Shed Base Calculator
Calculate the gravel pad size, cubic yards, and tons for a shed foundation.
Start with the shed footprint, then add about 1 foot of pad beyond every side: add 2 ft to both the shed length and width before entering the pad dimensions below. The calculator starts with a 4-inch compacted gravel depth and reports cubic yards and tons for ordering.
Gravel Calculator
Estimate how much you need — and the cost.
- cubic feet 33.33
- cubic meters 0.944
- tons (US) 1.85
- tonnes 1.68
Tip: Make the gravel pad about 2 ft longer and wider than the shed so rain drains away from the floor.
How it's calculated
1 cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 in / about 162 sq ft at 2 in deep; about 1.5 US tons per cubic yard (typically 1.4–1.7).
See the full Gravel Calculator for the complete how-to, unit conversions, and data sources.
Shed Base Calculator FAQ
What size gravel base do I need for a shed?
Make the pad about 2 ft longer and 2 ft wider than the shed, giving roughly 1 ft of gravel beyond every wall. For example, a 10 × 12 ft shed uses about a 12 × 14 ft pad.
How deep should a gravel shed base be?
About 4 inches of compacted crushed stone, extended a foot beyond the shed on all sides for drainage.
How much gravel for a shed base?
Size the pad a foot larger than the shed each way, then use a 4-inch depth. A 10 × 12 ft pad sized to 12 × 14 ft needs about 2.1 cubic yards.