How to use the gravel driveway calculator
- Enter the driveway. Type the length and the width of the driveway, or its area if it is not a rectangle.
- Enter the depth and the gravel. Type the depth of the gravel layer and choose the gravel type, or enter your supplier's tons per cubic yard.
- Read the tons and the cost. The result shows the tons and cubic yards to order and the area in square feet and square yards. Add your price per ton, per cubic yard or per square foot to see the cost.
What is a gravel driveway calculator?
A gravel driveway calculator is a tool that estimates the gravel for a driveway. It multiplies the length, the width and the depth of the gravel to get cubic yards, then multiplies by the weight of the gravel to get tons, which is how most quarries sell it.
Use it for a new driveway, for a fresh top layer on an old one, or for a parking pad.
Features
- Tons and cubic yards of gravel from the driveway length, width and depth
- An area and depth option for a driveway that is not a rectangle
- The area in square feet and square yards
- Seven gravel weights from a named source and a field for your supplier's figure
- A cost from your own price per ton, per cubic yard or per square foot
- An extra allowance you can add for spillage and uneven ground
- A live 3D preview, a PDF of the estimate and a WhatsApp share button
What you can use it for
- A new gravel driveway
- A fresh top layer on an old driveway
- A parking pad or a turnaround
- Each layer of a driveway built in layers, one at a time
How driveway gravel is calculated
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × tons per cubic yard.
Worked example: a driveway 40 ft long and 12 ft wide, 4 inches of gravel
- Area: 40 × 12 = 480 square feet, which is 53.33 square yards.
- Depth in feet: 4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Volume: 480 × 0.333 = 160 cubic feet = 5.93 cubic yards.
- Weight at 1.85 tons per cubic yard: 5.93 × 1.85 = 10.96 tons.
These are the numbers the calculator shows when the page opens.
Tons of gravel for a 12 ft wide driveway, by length and depth
| Length | 2 inches deep | 4 inches deep | 6 inches deep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 2.74 tons | 5.48 tons | 8.22 tons |
| 40 ft | 5.48 tons | 10.96 tons | 16.44 tons |
| 60 ft | 8.22 tons | 16.44 tons | 24.67 tons |
| 100 ft | 13.70 tons | 27.41 tons | 41.11 tons |
The table uses 1.85 tons per cubic yard, the Washington State DOT Design Manual's figure for gravel base compacted in place.
Layers and depth
A gravel driveway is often built in layers, with larger stone at the bottom and finer gravel on top. To estimate a layered driveway, run the calculator once for each layer with that layer's depth and gravel type, and add the results.
Driveway depth depends on the soil, the traffic and the climate, so the calculator takes the depth you plan. The page opens at 4 inches; enter the depth from your contractor or your local road standard, layer by layer.
What the calculator includes
- A driveway with curves or a turning area is not a rectangle. Work out its area and use area and depth.
- The extra allowance starts at 0%, because a compacted weight already covers compaction.
- Each dimension can be up to 10,000 in its unit, an area up to 1,000,000, and your own figure up to 5 tons per cubic yard.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculation and the PDF are made in your browser. The numbers you type are not sent to our server and are not saved.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Measure the full length of the driveway, including the apron and any turning area.
- Plan a firm base layer and a top layer; calculate each layer with its own depth.
- Crown the driveway slightly so water runs off the sides.
- Compact each layer before the next one goes down.
- Keep a little extra stone for low spots that appear after the first heavy rain.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
- How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
- Multiply the length, width and depth in feet and divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by the tons per cubic yard. A driveway 40 ft by 12 ft with 4 inches of gravel needs 5.93 cubic yards, which is 10.96 tons of compacted gravel.
- How many tons of gravel do I need for a 100 ft driveway?
- For a driveway 100 ft long and 12 ft wide at 1.85 tons per cubic yard: 13.70 tons at 2 inches deep, 27.41 tons at 4 inches and 41.11 tons at 6 inches.
- How much does gravel for a driveway cost?
- It depends on local prices. Ask a quarry or a landscape supplier for a price per ton, including delivery, and enter it to get the cost of your driveway.
- How deep should gravel be on a driveway?
- It depends on the soil, the traffic and the climate. Ask your contractor or check your local road standard, then enter that depth.
- How many square feet does a ton of gravel cover on a driveway?
- At 1.85 tons per cubic yard, one ton of compacted gravel covers 87.6 square feet at 2 inches deep, 43.8 square feet at 4 inches and 29.2 square feet at 6 inches.
- Should I order by the ton or by the cubic yard?
- Order the way your supplier sells. Most quarries weigh the truck and sell by the ton. The calculator shows both numbers.
Sources
Every figure this calculator uses comes from the published sources below. The formulas are on this page, so any result can be checked by hand.
- Washington State Department of Transportation, Design Manual M 22-01, Exhibits 620-1 and 620-2. Dry weights in tons per cubic yard of gravel, crushed stone, ballast, sand and hot mix asphalt.