A gravel driveway needs 4–6 inches of material: multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by about 1.5 for tons. A single-car 40 × 12 ft driveway at 6 inches deep needs about 8.9 cubic yards — roughly 13.5 tons.
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Order – tons (includes your waste allowance) so compaction and spillage don’t leave you short.
Gravel Driveway Calculator Guide
A gravel driveway is the cheapest driveway you can build and the most expensive one to build badly — skimp on the base and you’ll re-buy the surface every spring. This calculator sizes the full build: enter your driveway’s dimensions and it returns total cubic yards and tons at your chosen depth, with the default set to a proper 6-inch build-up.
For a quick size reference: a single-car driveway is typically 10–12 feet wide; add 8–10 feet of width wherever cars must pass or park side by side. Measure curves and flares generously — driveways are always bigger than they look.
The Three-Layer Build That Lasts Decades
| Layer | Material | Depth | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-base (soft ground) | #2 / #3 large stone | 3–4 in | Bridges weak soil, stops pumping |
| Base | Crusher run / DGA | 4 in compacted | The structural layer — carries the load |
| Surface | #57 stone | 2 in | Clean, draining, good-looking wear course |
On firm, well-drained ground you can skip the sub-base and build 4 inches of crusher run plus 2 inches of #57. To order layer by layer, run this calculator once per layer at that layer’s depth and material — the totals will match the table above within rounding.
Worked Example: 40 × 12 ft Single-Car Driveway
- Base: 40 × 12 × 4 in = 5.9 yd³ ≈ 9.2 tons of crusher run (with 15% compaction allowance ≈ 10.5 tons).
- Surface: 40 × 12 × 2 in = 3.0 yd³ ≈ 4.3 tons of #57 stone.
- Delivery: ~15 tons total — one tandem truck load, or two single-axle loads.
Details That Separate Good Driveways from Mud Strips
Crown it. The finished surface should sit 2–4% higher at the centerline so rain sheds to the edges instead of ponding into potholes. Fabric on soft ground. Woven geotextile between soil and stone stops the base sinking into clay — the cheapest insurance in the whole build. Compact in lifts. Two 2-inch passes beat one 4-inch pass every time. Plan maintenance. Even a good driveway wants a ton or two of fresh surface stone every couple of years and an annual regrade of the crown — budget it and it never becomes a crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gravel do I need for a 40-foot driveway?
A 40 × 12 ft single-car driveway at 6 inches deep needs about 8.9 cubic yards, or 13–14 tons. Built properly as 4 inches of crusher run plus 2 inches of #57 stone, that is roughly 9 tons of base and 4.5 tons of surface stone.
What are the layers of a gravel driveway?
A long-lasting driveway has three: 3–4 inches of large base stone (#3 or #2) on soft ground, 4 inches of compacted crusher run as the structural layer, and 2 inches of clean #57 stone as the surface. On firm, well-drained soil you can often skip the first layer.
How many tons of gravel fit in a dump truck?
A standard tandem dump truck carries 13–15 tons; a single-axle truck around 6–9 tons. Knowing the load size matters because a driveway needing 20 tons means two deliveries — and two delivery fees.
How often does a gravel driveway need topping up?
Plan on adding a ton or two of fresh surface stone every 1–2 years, and regrading ruts and the crown annually. A properly compacted base dramatically reduces how much surface stone migrates.