How Much Gravel for a Driveway? Tons by Driveway Size

Length × width × depth, plus about 20% because stone compacts, times the weight of the stone. A 50 × 10 ft driveway 7 in deep needs about 17.5 tons of stone (13 cu yd).

Work out each layer separately: area × depth for the base, then for the top gravel. Typical depths shown; driveways need more.

Tons of stone by driveway size

Three layers of 3 + 2 + 2 in, 20% for compaction, 1.35 tons per cu yd
Driveway	Volume	Weight
20 × 10 ft	5.2 cu yd	7 tons
30 × 10 ft	7.8 cu yd	10.5 tons
50 × 10 ft	13 cu yd	17.5 tons
50 × 12 ft	15.6 cu yd	21 tons
100 × 12 ft	31.1 cu yd	42 tons

Metric: 75 + 50 + 50 mm, 20% for compaction, 1.6 tonnes per m³
Driveway	Volume	Weight
6 × 3 m	3.8 m³	6 tonnes
10 × 3 m	6.3 m³	10.1 tonnes
15 × 3 m	9.5 m³	15.1 tonnes
20 × 3.5 m	14.7 m³	23.5 tonnes
30 × 3.5 m	22.1 m³	35.3 tonnes

Layers

Hello Gravel, a bulk supplier, describes three layers: a base of large stone or crusher run, a middle layer of #3 stone and a top layer of #57, each 2–3 in thick when compacted, or 6–9 in in all. Soft ground and heavy vehicles need more. Set your own layers in the gravel driveway calculator.

Worked example: a 50 × 10 ft driveway

Area: 500 sq ft.
Depth: 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 in, or 0.583 ft. Volume: 500 × 0.583 = 292 cu ft.
Add 20% for compaction: 350 cu ft, or 13 cu yd.
At about 1.35 tons per cu yd: 17.5 tons.

Common mistakes

One thick layer of small stone. Without a coarse base, ruts and potholes appear quickly.
Ordering by volume alone. Quarries usually sell by weight; ask for their figure per yard or m³.
No edging or drainage. Stone spreads and washes out at the edges and low spots.

Tons of stone by driveway size

Layers

Worked example: a 50 × 10 ft driveway

Common mistakes

Sources

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