Driveway Gravel Calculator
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- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Work out the gravel for a new driveway, layer by layer: cubic yards or m³ and tons to order, with extra for compaction.
Layers (finished depth, after compacting)
How it’s calculated
- Each layer: volume = length × width × depth. The layers add up to the total.
- To order = volume × (1 + extra). The default 15% allows for the gravel packing down and spreading.
- Weight = volume × 1,680 kg/m³ for dry gravel (about 1.42 US tons per cubic yard), unless you enter your supplier’s figure.
Example: a 50 × 12 ft driveway is 600 sq ft. A 4 in base is 600 × 4 ÷ 12 = 200 cu ft (7.41 cubic yards) and a 2 in top layer is 100 cu ft (3.70 cubic yards): 11.11 cubic yards once compacted. With 15% extra, order about 12.78 cubic yards, roughly 18.1 US tons.
In metric: 15 × 3.5 m with a 10 cm base and a 5 cm top layer holds 5.25 + 2.63 = 7.88 m³. With 15% extra, order about 9.06 m³, roughly 15.2 tonnes.
About Driveway Gravel Calculator
Plan the stone for a new gravel driveway or a rebuild. Enter the length and width, then the finished depth of each layer, from an optional sub-base at the bottom to the top layer. You get the volume and weight of every layer, the extra to order because gravel packs down, and the total in cubic yards, cubic metres, US tons and tonnes.
How to use Driveway Gravel Calculator
- Choose your units and the material, or enter your supplier's weight for it.
- Enter the length and width of the driveway.
- Enter the finished depth of each layer you plan to lay, and 0 for any layer you don't need.
- Pick the extra for compaction, then read what to order for each layer and in total.
How your data is handled
Everything is worked out in your browser as you type. Nothing you enter is sent or saved, apart from your choice of metric or imperial units, which is remembered on your device.
Limits and accuracy
- It works for a rectangle. Work out a turning area, a bend or a wider entrance on its own and add it to the total.
- The 15% extra for compaction is an assumption, not a rule. Ask your supplier how much their material packs down.
- It doesn't design the driveway. Soft or wet ground, steep slopes, drainage and heavy vehicles need advice from a local contractor.
Questions and answers
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Work out each layer: length × width × depth. A 50 × 12 ft driveway with a 4 in base and a 2 in top layer holds 200 + 100 = 300 cubic feet, or 11.1 cubic yards. With 15% extra for compaction, order about 12.8 cubic yards, roughly 18 US tons of dry gravel.
How thick should a gravel driveway be?
It depends on the ground, the traffic and the stone. As one example, a published local design standard (Section 32 15 50) asks for a 4 in compacted base course and a 2 in top course over a compacted subgrade. Soft ground and heavy vehicles need more, so ask a local contractor what works where you live.
Why order extra gravel for compaction?
Gravel arrives loose. When it's rolled or driven on, the stones pack together and the layer gets thinner, so you need more loose gravel than the finished volume. The calculator adds 15% by default; your supplier may suggest a different figure for their material.
What are the layers of a gravel driveway?
Driveways are usually built in layers: coarser crushed stone at the bottom for strength and drainage, then a base layer, then finer gravel on top for a smoother surface. Each layer is spread and compacted before the next one goes on. Enter 0 for any layer you don't need.
How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?
About 1.4 US tons for dry gravel (1,680 kg/m³, or 105 lb per cubic foot). Wet gravel weighs more. If your supplier gives a figure, choose My supplier's figure and type it in.
Can I use metres?
Yes. Choose Metric: length and width in metres, layer depths in centimetres, and the results in m³ and tonnes. A 15 × 3.5 m driveway with a 10 cm base and a 5 cm top layer needs about 9.06 m³ (15.2 tonnes) with 15% extra.