How much gravel for a 20×20 area?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

A 20×20 ft area at 4 in needs 4.94 cubic yards in place — order about 7.3 tons of #57 stone (5.43 cu yd loose) including 10% extra.

Volume: 400 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 = 133.3 cu ft = 4.94 cu yd.
Weight: at 1.35 t per loose cu yd that is 7.3 tons; quarry factors for #57 stone put it anywhere from 7.1 to 9 tons.
Bags: 294 bags of 0.5 cu ft (about $2,043) versus about $405 for bulk delivered.
Hauling: 1 tandem load from the yard, or 15 trips in a half-ton pickup (1,000 lb payload) — a yard of stone weighs 2,700 lb.
400 sq ft at 4 in is the classic two-car parking area or a large drainage bed.

Adjust it to your exact job

What's it for?

Project

Decorative gravel needs at least 2 in to hide fabric (Stone Center); larger rock looks best at 3 in or more (Roseville suggests 3–6 in).

Size

Shape

Length

= 20' · 6.1 m

Width

= 20' · 6.1 m

Material & depth

Material

Driveway base layers, drainage behind walls and around pipes, under decks. Locks together but stays free-draining. Also sold as: 3/4 in clean, washed #57, #67.

Depth

Exact depth

How you'll buy it

“Cheapest” compares bulk delivered with 0.5 cu ft bags at the prices below.

Order

7.3tons of #57 stone

5.43 cu yd loose · 7.3 tons · 294 × 0.5 cu ft bags · incl. 10% extra

Loose volume to order: 5.43 cu yd4.94 cu yd in place
Weight range: 7.1–9tonssame volume across published quarry factors
Area: 400 sq ft
1 ton of #57 stone covers: 60 sq ftat 4 in

Weight factors vary by quarry

#57 stone / clean crushed stone (3/4 in): 1.35 t per loose cu yd (published 1.3–1.65).Your yard's scale ticket is the final word — enter its factor under “Weight factor”.

Bulk or bags?

294 × 0.5 cu ft bags

$2,043

materials, before tax

7.3 tons delivered

$405

Cheaper ✓ · incl. 1 delivery fee

At these prices bulk is cheaper from about 0.3 tons (13 bags). Bagged #57 stone costs 6.2× the bulk price per yard here; bags make sense for small patches or where a truck can't reach. Your plan (delivered): $405.

Getting it home

Total weight: 7.3 tons · 14,667 lb
Dump truck: 1 tandem load
Your pickup: 15 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 7% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Shopping list

7.4 tons #57 stone / clean crushed stone (3/4 in) — 4 in$330
1 load Delivery$75.00
400 sq ft Landscape fabricplus overlap at seams
80 ft Landscape edgingkeeps gravel out of the lawn

Estimated total$405

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

#57 stone, bulk
7.4 tons × $
$333
Delivery
1 load × $
$75.00

Materials total$408

Bulk prices are typical 2026 yard and national-guide prices (American Rock Supply, Mulch Pros, Roseville Rock Supply); bag prices are retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your yard's.

Did this answer your question?

Compare

20×20 ft of #57 stone at other depths

Depth	Order (cu yd)	Tons	0.5 cu ft bags	Bulk delivered
2 in	2.72	3.7	147	$240
3 in	4.07	5.5	220	$323
4 in	5.43	7.3	294	$405
6 in	8.15	11	440	$570

How this was worked out

400 sq ft × 0.333 ft = 133.3 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 4.94 cu yd. × 1.10 extra = 5.43 cu yd, × 1.35 t/yd³ = 7.33 tons.

With bags at $6.95 and bulk at $45.00 per ton plus $75 delivery, bulk beats bags from about 0.32 tons. At 7.3 tons bulk is clearly the cheaper way to buy — bags only make sense if a truck can't reach the spot.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main gravel calculator page.

