Gravel Driveway Calculator
How much crushed stone you need for a gravel driveway. Yards, tons and bags for common driveway sizes at a 4-inch depth.
A gravel driveway wants a compacted base around 4 inches deep. Rows below assume a 10 ft wide drive — adjust width in the main calculator for your own dimensions.
Crushed stone at 4 in deep · density ≈ 1.35 tons/yd³ · 0.5 ft³ bags.
| Length × 10 ft | Cubic yards | Tons (est.) | 0.5 ft³ bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | 2.47 | 3.33 | 134 |
| 30 ft | 3.70 | 5.00 | 200 |
| 40 ft | 4.94 | 6.67 | 267 |
| 50 ft | 6.17 | 8.33 | 334 |
| 75 ft | 9.26 | 12.5 | 500 |
| 100 ft | 12.3 | 16.7 | 667 |
Tonnage is an estimate from loose, dry bulk density; damp or compacted material weighs more. Order ~5–10% extra for settling.
Angular crushed stone (sometimes called "crusher run" or "road base") is the best choice for driveways because its sharp edges lock together under traffic, preventing spreading. Rounded pea gravel is decorative but tends to scatter under tire loads. Plan for a 4-inch compacted layer as a minimum; a new or softer sub-base may need 6 inches.
For a long driveway, delivery in bulk by the ton is almost always cheaper than bags. Call your local quarry or aggregate supplier for a delivered price per ton — it typically beats bag prices by 30–50%. The table assumes a 10 ft wide drive; multiply the cubic yard figure by your actual width divided by 10 to scale it.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for a 20 × 10 ft driveway?
A 20 ft × 10 ft driveway at 4 inches deep needs about 0.74 cubic yards (roughly 1 ton) of crushed stone. The table above shows the figure for 20 ft lengths — scroll to the first row.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A minimum of 4 inches of compacted crushed stone is standard for a residential driveway. If the sub-grade is soft clay or you expect heavy vehicles, increase to 6 inches and consider a geotextile fabric underneath to prevent the gravel from working into the soil.
Can I use pea gravel for a driveway?
Pea gravel is decorative and drains well, but it shifts underfoot and under tires. For a functional driveway surface, crushed angular stone is much better because the edges key together. Some driveways use pea gravel as a top-dressing over a compacted crushed-stone base.