Bags vs bulk
Bulk is cheaper for this job
With these prices and $100 delivery, bulk starts to win at about 0.5 cu yd (about 51 sq ft at 3 in), but bags win again at some sizes up to about 0.6 cu yd, and bulk wins at every size above that. Bulk cost rises in half-yard steps.
Delivery for bulk
Typical price (estimate, checked Oct 2026): $50.00–$150.00 per delivery
Use a price like 50.00.
Both costs use your price if you typed one, else the middle of the typical range. Bulk is the order at its price plus one delivery fee. The fee carries over to the mulch and topsoil calculators. To compare at your own bag and yard prices, switch "Buy it by the" above, enter the price, and switch back.
One cubic yard is 54 bags. Bags make sense for a small patch or when you can't get a truck in; once one delivery fee is spread over a bigger load, bulk by the yard or ton wins.
How it works
The formula
with extra = cu ft × 1.10 (if 10%)
cu yd = cu ft ÷ 27
tons = cu yd × tons per cu yd
bags = cu ft ÷ 0.5, round up
Assumptions
- No extra by default. Add 10% for driveways and bases, because loose gravel settles by about that much when compacted.
- Weight per cu yd: pea gravel / river rock 1.4, crushed stone 1.35, heavy (#57, wet) 1.6 tons. Real weight runs from about 1.3 to 1.7 by stone type and moisture, so ask your supplier.
- Bulk is ordered in half-yard or half-ton steps, so we round up to the next half.
- A bag holds 0.5 cu ft and weighs 50 lb. Bags are counted by the volume printed on the bag.
Worked example
A 10 × 20 ft path, 3 in deep
- 10 × 20 × 3 ÷ 12 = 50.0 cu ft
- In yards: 50.0 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cu yd
- In tons: 1.85 × 1.4 = 2.59 tons
- Bulk order, rounded up to the half yard: 2 cu yd
- At $50.50 a yard (the middle of our typical range): 2 × $50.50 = $101, plus one $100 delivery = $201
Common sizes, 2 to 4 in deep
| Size | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 20 ft | 0.37 cu yd 0.52 tons | 0.56 cu yd 0.78 tons | 0.74 cu yd 1.04 tons |
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 cu yd 1.73 tons | 1.85 cu yd 2.59 tons | 2.47 cu yd 3.46 tons |
| 12 × 24 ft | 1.78 cu yd 2.49 tons | 2.67 cu yd 3.73 tons | 3.56 cu yd 4.98 tons |
| 20 × 20 ft | 2.47 cu yd 3.46 tons | 3.70 cu yd 5.19 tons | 4.94 cu yd 6.91 tons |
No extra for compaction; tons at 1.4 per cu yd. Add 10% for a driveway.
Questions people ask
How much does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 108 sq ft at 3 in, and 81 sq ft at 4 in.
How many tons are in a cubic yard of gravel?
About 1.4 tons for pea gravel and river rock, about 1.35 for crushed stone and about 1.6 for heavy or wet stone like #57. It varies by stone and moisture, so ask your supplier.
How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?
54 bags. A cubic yard is 27 cu ft, and each bag holds 0.5 cu ft.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Plan on 4 to 6 in of compacted gravel, laid in layers, with 10% extra for compaction. A 12 × 24 ft driveway at 4 in with 10% extra is 3.91 cu yd, about 5.48 tons. Paths and decorative beds need only 2 to 3 in.
Should I add extra for compaction?
For a driveway or a base under pavers or a slab, yes: 10% is typical. For a 10 × 20 ft path at 3 in, 10% extra changes the order from 1.85 to 2.04 cu yd.