Estimate gravel for a driveway — cubic yards and tons — from the length, width, and depth, with adjustable material density.
yd³ = (L × W × depth) ÷ 27; tons = yd³ × density
Driveways usually need 4–6″ of gravel over a compacted base. Volume times density gives the tonnage suppliers sell by.
A proper driveway has a coarse base layer and a finer top layer — estimate each separately.
A 50 x 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep is 166.7 cubic feet, or 6.2 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per cubic yard that's about 8.6 tons, plus 5% waste makes about 9 tons.
A durable gravel driveway is usually built in layers: a coarse base course of larger stone, then a finer top course. Calculate each layer's depth separately and order the right material for each — the base might be 4 inches of crushed run and the top 2 inches of finer gravel.
Crushed gravel runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Confirm the exact weight per yard with your supplier.
A durable gravel driveway is built in layers, not one depth of one material: a coarse bottom layer (larger crushed stone) for drainage and load spreading, then a finer driving surface on top. A typical car driveway totals 4–6 inches; heavy use or soft soil needs 8–12 inches across the layers. Estimate each layer as its own volume and convert to tons.
Plan width at 10–12 ft for a single lane, more for turning and parking. Edging — timber, steel, or a paver border — along the perimeter keeps gravel from migrating and is measured by the linear foot. A slight crown or cross-slope sheds water off the surface and is worth building in; it adds a little material at the centerline.
A 40×12 ft driveway at 4″ deep needs about 6 cubic yards, or roughly 8.3 tons.
About 4–6 inches total for a car driveway, built in layers, rising to 8–12 inches for heavy vehicles or soft soil. Use coarse stone at the bottom and finer gravel on top.
About 10–12 feet for a single lane, with extra width for turning and parking areas.
Calculate each layer's volume (area times depth in feet, divided by 27 for cubic yards), add a compaction allowance, then convert to tons at about 1.4 per cubic yard.