Daily Figures Edition No Sign-Up Free Forever Vol. XII — No. 204
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Gravel Driveway Calculator

Get the cubic yards and tons of gravel needed for a driveway.

Gravel needed
Cubic yards.
Details
Tons
Cubic feet
Area
Depth
Show our math
Enter your figures above to see the step-by-step working.
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How the Gravel Driveway Calculator Works

To gravel a driveway, work out the volume: length × width × depth, with the depth converted from inches to feet. That gives cubic feet, which divided by 27 gives cubic yards — the unit gravel is usually sold in. A typical driveway uses about 4 inches of gravel; base layers can be deeper.

Gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so the calculator also estimates the tonnage. Order about 10% extra for compaction and spread.

cubic yards = length × width × (depth÷12) ÷ 27

Frequently Asked Questions

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 40×10 ft drive at 4 inches needs about 5 cubic yards.

How many tons is a yard of gravel?

About 1.4 tons per cubic yard, though it varies with the stone type and moisture.

How deep should driveway gravel be?

Around 4 inches for a topcoat; a full new driveway may need 8–12 inches across base and surface layers.

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