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Gravel Driveway Calculator

Free gravel driveway calculator. Enter length, width, and depth, get cubic yards + tons (2,835 lb/yd³) with 25% compaction for accurate ordering.

Recommended dimensions

A gravel driveway is typically 4–6 inches deep over a compacted sub-base. The 25% compaction factor accounts for crushed stone packing down under a roller or plate compactor. Typical depth: 4–6 inches. The calculator defaults to gravel.

A gravel driveway calculator figures how much crushed stone you need for a residential driveway. The standard recipe: 4–6 inches of compacted #57 crushed stone over a stable subgrade. For heavier vehicles or poor-draining soils, go to 6–8 inches.

A typical 10×50 ft (500 ft²) two-car driveway at 4 inches needs 6.17 yd³ (8.75 tons) of crushed #57 gravel. At 6 inches: 9.26 yd³ (13.1 tons). Order with 10% waste.

Crushed #57 gravel — the standard

Crushed #57 stone is 1″-down angular crushed rock with the fines left in. The angular shape is what lets it compact — the pieces lock together under a plate compactor, unlike pea gravel or river rock which stay loose. The fines (the dust-sized particles) fill the gaps between the larger stones and form a tight, well-draining surface.

For the top 1–2 inches, some homeowners add a layer of #8 or #9 pea-gravel-sized stone as a finish surface — it's easier to walk on and looks tidier. The calculator above computes the base; figure the finish layer separately if you want it.

Gravel depth by use

| Use | Recommended depth | |---|---| | Walking path / decorative | 2–3 inches | | Residential driveway (cars) | 4 inches | | Residential driveway (trucks / RV) | 6 inches | | Farm / equipment access | 6–8 inches | | Parking area (occasional use) | 4 inches |

The 4-inch residential number is the right starting point for almost every homeowner project. Go thicker if you have soft / clayey subgrade that won't drain, or if you'll be parking heavy vehicles.

How to install a gravel driveway

  1. Mark and excavate the driveway path to the required depth, plus 2–3 inches (the gravel will sit 2–3 inches above grade)
  2. Lay landscape fabric over the subgrade to keep the gravel from migrating into the soil (skip this and the gravel disappears in 3–5 years)
  3. Install edging — steel, brick, pressure-treated lumber, or cobblestone. Without edging, the gravel spreads into the lawn over time.
  4. Spread the gravel in 2–3 inch lifts (layers), compacting each lift before adding the next. A 4-inch driveway is two 2-inch lifts; a 6-inch driveway is three 2-inch lifts.
  5. Compact each lift with a plate compactor (rent one, ~$80/day). A hand tamper is not enough.
  6. Crown the surface — a 1–2 inch crown (higher in the middle) so water drains off the sides instead of pooling in the wheel tracks.
  7. Top up every 1–2 years as the surface settles and ruts form.

Cost

Crushed #57 gravel runs $30–$50 per ton delivered in most US markets, or about $22–$36 per cubic yard. A 10×50 ft driveway at 4 inches costs $260–$440 for the gravel alone. Add delivery ($50–$150 depending on distance), fabric ($0.50/ft²), edging ($2–$5/ft), and compactor rental ($80/day) for a realistic $400–$800 DIY total. A professionally installed gravel driveway runs $1,500–$3,000 for a 500 ft² driveway.

Common mistakes