Driveway Gravel Calculator
Work out how many tons of gravel a new or resurfaced driveway needs. Gravel driveways are built in layers, so run the calculator once for the compacted base and once for the top layer. The example is the base: 4 in of crusher run on a 60 × 12 ft driveway, with extra for compaction.
How to use the driveway gravel calculator
- Enter the driveway's length and width in feet. Add a second area for a turnaround or parking pad.
- For the base layer, choose Crusher run / road base, enter the compacted depth (4 in in the example) and keep a compaction allowance of about 15%.
- Read the tons and cubic yards, then change the material to Crushed stone (#57), set the top-layer depth (often 2 in) and the compaction to 0% for the top layer.
- Add the two results together for your order, and enter your supplier's price per ton or per yard under Cost estimate.
How driveway gravel is calculated
Each layer is area × depth, converted to cubic yards and then to tons:
- Volume (ft³) = length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste) × (1 + compaction)
- Cubic yards = ft³ ÷ 27
- Tons = yd³ × density
The compaction allowance matters for the base. Crusher run is a mix of crushed stone and fines that packs down hard when you run a plate compactor or roller over it, so you need more loose material than the finished depth. Suppliers quote anything from about 10% to 25%; we use 15% as an editable default. The decorative top layer isn't compacted much, so it gets 0%.
Worked example: the base for a 60 × 12 ft driveway
This is the base layer loaded above.
- Area: 60 × 12 = 720 ft².
- Volume: 720 × 4 ÷ 12 = 240 ft³.
- Add 5% waste and 15% compaction: 240 × 1.05 × 1.15 = 289.8 ft³, which is 10.73 yd³.
- Weight at 1.5 tons per yd³: 16.1 tons of crusher run.
Now the top layer: change the material to #57 stone, set the depth to 2 in and the compaction to 0%. That adds about 4.4 yd³, or 6.7 tons, for a total of roughly 23 tons. A tandem dump truck often carries a load in that range, but ask your supplier what their trucks hold and whether they charge per load.
Which gravel for which layer?
A typical gravel driveway on firm soil has two or three layers:
- Base: 4–6 in or more of crusher run (also sold as road base, dense-graded aggregate or ABC). The fines fill the gaps between the stones so it compacts into a hard, stable layer.
- Top: about 2 in of clean, angular crushed stone such as #57, or a finer crushed stone that packs down. Angular stone locks together; avoid rounded pea gravel, which rolls under tires.
- Soft or wet ground: a layer of larger stone and a geotextile fabric under the base stops the gravel sinking into the mud.
These depths are common practice rather than a code requirement. Your soil, climate and traffic decide what works, so ask a local supplier what they recommend.
Driveway gravel by size: 4 in base plus 2 in top layer
| Driveway | Area | Base: 4 in crusher run (tons) | Top: 2 in #57 stone (tons) | Total tons | Total yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft | 200 ft² | 4.3 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 4.1 |
| 10 × 50 ft | 500 ft² | 10.6 | 4.6 | 15.3 | 10.2 |
| 12 × 50 ft | 600 ft² | 12.8 | 5.6 | 18.3 | 12.2 |
| 12 × 100 ft | 1,200 ft² | 25.6 | 11.1 | 36.7 | 24.4 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 ft² | 8.5 | 3.7 | 12.2 | 8.1 |
| 20 × 40 ft | 800 ft² | 17 | 7.4 | 24.4 | 16.3 |
| 24 × 60 ft | 1,440 ft² | 30.7 | 13.3 | 44 | 29.3 |
Base includes 15% extra for compaction (an editable assumption); the top layer has none. Densities: crusher run 1.5, #57 stone 1.5 tons per yd³. No waste added.
Driveway tips
- Crown the driveway. Build the center slightly higher than the edges so rain runs off instead of forming potholes.
- Compact in layers. Spread and compact the base in 2–3 in lifts, wetting it slightly, rather than all at once.
- Plan the drainage first. Water is what destroys gravel driveways. Add ditches or a culvert where water crosses.
- Order by the ton, check by the yard. Most quarries sell by weight. If one quotes per ton and another per yard, the yards-to-tons converter lets you compare them.
- Resurfacing? For an existing driveway, rake out the potholes, fill them, and add 1–2 in of top stone. Run the calculator with that depth only.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, and multiply by the stone's density (about 1.5 tons per yd³ for crushed stone). Add 10–25% to the base for compaction. A 60 × 12 ft driveway needs about 16 tons of crusher run for a 4 in base and 7 tons of top stone for 2 in.
How many tons of gravel for a 100 ft driveway?
For a 12 ft wide, 100 ft long driveway with a 4 in crusher-run base (+15% compaction) and a 2 in top layer, about 36.7 tons in total: 25.6 tons of base and 11.1 tons of top stone, before waste.
What is the best gravel for a driveway?
Crusher run (road base) for the base, because its fines let it compact hard, and an angular crushed stone such as #57 for the top. Avoid rounded pea gravel and river rock, which move under tires.
How thick should a gravel driveway be?
Common practice is a 4–6 in compacted base plus about 2 in of top stone, and more on soft or clay soil. Ask a local supplier what works on your ground.
How much area does a ton of gravel cover?
At 1.5 tons per yd³, one ton is 0.67 yd³: about 54 ft² at 4 in deep, 108 ft² at 2 in. Compacted base covers less, because you need extra to reach the finished depth.
More gravel calculators
- Gravel CalculatorCubic yards and tons of gravel, pea gravel or crushed stone, with bags and cost.
- Pea Gravel CalculatorPea gravel for paths, patios, fire pits and play areas, in yards, tons and bags.
- Gravel Yards to Tons ConverterConvert cubic yards of gravel, stone or sand to tons, and back, by material.
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