Gravel Driveway Calculator: How Much Gravel Do I Need? (2026)

A standard residential gravel driveway needs about 1 ton of crushed stone per 80 square feet at a 4-inch finished depth. At 2026 prices of $40 to $75 per ton delivered, that works out to roughly $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot installed DIY. This guide gives you the exact formula, the layer-by-layer base spec contractors use, and a worked example you can copy.

The gravel driveway formula

Tons of gravel = (Length × Width × Depth in inches) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × 1.4

Crushed stone weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard (a cubic yard = 27 cubic feet). Divide depth by 12 to convert inches to feet, divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.4 to convert to tons — that's the unit gravel yards quote and deliver in.

Worked example — 40 ft × 12 ft driveway at 4 in

1. Volume in cubic feet: 40 × 12 × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 cu ft
2. Convert to cubic yards: 160 ÷ 27 = 5.93 yd³
3. Convert to tons: 5.93 × 1.4 = 8.3 tons
4. At $55/ton delivered = $457 in gravel
5. Round up to a 9-ton delivery to cover compaction and edges

Recommended depth by driveway type

• Walking path — 2 inches of #57 stone
• Light car driveway — 4 inches total (2 in base + 2 in finish)
• Standard residential — 6 inches total (3 in #3 base + 3 in #57 finish)
• Heavy truck / RV access — 8 to 10 inches in 3 layers
• Soft or clay soil — add 2 extra inches and a geotextile fabric

2026 gravel prices per ton (delivered)

• Crushed run / road base — $20 to $40 per ton
• #3 stone (large base course) — $25 to $45 per ton
• #57 stone (driveway favorite) — $30 to $60 per ton
• Pea gravel — $35 to $75 per ton
• River rock decorative — $50 to $120 per ton
• Delivery fee — $80 to $180 flat (10-ton minimum typical)

Cost per square foot installed

• DIY (gravel + delivery only) — $1.25 to $3.00 per sq ft
• Pro install with grading and compaction — $3 to $7 per sq ft
• Full new driveway with excavation and base — $5 to $12 per sq ft

Common driveway sizes

• Single car (10 × 20) — 200 sq ft · ~3.5 tons · $200–$400
• Single long (10 × 40) — 400 sq ft · ~7 tons · $400–$700
• Double car (20 × 20) — 400 sq ft · ~7 tons · $400–$700
• Standard (12 × 50) — 600 sq ft · ~10.5 tons · $600–$1,000
• Rural lane (12 × 100) — 1,200 sq ft · ~21 tons · $1,200–$2,000

Layer the base correctly

1. Excavate 6 to 8 inches of topsoil down to firm subgrade
2. Roll out non-woven geotextile fabric on clay or wet soils
3. Spread 3 to 4 inches of #3 crushed stone for the base
4. Compact with a plate compactor or driving over it loaded
5. Top with 2 to 3 inches of #57 stone or crushed run
6. Crown the middle 1 to 2 inches for water runoff
7. Compact again — total finished depth 5 to 7 inches

FAQ

How many tons of gravel in a cubic yard?

About 1.4 tons per cubic yard for crushed limestone and granite. Pea gravel runs a little lighter at 1.3 tons, river rock heavier at 1.5 tons.

Can I install a gravel driveway myself?

Yes — excavation, fabric, spreading, and compacting are all rentable-equipment jobs. Most DIY savings come from skipping the contractor markup on materials and labor, typically 40 to 60% off a pro install.

Estimate your driveway now

Use the free gravel driveway calculator on the home page to size your order in tons and dollars in 60 seconds.