How this calculator works
Area = length x width. Volume = area x gravel depth. Tons = loose cubic yards x gravel density. Truckloads = tons divided by truckload size.
Driveway gravel depth depends on traffic, soil, drainage, and whether you are installing a new base or topping up an existing driveway.
For new driveways, consider separate layers of larger base stone and smaller top stone. This calculator estimates one layer at a time.
Gravel driveway examples
These examples use 10% allowance, 1.4 tons per cubic yard gravel density, and 5 ton truckloads.
| Driveway size | 3 in layer | 4 in layer | 4 in tons | Truckloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20x10 ft | 2.04 cu yd | 2.72 cu yd | 3.8 tons | 1 |
| 40x12 ft | 4.89 cu yd | 6.52 cu yd | 9.13 tons | 2 |
| 60x12 ft | 7.33 cu yd | 9.78 cu yd | 13.69 tons | 3 |
| 80x16 ft | 13.04 cu yd | 17.38 cu yd | 24.34 tons | 5 |
New driveways may need multiple layers. Estimate one layer at a time when using different stone sizes.
Methodology and assumptions
- The default waste allowance is 10% to account for cuts, compaction, uneven excavation, and ordering buffer.
- Default base density is 1.6 tons per cubic yard; default driveway gravel density is 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Use your supplier's exact product density when available.
- Bag counts round up because partial bags are not orderable.
- Depth presets are planning defaults. Belgard describes a compacted aggregate base commonly between 4 and 6 inches for pavers, and CMHA describes bedding sand as a nominal 1 inch layer.
Example calculation
For the first row in the table, the calculator multiplies length by width, converts depth to a volume, adds the waste allowance, then converts that volume to bags, tons, or cost using the selected product assumptions.
This is a planning calculator, not an engineering specification. Confirm local code, soil conditions, drainage, and supplier product data before ordering.