Gravel Driveway Calculator
Three stone layers plus fabric, as one bill of materials, in yards and tons.
Quick answer
A 50 by 10 ft gravel driveway built in three layers (about 5 in of base, 4 in of #57, and 3 in of crusher run on top) takes roughly 21 cubic yards of stone with compaction and waste included. That is a delivery job, not a pickup job.
Size
10 ft for one car, 16 to 20 for two
Project details
Typical layers: 4 to 6 in of base, about 4 in of #57, and 2 to 3 in on top. Go deeper on soft soil or where the ground freezes.
Adds local climate notes and goes into your copied order.
29.5 tons of stone. 500 sq ft of driveway in 3 layers
Your project
29.5 tons of stone
500 sq ft of driveway in 3 layers
Measured: 500 sq ft, 120 ft of edge
HaulOnce order ticket
Gravel driveway
Ticket no.
974256
- 01Geotextile fabric (woven, driveway grade)612 sq ft
1 strip of 12 ft roll, 1 ft overlap at seams
Use woven stabilization fabric under driveways, not light landscape fabric.
- 02Base layer8.51 cu yd
5 in deep over 500 sq ft
Order: 9 cu yd bulk (11.7 tons). Weighs 20,420 lb to 23,820 lb.
Includes compaction (+5%), waste and uneven ground (+5%).
- 03Middle layer6.48 cu yd
4 in deep over 500 sq ft
Order: 6.5 cu yd bulk (8.45 tons) or 350 bags of 0.5 cu ft. Weighs 15,560 lb to 18,150 lb.
Includes waste and uneven ground (+5%).
- 04Top layer5.83 cu yd
3 in deep over 500 sq ft
Order: 6 cu yd bulk (9.3 tons) or 315 bags of 0.5 cu ft. Weighs 16,330 lb to 19,830 lb.
Includes compaction (+20%), waste and uneven ground (+5%).
Before you start
- Compact each stone layer with a plate compactor or roller before adding the next.
- Crown the driveway slightly (higher in the middle) so water runs off instead of pooling.
- Layer names and sizes vary by region. Ask your supplier what they use for driveway base and top.
Estimate from haulonce.com. Weights vary with moisture and supplier. Prices are examples unless you entered your own.
Haul Check
Typical 1,500 to 2,300 lb. We use the low end until you enter yours.
Check the Tire and Loading Information sticker on your driver's door jamb for your exact payload.
#3 stone hits your payload long before your bed is full.
That is 20,620 lb over your payload. You need 15 trips.
Split it into 15 loads of about 0.57 cu yd (1,470 lb) each, or get it delivered instead. At this many trips, delivery usually costs less than your time and fuel.
If the #3 stone is wet or on the heavy side, plan on 16 trips.
Using the low end of the typical payload range. Enter your own for an exact answer.
What pros know
- The bottom layer carries the load. On soft or wet soil, go deeper here, not on top. Source
- #57 is the drainage layer. It does not lock together on its own, so most driveways cap it with crusher run or screenings. Source
- Crusher run compacts, so order about 20 percent more than the finished depth. This calculator adds it for you. Source
Ready to text or email your supplier:
“I need 9 cubic yards of #3 or #4 base stone delivered.”
Add your ZIP code above to include it.
Why a driveway is built in layers
A good gravel driveway is a sandwich. The base of large stone (#3 or #4, or crusher run) spreads the weight of vehicles into the ground. A middle layer of #57 stone drains water away. The top of crusher run or screenings locks together into a surface you can drive and shovel. Geotextile fabric underneath keeps the base from sinking into the soil.
Common guidance is 4 to 6 inches of base, about 4 inches in the middle, and 2 to 3 inches on top. Soft or wet soil, heavy trucks, and deep frost all call for more. Layer names and sizes vary by region, so ask your supplier what they recommend for local soil.
How to measure a driveway
Measure the length along the center and the width at a few points, then use the average. Add any turnaround or parking pad as its own area with the gravel calculator. Typical widths are about 10 to 12 feet for one car and 16 to 20 feet for two.
Weight of driveway stone
| Material | Low | Typical | High | Tons per yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 or #4 base stone | 2,400 | 2,600 | 2,800 | 1.3 |
| #57 crushed stone | 2,400 | 2,600 | 2,800 | 1.3 |
| Crusher run (dense grade, with fines) | 2,800 | 3,100 | 3,400 | 1.55 |
| Stone screenings (stone dust) | 2,600 | 2,800 | 3,000 | 1.4 |
Pounds per loose cubic yard, as delivered. Wet material sits at or above the high end.
Delivery or haul it yourself?
One cubic yard of crusher run weighs about 3,100 lb. A full-size half-ton pickup typically carries 1,500 to 2,300 lb, and a midsize pickup 1,100 to 1,700 lb. Your exact number is on the Tire and Loading Information sticker on the driver's door jamb.
That means weight runs out first. At the low end of a half-ton's payload, you can carry only about 0.48 cubic yards per trip, even though a 6.5 ft bed holds about 2.1 level full. A bed that looks half empty can already be over the limit.
The Haul Check in the calculator does this math for your truck and your load, and tells you how many trips it takes.
A driveway is almost always a delivery job. Ask the driver to spread the load as they dump (many dump trucks can “tailgate spread”) to save hours of wheelbarrow work.
What pros know
- Crusher run compacts, so order about 20 percent more than the finished depth. This calculator adds it for you. (Caterpillar)
- It is among the heaviest landscape materials, often over 1.5 tons per yard. One yard can overload a half-ton pickup by itself. (The Engineering ToolBox)
- Names change by region: crush and run, CR6, 21A, DGA, quarry process. Ask your yard what they call it. (Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies)
Common mistakes
- Putting gravel straight on soft soil with no fabric.
- Skipping the compaction allowance on crusher run.
- Building it flat. A slight crown sheds water.
- Ordering one big pile when the layers need different stone.
Questions people ask
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length by width for square feet, then work out each layer. A 50 by 10 ft driveway with 12 inches of total stone needs roughly 21 cubic yards including compaction and waste.
How thick should a gravel driveway be?
Commonly 8 to 12 inches in total: 4 to 6 in of base, about 4 in of #57, and 2 to 3 in of crusher run or screenings on top.
What is the best gravel for a driveway?
Angular crushed stone in layers. Rounded pea gravel rolls under tires and ruts. Crusher run on top locks together into a firm surface.
Do I need fabric under a gravel driveway?
On soft, clay, or wet soil, yes. Woven geotextile fabric keeps the base stone from sinking into the ground.
How many tons of gravel for a driveway?
Each cubic yard of driveway stone is roughly 1.3 to 1.6 tons. The planner shows the tons for every layer.
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
It depends on local stone prices, delivery, and site prep. Enter your supplier's price per yard or ton in the gravel calculator for each layer to price the materials.
Sources
- Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
- The Engineering ToolBox, Dirt and Mud: Densities (dry, moist, and wet soils, sand, and gravel)
- Caterpillar, Earthwork Volumes Reference Tables (swell and load factors)
- NHTSA, Tires: the Tire and Loading Information placard on the driver's door jamb
Last reviewed: . How we calculate
Related calculators and projects
- Gravel CalculatorCubic yards, tons, bags, and truck trips for any gravel.
- Crusher Run CalculatorCrusher run with compaction already added to the order.
- #57 Stone CalculatorClean #57 stone for drainage and driveway layers.
- Crushed Stone CalculatorCrushed stone by grade, with compaction and payload checks.
- Tons to Cubic YardsConvert tons and yards for gravel, soil, sand, and more.
- Paver PatioPavers by pattern, base, sand, edging, and the dirt you dig out.