Similar jobs

Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

Mulch Pros — material weight & coverage (scale weights) — 2,600–2,900 lb per yd³ of stone; 1 yd³ covers 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 at 3 in; pine straw bale ≈ 40 sq ft; single-axle ≈ 5 t, tandem up to 18 t · checked October 2026
Martin Marietta product calculator — material density table — coarse stone 1.32 t/yd³, base 1.90–1.95 t/yd³ (compacted basis), crushed-concrete base 1.47 · checked October 2026
Vulcan Materials construction aggregates calculator — screenings 110–124 lb/ft³, sand 100–110 lb/ft³, coarse 90–102 lb/ft³ by geology · checked October 2026
Penn State Center for Dirt & Gravel Roads — DSA Tech Bulletin (Apr 2025) — 8 in loose compacts to 6 in (factor 1.33); 0.04 t per sq ft; crown 1/2–3/4 in per ft · checked October 2026
American Rock Supply — how much does gravel cost (2026) — #57 $35–$55/ton, pea gravel $28–$45/ton, crusher run $24–$34/ton (material only); delivered per-ton prices · checked October 2026
Mulch Pros price list (October 22, 2026) — bag and bulk prices for mulch, soil, compost, #57, crush & run, pea gravel, sand; delivery $7/mi ($60 min) · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — calculator & reference table — DG ~3,000 lb/yd³, mulch 400–800 lb, topsoil 2,000–2,200 lb; order 5–10% extra; base materials up to 15% for compaction · checked October 2026
Roseville Rock Supply — aggregates, sands, topsoil & delivery rates — DG $106.95/yd³, concrete sand $68.95/yd³, screened topsoil $51.95/yd³; free delivery from 4 yd within 14 mi · checked October 2026
Stone Center (Ohio) material calculator — pea gravel 1.4–1.6 t/yd³; 2 in minimum for decorative pea gravel and river rock; 10% waste · checked October 2026
Nebraska DOT — Estimating Material Quantities (July 2024) — stockpiled crushed concrete 1.35 t/yd³; soil compacted in place 110 lb/ft³ · checked October 2026
The Pricer — crushed concrete cost (updated July 2026) — $9–$25 per ton at recycling yards; 1.2–1.4 t per yd³ · checked October 2026
Kokosing Materials (Ohio) tonnage calculator — factors 1.5 (sand), 1.65 (#57/#8), 1.75 (304/411/screenings) — the high end of published values · checked October 2026
Quikrete — how to build a patio — place about 5 in of compactible gravel, tamp to 4 in; extend the base at least 6 in beyond the edges · checked October 2026
Unilock Basic Tech Guide (Jan 2024) — base 6–8 in patios & walks, 6–12 in pool decks, 10–14 in driveways; 1 in bedding; compact in 2–3 in layers; edge restraints spiked into the base · checked October 2026
CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. 325) — Table 2 depths and fall heights; loose fill compresses at least 25%; 12 in initial fill for 9 in · checked October 2026

Short answer

A 20×20 ft area at 4 in needs 4.94 cubic yards in place — order about 7.3 tons of #57 stone (5.43 cu yd loose) including 10% extra.

Volume: 400 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 12 = 133.3 cu ft = 4.94 cu yd.

Weight: at 1.35 t per loose cu yd that is 7.3 tons; quarry factors for #57 stone put it anywhere from 7.1 to 9 tons.

Bags: 294 bags of 0.5 cu ft (about $2,043) versus about $405 for bulk delivered.

Hauling: 1 tandem load from the yard, or 15 trips in a half-ton pickup (1,000 lb payload) — a yard of stone weighs 2,700 lb.

400 sq ft at 4 in is the classic two-car parking area or a large drainage bed.

Adjust it to your exact job

What's it for?

Project

Decorative gravel needs at least 2 in to hide fabric (Stone Center); larger rock looks best at 3 in or more (Roseville suggests 3–6 in).

Size

Shape

Length

= 20' · 6.1 m

Width

= 20' · 6.1 m

Material & depth

Material

Driveway base layers, drainage behind walls and around pipes, under decks. Locks together but stays free-draining. Also sold as: 3/4 in clean, washed #57, #67.

Depth

Exact depth

How you'll buy it

“Cheapest” compares bulk delivered with 0.5 cu ft bags at the prices below.

Order

7.3tons of #57 stone

5.43 cu yd loose · 7.3 tons · 294 × 0.5 cu ft bags · incl. 10% extra

Loose volume to order: 5.43 cu yd4.94 cu yd in place
Weight range: 7.1–9tonssame volume across published quarry factors
Area: 400 sq ft
1 ton of #57 stone covers: 60 sq ftat 4 in

Weight factors vary by quarry

#57 stone / clean crushed stone (3/4 in): 1.35 t per loose cu yd (published 1.3–1.65).Your yard's scale ticket is the final word — enter its factor under “Weight factor”.

Bulk or bags?

294 × 0.5 cu ft bags

$2,043

materials, before tax

7.3 tons delivered

$405

Cheaper ✓ · incl. 1 delivery fee

Getting it home

Total weight: 7.3 tons · 14,667 lb
Dump truck: 1 tandem load
Your pickup: 15 trips at 1,000 lb payload · about 7% of the order per trip

Pickup payload

Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).

Shopping list

7.4 tons #57 stone / clean crushed stone (3/4 in) — 4 in$330
1 load Delivery$75.00
400 sq ft Landscape fabricplus overlap at seams
80 ft Landscape edgingkeeps gravel out of the lawn

Estimated total$405

Cost estimate

Tap a price to use your store's

#57 stone, bulk
7.4 tons × $
$333
Delivery
1 load × $
$75.00

Materials total$408

Bulk prices are typical 2026 yard and national-guide prices (American Rock Supply, Mulch Pros, Roseville Rock Supply); bag prices are retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your yard's.

Depth

Order (cu yd)

Tons

0.5 cu ft bags

Bulk delivered

2 in

2.72

3.7

147

$240

3 in

4.07

5.5

220

$323

4 in

5.43

7.3

294

$405

6 in

8.15

440

$570

How this was worked out

400 sq ft × 0.333 ft = 133.3 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 4.94 cu yd. × 1.10 extra = 5.43 cu yd, × 1.35 t/yd³ = 7.33 tons.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main gravel calculator page.