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Driveway gravel depth
Prefills a 20×10 single-car surface at 6″ with crusher-run density (1.5 ton/yd³) — a common “refresh the top course” starting point, not a full engineered section. Change depth chips (4″ / 6″) and read yards vs tons before you call the yard.
Inputs
Scenarios fill US defaults. Overage ≠ compaction.
Scenario templates
Area mode
Depth presets
Combined order factor: ×1.1 (10% overage).
Tons per cubic yard — planning table
| Material | ton / yd³ | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 1.35 | rounded decorative |
| River rock | 1.3 | varies by size |
| Crushed stone / #57 | 1.4 | common driveway stone |
| Crusher run / dense grade | 1.5 | compacts tighter |
| Sand (planning) | 1.35 | ask yard for moisture |
| Limestone screenings | 1.45 | fines + rock |
Click a row to apply. Moisture and gradation change real tickets — verify with the yard.
Optional prices (your yard)
What you are covering
Volume ≈ length × width × depth (same unit system). Diagram is schematic — not a site survey.
Primary order quantity (overage)
4.25 yd³
Rounded to 0.25 yd · raw 4.07 yd³
6.38 ton
At 1.5 ton/yd³
Breakdown
- Area
- 200 ft²
- Without extras
- 3.7 yd³
- 100 ft³
- Metric (with extras)
- 3.115 m³
- Bags (0.5 ft³)
- 221 bags
- Ceiled so you do not run short
- Order factor
- ×1.1
- 10% overage
- Tons (exact waste-adj.)
- 6.11 ton
- Before round-up step
Order round-up step
Tip: if the yard sells by the ton, order the ton figure — ordering “2.7 tons” because you saw “2.7 yd³” leaves you short. Overage covers edges; compaction allowance is separate if you expect the loose pile to settle.
Truck / payload trips
- Order weight
- 6.38 ton
- Trips
- 7
- At 1 ton/load
Compare scenarios
Same area — auto variants from current inputs.
Current
4.25 yd³
6.38 ton
Depth +1″
5 yd³
7.5 ton
No overage
3.75 yd³
5.63 ton
LEAST VOLUME
Depth guidance (planning only)
- Surface refresh: often a few inches of driving stone over an existing compacted base.
- Full section: base + subbase can add many more inches — site-specific (NRCS / local practice).
- Overage vs compaction: overage covers edges; compaction allowance is optional if the loose lift will settle. Neither is a lab density certificate.
Worked example (20×10 @ 6″)
20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 ft³ ≈ 3.70 yd³. With 10% overage → about 4.07 yd³. At 1.5 ton/yd³ → about 6.11 ton. Call script: “About 4.1 cubic yards / ~6 tons of crusher run for a 20×10 surface at 6 inches with 10% overage.”
Full density table and path scenarios: gravel calculator. Pea patio surface: pea gravel patio.
FAQ
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
There is no universal DIY number. Surface courses are often a few inches; full sections may include several inches of base and subbase. NRCS designs thickness from site factors. Ask local builders or your AHJ for vehicle driveways. This page helps you convert whatever depth you choose into yards and tons.
Should I order by the yard or the ton?
Your rectangle produces cubic yards. Many yards weigh trucks and bill by the ton. Use the density row (#57 ≈ 1.4, crusher run ≈ 1.5 as planning aids) and confirm the ticket.
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