What is the density of gravel?

Common gravel runs 105 lb/ft³ loose — 1,680 kg/m³, or 1.42 US tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb). Pea gravel is lighter at 96 lb/ft³, #57 stone sits at 100 lb/ft³ loose, and crusher run with its fines reaches 125 lb/ft³ loose and about 140 compacted.

Why do loose and compacted densities differ?

Compaction closes the air voids between particles, packing more stone into the same volume. Crusher run gains roughly 12% from loose to compacted (125 to 140 lb/ft³) because its fines fill the gaps; clean single-size stone like #57 gains less, about 9%, since uniform particles cannot interlock as tightly.

Why does density matter when ordering gravel?

Suppliers sell by weight, but your project needs volume. Density is the bridge: cubic yards × density = tons ordered. Use the wrong figure — pea gravel numbers for crusher run, say — and a 10-yard order lands roughly 3 tons off, which is either wasted money or a second delivery fee.

Which gravel type is heaviest, and which is lightest?

Among standard aggregates, compacted crusher run is heaviest at about 140 lb/ft³ (2,240 kg/m³) because fines pack the voids. Lava rock is the outlier at the light end — roughly 50 lb/ft³, half the weight of common gravel, which is why a ton of it covers nearly twice the area.

How is gravel density measured?

Per ASTM C29, a rigid container of known volume is filled under a defined procedure — loose fill or rodded in layers — and weighed. Loose bulk density mirrors gravel as it leaves the truck; the rodded figure approximates a compacted lift. Published values are typical; your quarry can supply certified numbers.

Does moisture change gravel density?

Yes — wet gravel weighs 10–15% more because water fills the surface pores and voids without adding stone. The chart lists dry values at 1,680 kg/m³ for common gravel and 1,920 wet. When a supplier weighs a rained-on stockpile, that difference rides straight onto your ticket.

Gravel · Reference Chart

Gravel density chart

Unit weights are the one number every gravel calculation runs through. Here are the loose and compacted figures estimators actually use, per ASTM C29 typical values.

Contents

1.The density chart
2.Densities compared
3.From density to order weight
4.Wet vs dry gravel

The density chart

Loose bulk densities unless noted, per ASTM C29 typical values. The highlighted row — 105 lb/ft³, 1.42 US tons/yd³ — is the estimating standard for unspecified gravel.
Material	kg/m³	lb/ft³	t/m³
Pea gravel (loose)3/8 in rounded; pours and flows	1,540	96.1	1.54
Common gravel, dry (loose)The 1.4 t/yd³ estimating standard	1,680	104.9	1.68
Gravel, wetRain adds ~10–15% to scale weight	1,920	119.9	1.92
Crushed stone #57 (loose)3/4–1 in angular, self-locking	1,600	99.9	1.6
Crushed stone #57 (compacted)	1,750	109.2	1.75
Crusher run / road base (loose)Stone + fines blend	2,000	124.9	2
Crusher run / road base (compacted)140 lb/ft³ — matches DGA under asphalt	2,240	139.8	2.24
Stone dust / screenings	1,600	99.9	1.6
River rock 1–3 in	1,600	99.9	1.6
Bank run (sand & gravel mix)	1,800	112.4	1.8

This chart covers the types that make up nearly every residential order. For crushed limestone, decomposed granite, lava rock, recycled concrete and the rest, see the full 20-material database.

Densities compared

Loose and compacted unit weights, kg/m³

Pea gravel (loose)1,540kg/m³

Common gravel, dry (loose)1,680kg/m³

Gravel, wet1,920kg/m³

Crushed stone #57 (loose)1,600kg/m³

Crushed stone #57 (compacted)1,750kg/m³

Crusher run / road base (loose)2,000kg/m³

Crusher run / road base (compacted)2,240kg/m³

Stone dust / screenings1,600kg/m³

River rock 1–3 in1,600kg/m³

Bank run (sand & gravel mix)1,800kg/m³

The spread matters more than the individual numbers: from pea gravel at 1,540 kg/m³ to compacted crusher run at 2,240, the same cubic yard varies by 45% in weight. The other materials on this site sit higher still — normal-weight concrete at ~2,400 kg/m³ (see the concrete density chart) and compacted hot-mix asphalt at ~2,320 (see the asphalt density chart).

From density to order weight

Formula

Weight = Volume × Density

Volume: Area × depth (ft³ or m³)
Density: Unit weight from the chart (lb/ft³ or kg/m³)

Divide pounds by 2,000 for US tons; kilograms by 1,000 for tonnes. Shortcut for common gravel: cubic yards × 1.42 = tons.

Wet vs dry gravel

Frequently asked questions

What is the density of gravel?: Common gravel runs 105 lb/ft³ loose — 1,680 kg/m³, or 1.42 US tons per cubic yard (2,800 lb). Pea gravel is lighter at 96 lb/ft³, #57 stone sits at 100 lb/ft³ loose, and crusher run with its fines reaches 125 lb/ft³ loose and about 140 compacted.
Why do loose and compacted densities differ?: Compaction closes the air voids between particles, packing more stone into the same volume. Crusher run gains roughly 12% from loose to compacted (125 to 140 lb/ft³) because its fines fill the gaps; clean single-size stone like #57 gains less, about 9%, since uniform particles cannot interlock as tightly.
Why does density matter when ordering gravel?: Suppliers sell by weight, but your project needs volume. Density is the bridge: cubic yards × density = tons ordered. Use the wrong figure — pea gravel numbers for crusher run, say — and a 10-yard order lands roughly 3 tons off, which is either wasted money or a second delivery fee.
Which gravel type is heaviest, and which is lightest?: Among standard aggregates, compacted crusher run is heaviest at about 140 lb/ft³ (2,240 kg/m³) because fines pack the voids. Lava rock is the outlier at the light end — roughly 50 lb/ft³, half the weight of common gravel, which is why a ton of it covers nearly twice the area.
How is gravel density measured?: Per ASTM C29, a rigid container of known volume is filled under a defined procedure — loose fill or rodded in layers — and weighed. Loose bulk density mirrors gravel as it leaves the truck; the rodded figure approximates a compacted lift. Published values are typical; your quarry can supply certified numbers.
Does moisture change gravel density?: Yes — wet gravel weighs 10–15% more because water fills the surface pores and voids without adding stone. The chart lists dry values at 1,680 kg/m³ for common gravel and 1,920 wet. When a supplier weighs a rained-on stockpile, that difference rides straight onto your ticket.

Related references

Gravel Density Database30+ aggregates with loose and compacted unit weights.Reference Gravel Weight ChartPounds and tons per yard, foot and meter.Chart

Sources & references

[1]ASTM C29/C29M: Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregate — ASTM International, 2017
[2]The Aggregates Handbook, 2nd ed. — National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, 2013