How many cubic yards of gravel for a 12x12 shed base?

About 1.78 cubic yards at 4 inches deep (48 cu ft ÷ 27). Order 2 cubic yards — gravel compacts and settles, so the small buffer gets used.

How many tons of gravel is 2 cubic yards?

About 2.8 tons, since one cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons. Make sure the delivery truck can access the site with that weight.

How deep should a gravel shed base be?

Four inches of compacted gravel is the standard for shed bases. On soft or poorly draining soil, go 6 inches for extra stability.

What type of gravel is best under a shed?

Crushed stone such as ¾-inch crusher run or #57 stone — the angular pieces lock together and compact into a stable pad. Round pea gravel shifts and does not compact well.

Do I need landscape fabric under a gravel shed base?

Yes. Landscape fabric keeps weeds from pushing through and stops the gravel from sinking into the soil over time. It is cheap insurance for a pad that should last years.

Guide

How Much Gravel Do I Need for a 12x12 Shed Base?

A gravel base under a shed keeps the floor dry, level, and off the soil. For a 12 × 12 foot shed at the standard 4-inch depth, you need 48 cubic feet of gravel — that is 1.78 cubic yards, so order 2 cubic yards. Since gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, plan on roughly 2.8 tons delivered.

Key Takeaways

A 12 × 12 ft shed base at 4 inches deep needs 48 cubic feet (1.78 cubic yards) of gravel.
Round up to 2 cubic yards — gravel is cheap, and a short pad is worse than leftovers.
Two cubic yards of gravel weigh about 2.8 tons (1.4 tons per cubic yard).
Four inches of compacted crushed stone is the standard depth for a shed base.
Lay landscape fabric under the gravel to stop weeds and keep the stone from sinking into the soil.

Calculate Your Gravel

How to Calculate Gravel for a 12x12 Shed Base

Gravel is ordered by the cubic yard, but the math starts in cubic feet. Convert the depth to feet first, then convert the volume to yards.

1Measure the pad: 12 ft long × 12 ft wide, and decide the depth (4 inches is standard for shed bases).
2Convert depth to feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
3Calculate cubic feet: 12 × 12 × 0.333 = 48 cu ft.
4Convert to cubic yards: 48 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.78 cu yd — round up to 2.
5Estimate delivery weight: 2 cu yd × 1.4 tons per cu yd ≈ 2.8 tons.

The Gravel Volume Formula

Gravel volume is length × width × depth, converted to cubic yards because that is the unit suppliers sell by. The weight estimate uses the rule of thumb that one cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons.

Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27

Worked Example: 12 ft × 12 ft Shed Base at 4 Inches

Here is the full calculation for a 12 × 12 shed pad at 4 inches deep, plus a depth chart with delivery weights.

Step 1

Pad dimensions: 12 ft × 12 ft, 4 inches deep.

Step 2

Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.

Step 3

Volume: 12 × 12 × 0.333 = 48 cubic feet.

Step 4

Cubic yards: 48 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.78 cubic yards — order 2.

Step 5

Delivery weight: 2 × 1.4 ≈ 2.8 tons.

Base depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx)
3 in	1.33	1.9
4 in	1.78	2.5
6 in	2.67	3.7

Common Mistakes

Ordering exactly 1.78 yards instead of rounding up to 2 — gravel settles and compacts.
Using round pea gravel instead of crushed stone — crushed gravel compacts and locks together; round stone shifts.
Skipping the depth conversion — entering 4 inches as 4 feet over-orders by 12×.
Forgetting the weight: 2.8 tons needs a real delivery truck, not a pickup bed.
Dumping gravel straight onto grass with no landscape fabric or edging to hold it in place.

Practical Tips

Extend the pad about 1 foot beyond the shed on all sides for drainage and a working edge.
Compact the gravel in 2-inch lifts with a plate compactor or hand tamper for a rock-solid base.
A ¾-inch crushed stone (often called #57 or crusher run) is the go-to material for shed bases.
Check that delivery trucks can reach the spot — 2.8 tons needs a clear, firm path.
Use the NOVORY Gravel Calculator to double-check your yardage and tonnage before you order.