By weight
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Project guide
Gravel for a Driveway?
How much gravel for a driveway — the right depth, the layered-base reality, and a calculator giving cubic yards and tons.
Area & depth
FIG. 01required
required
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Default density 1.5 tons/yd³ for crushed stone. Override if your supplier quotes a specific figure.
You need
—cu yd
Order to nearest ½ yd → —
Coverage area
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Sizing it right
A gravel driveway isn't one layer — and that's the mistake most online estimates make. Sizing it right means accounting for depth, compaction, and often more than one course of stone.
Depth: 4 inches minimum, often more
Plan on at least 4 inches of stone, and 6+ over soft ground. A proper driveway is usually built in layers — a coarse base course topped with a finer driving surface — so your total depth (and tonnage) is higher than a single 2-inch landscaping spread.
Order by the ton, allow for compaction
Gravel is sold both by the cubic yard and the ton; suppliers often quote tons. Crushed stone runs about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, and it compacts when rolled, so order roughly 10–20% extra. The calculator below gives both yards and tons with the density editable.
Width matters as much as length
A "100-foot driveway" tells you nothing without width — a single-car drive is ~10 ft, double ~20 ft. Enter both below. For the compacted sub-base specifically under a future slab, use the gravel base calculator instead.
FAQ
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
At least 4 inches, and 6 or more over soft soil — usually built in layers (a coarse base plus a finer top course). Deeper, layered stone resists rutting and lasts far longer than a thin spread.
How many tons of gravel for a 100-foot driveway?
It depends on width and depth. A 100 ft × 10 ft drive at 4 inches is about 12 cubic yards, or roughly 18 tons of crushed stone before compaction overage. Enter your exact width and depth above.