3/4 Gravel Calculator
— How Much Do You Need?

3/4 gravel is one of the most versatile aggregates available, and it shows up in a wide range of residential and commercial projects. The roughly 3/4-inch stone size is large enough to allow water to pass through freely, but stable enough to hold its position once spread and compacted. That balance makes it useful in a lot of different situations. The most common applications include driveway surfaces and base layers, French drains and perimeter drainage systems, retaining wall backfill, septic leach fields, dry creek beds, walkway and path bases, and general fill for low-lying areas that collect water. Contractors also use it as a sub-base beneath concrete slabs, pavers, and asphalt surfaces. If you are not sure whether 3/4 gravel is the right material for your specific project, the Hello Gravel team is glad to help you think it through before you order.

They are very close, and in practice the terms are often used interchangeably by contractors and suppliers. However, there is a subtle distinction worth knowing. #57 stone is a graded aggregate with a maximum particle size of about 3/4 inch, but the gradation allows for some smaller pieces down to around 1/4 inch mixed in. The "3/4 gravel" label typically refers to stone that is more uniformly sized right around that 3/4-inch mark with fewer fine particles in the mix. For most residential applications such as driveways, drainage projects, and base work, the two materials will perform nearly the same. Where it starts to matter is in drainage-critical applications like French drains or leach fields, where a cleaner, more uniform stone keeps the voids open for better water flow. If your project has a specific size or gradation requirement, confirm the details with Hello Gravel before placing your order to make sure you are getting exactly what your job calls for.

The main differences come down to size, shape, and best use cases. Pea gravel is small and rounded — typically 3/8 inch — with a smooth texture from natural weathering. It's visually appealing and comfortable underfoot, which makes it popular for landscaping, garden paths, and decorative applications. However, because it's round, it doesn't interlock or compact well, so it tends to shift and scatter under foot or vehicle traffic. 3/4 inch gravel is larger and usually crushed, giving it angular edges. Those angular faces lock together under load, which makes it far more stable for driveways, drainage beds, and base layers. It also drains well because the larger pieces leave open voids for water to pass through. If you need something decorative and low-traffic, pea gravel is a great choice. If you need stability, drainage, or a surface that can handle vehicles, 3/4 inch gravel is the better option.

A cubic yard of 3/4 gravel typically weighs between 2,700 and 3,000 pounds, or roughly 1.35 to 1.5 tons. The exact figure depends on a few variables including whether the stone is dry or wet, how tightly it is packed, and whether it is a clean washed gravel or a crushed stone blend that includes fines. Clean, washed gravel tends to run slightly lighter because the voids between stones are more open, while crushed stone with fine material filling those gaps can weigh a bit more. This is worth keeping in mind when you are figuring out how much material to order, since most suppliers and calculators work in tons rather than cubic yards. Hello Gravel's online calculator converts your project dimensions directly into the tonnage you need, so you do not have to do the math yourself. Plug in your square footage and intended depth, and it will give you an accurate estimate for your specific project.

The amount you need comes down to two things: the area you are covering and the depth you want to lay the material. As a practical rule of thumb, one ton of 3/4 gravel covers approximately 100 square feet at 2 inches of depth. If you are building a driveway surface where 4 inches of depth is the standard recommendation for durability, that same ton would cover closer to 50 square feet. For deeper drainage trenches or base layers, your tonnage requirements will go up accordingly. These are general estimates, and your actual project will have its own dimensions and depth requirements. The most reliable way to get an accurate number is to use Hello Gravel's online calculator. Enter your length, width, and intended depth, and it will calculate your tonnage for you. That way you order what you actually need rather than guessing and ending up short or with a significant surplus on your hands. If you have an unusual project shape or are working on something with multiple sections, reach out to the Hello Gravel team and they can help you work through the estimate.