Gravel depth for paths and pads
Pick a practical gravel depth for walkways, landscape beds, drainage areas, and small pads.
Gravel depth depends on what the area needs to do. A decorative bed is different from a walkway, and a walkway is different from a pad that has to support weight.
Decorative beds
About 2 inches can be enough for many decorative beds, especially over weed barrier. Too much gravel can make later planting and cleanup harder.
Walkways
Many simple paths use about 2 to 3 inches of top gravel after the base is prepared. Soft soil, drainage issues, or heavy use may need more base work.
Small pads
For a shed, trash-can pad, or equipment area, depth and base prep matter more. The surface may need excavation, compacted base material, edging, or drainage planning.
Drainage areas
Do not treat drainage work as decoration. The right stone, slope, fabric, pipe, and outlet can matter. If water is moving toward a house, get local advice.
Tons vs cubic yards
Suppliers may price gravel by ton or cubic yard. Tons depend on material density and moisture. The calculator uses a planning density, but your supplier's number is better.
Ask the supplier what unit they sell by before you calculate cost. Matching their unit avoids a lot of back-and-forth.