Buying
How Many Bags of Gravel Do I Need?
How many bags of gravel you need comes down to your area, depth and the bag size. Here's the coverage for common bag sizes, a quick lookup table, and the point where bulk gravel becomes the smarter buy.
How much does one bag of gravel cover?
Gravel bags are sold by volume (cubic feet or litres) or by weight (kg or lb). Coverage depends on how deep you spread it.
| Bag size | Volume | Coverage at 2" deep |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 ft³ bag | ≈ 14 L | ≈ 3 ft² |
| 1 ft³ bag | ≈ 28 L | ≈ 6 ft² |
| 25 kg bag | ≈ 0.5 ft³ | ≈ 3 ft² |
| 50 lb bag | ≈ 0.5 ft³ | ≈ 3 ft² |
| Bulk bag (1 tonne) | ≈ 0.7–0.8 yd³ | ≈ 90–110 ft² |
A 25 kg or 50 lb bag of gravel holds roughly half a cubic foot. Coverage halves if you double the depth.
Bags per cubic yard and cubic metre
- 1 cubic yard (27 ft³) ≈ 54 bags of 0.5 ft³, or 27 bags of 1 ft³.
- 1 cubic metre ≈ 71 bags of 0.5 ft³, or 36 bags of 1 ft³.
- By weight, 1 tonne of gravel ≈ 40 bags of 25 kg.
How to work out your bag count
- Find the volume you need: area × depth (in consistent units).
- Convert to cubic feet (or litres) to match the bag label.
- Divide the total volume by the volume per bag.
- Add about 5–10% for settling and round up.
The Bulk & Bagged Gravel Calculator does this automatically for any bag size, and tells you the bulk equivalent. For pea gravel specifically, the Pea Gravel Calculator is preset to the right density.
When to switch to bulk
Once you're past about 40–50 bags (roughly one cubic yard), bulk gravel is usually cheaper and far less work to haul and open. See bulk vs bagged gravel for the full cost comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of gravel do I need?
Divide the volume you need (area × depth) by the volume of one bag. As a guide, a 0.5 ft³ bag covers about 3 ft² at 2 inches deep, so a 30 ft² path at 2 inches needs about 10 bags plus a little extra.
How many bags of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 54 bags of 0.5 ft³, or 27 bags of 1 ft³, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. By weight that's roughly 40–45 bags of 25 kg.
How much area does a 50 lb bag of gravel cover?
A 50 lb bag holds about half a cubic foot of gravel, covering roughly 3 square feet at 2 inches deep or 6 square feet at 1 inch deep.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bags or in bulk?
Bulk is cheaper for anything over about one cubic yard (40–50 bags). Bags only win for small jobs or when you can't receive a bulk delivery.
Disclaimer: This guide gives general estimates for planning. Actual gravel quantities, weights and prices vary with material type, particle size, moisture, compaction, supplier and your province. Costs are material-only ballparks in Canadian dollars and exclude labour, delivery and taxes unless stated. Always confirm quantities and prices with your local supplier.