides one cubic yard by the layer depth. Volume sets the area, and density does not: every material fills the same 27 ft³, and the same depth covers the same ground. Areas are rounded to the nearest square foot and assume an even layer. Depth in feet is rounded to four decimals, and 27 ft³ ÷ that value rounds to the area in the same row.
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Layer depth, inches | Layer depth, feet | Coverage per 1 yd³, ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.0833 | 324 |
| 2 in | 0.1667 | 162 |
| 3 in | 0.25 | 108 |
| 4 in | 0.3333 | 81 |
| 6 in | 0.5 | 54 |
One cubic yard at three depths
How to convert a cubic yard to square feet
- Depth in feet = depth in inches ÷ 12.
- Coverage in square feet = 27 ft³ ÷ depth in feet.
- Coverage for a volume = per-yard coverage × cubic yards.
Doubling the depth halves the area. Doubling the volume doubles the area at the same depth. One square foot is an area 1 foot long and 1 foot wide. A cubic yard is a volume: 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet. A volume does not turn into a single square-foot number without a depth.
This table converts volume to area at any depth. It does not set a layer thickness: project depths live with the project guides, where the gravel calculator guide lists depths by use and the pea gravel guide compares them per project. Follow your project's specifications when you choose a depth.
Two cubic yards at 3 inches
You order 2 cubic yards and spread them 3 inches deep:
- 2 yd³ × 27 ft³/yd³ = 54 ft³.
- 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet.
- 54 ft³ ÷ 0.25 feet = 216 ft².
The delivery covers about 216 square feet at 3 inches, before waste or compaction. The same answer comes from scaling the table: 2 × 108 ft² = 216 ft².
Why material density does not change the area
Coverage at a depth follows volume alone. One cubic yard is 27 ft³ of stone whether the stone is lava rock or crushed stone. Bulk density changes how much that yard weighs, not how much space it fills.
One cubic yard of pea gravel at 105 lb/ft³ weighs about 2,835 lb, or 1.42 US short tons. A yard of lava rock at 50 lb/ft³ weighs about 1,350 lb. Both still cover 162 ft² at 2 inches. Compare the weights in the weight per cubic yard guide.
A ton is a weight, so per-ton coverage needs a density. One US short ton of pea gravel at 105 lb/ft³ is about 0.71 yd³, so it covers less ground than a full cubic yard at the same depth: about 114 ft² at 2 inches. Use the coverage per ton guide when your supplier quotes by weight, and check which unit the quote uses before you compare prices.
Why actual coverage can differ
The table describes an even layer on firm, prepared ground. Ruts, slopes, and soft spots take extra stone, so one cubic yard can cover less than the table says. Edges, fabric overlaps, and spillage also take material.
A delivered cubic yard is loose stone, not the finished layer. Rounded stone never locks together, so it shifts underfoot and can end up thinner in the walk lines. Angular crushed stone locks better. Ask your supplier whether the volume is loose or already compacted.
Add one waste allowance as a percentage of the volume for these losses. If your calculator already includes waste, do not add it again. Follow your project's specifications when choosing a depth.
Calculate gravel for your project
Enter your dimensions, depth, and material in the gravel calculator. It returns the cubic yards and tons for your area, so you can compare them with this table. The pea gravel calculator adds project depth presets, bag counts, and a waste allowance. For a supplier who prices by weight, convert with the yards per ton guide.