Maryland Gravel Calculator: Plan the Job, Then Size the Stone
Enter your project dimensions
From Garrett County ridges to low Bay-front lots, Maryland ground changes a lot in a short drive, and the stone that suits one yard can sit wrong in the next. This page is laid out by ground, from the mountains to the Bay, and wherever your yard sits, the gravel calculator hands you cubic yards, tons and cubic feet from your measurements.
Mountains to the Bay: The Ground Under Your Job
Know which Maryland you're on
| Ground | What it means for stone |
|---|---|
| Western Maryland mountains | Thin, stony soil and the longest freeze. Frost depth is 36 inches in Garrett and Allegany codes. |
| Hagerstown and Frederick valleys | Limestone ground. Spread drive and downspout water out, because concentrated runoff can open sinkholes. |
| Central Piedmont | Silty soil turns soft when wet. A drive needs a crown or drain where water collects. |
| Western Shore and Eastern Shore Coastal Plain | Sand, silt and clay, with slow drainage on low, flat land. Keep the base above wet ground. |
Frost reaches about 30 inches across most of the state and 24 inches in some Eastern Shore counties. No stone layer goes that deep, so drainage does the protecting.
Match each layer to a stone
| Layer or use | Stone to plan for |
|---|---|
| Base under a drive, pad or shed | CR-6, compacted |
| Top of a drive | Driveway gravel or #57 stone |
| Paths and patios | Walkway gravel or pea gravel |
| Drainage and wall backfill | #57 stone, clean with no fines |
| Paver and flagstone bedding | Stone dust, a thin layer over the base |
| Beds and water edges | River rock |
Writing this list down before you measure keeps the layers separate. Each layer becomes its own line in the calculator and its own line on the order, which makes the totals easier to check later.
Piedmont Suburbs: Measuring the Yard and Entering It
On a suburban Piedmont lot, most jobs are rectangles and odd corners around the house.
- Measure in feet. Rectangles need length and width; round areas need the diameter.
- Break odd shapes into up to 5 pieces for the multiple-areas option.
- Decide the finished depth in inches for each layer.
Enter the job
- Select rectangle, circle, or multiple areas (5 at most).
- Enter the dimensions in feet.
- Enter the depth in inches, between 0.25 and 24.
- Pick the material so the weight is right.
- Tick "add 5% extra for compaction & spillage" for anything that will be packed.
- Calculate, then use Email my quote to keep a written copy.
Two inland sample jobs
The jobs below are examples with invented dimensions, not client projects.
Retaining wall backfill. A garden wall 40 ft long needs a 1 ft wide column of #57 stone behind it, 24 inches tall. Enter 40 x 1 ft and a depth of 24 inches.
| Line | Figure |
|---|---|
| Volume | 40 x 1 x 2 = 80 cu ft |
| Cubic yards | 80 ÷ 27 = 2.96 |
| Tons at 1.40 | 2.96 x 1.4 = 4.1 |
A taller wall goes past the 24 inch limit. Split the height into a second area and add the results.
Construction entrance. A stone pad 12 ft wide and 50 ft long, 6 inches deep, in 3/4 inch crushed stone. That's 600 x 0.5 = 300 cu ft, or 11.1 yd³, or 15.6 tons at 1.40. These sizes are for the example only. Your sediment control plan or permit sets the real dimensions.
Coastal Plain and Eastern Shore: Stone Near Tidal Water
Check the Critical Area first
Within 1,000 feet of tidal waters and tidal wetlands, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area caps how much of a lot can be covered, and coverage explicitly includes areas covered with gravel, stone, shell, pavers and permeable pavement. The cap depends on how the parcel is designated, and the county Critical Area program administers both the designation and the figure, so check with them before you plan a new pad or path near the water.
A waterfront sample job
Pond or shoreline edge. Another invented example: a band of river rock 50 ft long and 4 ft wide, 6 inches deep, along the edge of a pond. That's 200 x 0.5 = 100 cu ft, which is 3.70 yd³, or 5.0 tons at 1.35. On tidal water this counts toward lot coverage. For armoring a bank against waves, size rip rap on the rip rap calculator instead.
Timing Delivery and Spreading Around the Mountain Freeze
Placing the order
- Take the tonnage to the product page and set the quantity there.
- Choose a delivery date. Delivery is arranged at checkout by ZIP code.
- For a two-layer drive, order CR-6 for the base and a surface stone for the top as separate lines.
Spreading the stone
- Pick the dump spot ahead of time: firm ground, clear overhead, room for the truck to back in and tip.
- Put down a tarp if the pile lands on pavement.
- Spread base stone in thin lifts and compact each one.
- Work between spring and late fall. Frozen or saturated ground won't compact, and in Western Maryland that stretch runs longest.
CR-6, River Rock and the Weight Behind Every Ton
The formula
Cubic yards = (length ft x width ft x depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards x the density of the material you chose.
The densities
| Material option | lb per yd³ | t per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway / walkway gravel | ≈ 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel | ≈ 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Crushed stone (#57, 3/4") | ≈ 2,800 | 1.40 |
| Crusher run / road base | ≈ 3,000 | 1.50 |
| River rock | ≈ 2,700 | 1.35 |
The three outputs
- Cubic yards measures volume.
- Tons is the weight you order.
- Cubic feet helps on small jobs.
CR-6 and crusher run both compact with fines, so both use the 1.50 line.
From Garrett to Worcester: Start Your Estimate
Enter your first area above and let the figures guide the order. If a question comes up along the way, the Maryland Rock Supply team takes them through the contact page.
Common questions
My yard slopes toward the water. How should I measure it?
Measure along the ground surface, not level, because the stone covers the ground as it lies. If the low end needs more depth, size it on its own run, since one depth applies to every area in a calculation.
Is extra stone left over from the job worth keeping?
Usually, yes. A small pile of CR-6 or #57 is handy for filling ruts after the thaw, topping a settled spot, or setting a downspout splash area.
How do I enter an L-shaped walkway?
Split the L into two rectangles that don't overlap, and enter them under multiple areas. Example: legs of 10 x 30 ft and 10 x 14 ft at 3 inches give 110 cu ft, about 4.07 yd³ or 5.7 tons at 1.40.
Should the area include the edging strip?
Measure to the inside face of the edging, since that's the space the stone fills. If the stone runs over a flat border, include the border.
How far down do I dig before the stone goes in?
Dig to the full finished depth of every layer you plan, plus room for any setting layer. Strip sod and soft topsoil first, since stone laid on them settles unevenly.
Related calculators
That tonnage ships free.
Driveway gravel, #57, crusher run: priced by the ton, delivered across Maryland.
