Gravel Driveway Calculator: How Many Tons, Yards and Truckloads
Work out the tons of gravel for a driveway or path: base layer plus surface layer, a compaction allowance, cubic yards, truckloads and an optional cost. Tapered drives supported. Feet or metres.
Material quantity estimate only. It is not a structural, drainage or building-code check. Values marked UNSOURCED are built-in defaults that no supplier has confirmed here: ask yours for tons per cubic yard and the depth your soil and traffic need.
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Nothing is sent until you press Send. Your measurements are included only if you tick the box, and you can see the full report below first.
When to use this
- You are ordering gravel for a driveway, path or parking pad and need tons, not just cubic yards.
- You want a base layer and a surface layer worked out separately, each with its own stone.
- You want to know how many truckloads the order is and what it may cost.
How to use
- Choose feet or metres. Type the length and width, a far-end width for a tapering drive, or an area for a curve.
- Enter the depth of the base layer and the surface layer, and pick a stone for each.
- Check the compaction allowance. Add the truck capacity and a price per ton if you have them.
- Press Calculate gravel and read the order list and drawing.
- Copy the list or the link to this plan. For pavers instead of loose gravel use the paver tool.
Examples
- 40 x 12 ft drive, 4 in base and 2 in surface of crushed stone, 15 percent compaction: 480 ft² needs 276 ft³, which is 10.2 yd³ or 14.5 tons at 105 lb per ft³. On 10 ton trucks that is 2 loads.
- 50 ft drive tapering from 12 ft to 8 ft, 6 in of road base only: The area is 500 ft². With compaction that is 287.5 ft³, about 18 tons of road base at 125 lb per ft³, so 2 loads and about 539 at 30 per ton.
Understanding the result
The tool multiplies the area by the depth of each layer and adds the compaction allowance, because loose gravel settles as it is rolled. The volume is turned into weight with the bulk weight of the stone you chose, and the weights are added up. Dividing the total by the truck capacity and rounding up gives the truckloads. A warning appears if the last load is nearly empty.
Limitations
- This is a material quantity estimate. It does not design a driveway for soil, drainage, frost, traffic load or local rules.
- How deep the base must be depends on the soil and the vehicles. Ask a local supplier or contractor.
- Weights vary with the type of stone and how wet it is. Suppliers sell by weight, so ask for their tons per cubic yard.
- Edging, fabric, culverts and grading are not included.
FAQ
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
Find the volume of each layer, add a compaction allowance and multiply by the weight of the stone. A 40 x 12 ft drive with 4 in of base and 2 in of surface needs about 14.5 tons of crushed stone.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
It depends on the type of stone and how wet it is. The tool uses 105 lb per cubic foot (about 1.4 tons per cubic yard) for crushed stone, which is UNSOURCED, and lets you type your own.
Why add 15 percent for compaction?
Loose gravel packs down when it is rolled or driven on. A compaction allowance keeps the finished layer from ending up too thin.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
It depends on soil and traffic. A common design is a coarse base plus a smaller surface layer, but check local advice for your site.
How many truckloads is that?
The tool divides the total by the truck capacity you enter and rounds up. Trucks differ, so ask your supplier what theirs carries.
Does this tool store my measurements?
No. It runs in your browser. The share link keeps your numbers after the # sign, which is never sent to a server.
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