Driveway Gravel Calculator

Gravel quantity comes from two separate calculations. First the volume: Volume = Length × Width × Depth. Then the weight: Weight = Volume × Density. Volume is pure geometry, but weight depends on the material you order, so this calculator shows the density it used and lets you replace it with the figure your supplier states.

1. 1Choose Rectangle, Multiple Sections, I Know the Area or I Know the Volume.
2. 2Enter the driveway length and width, and select your units.
3. 3Enter the gravel depth you plan to install.
4. 4Add more sections if the driveway has areas of different size or depth.
5. 5Select the gravel or stone type, or choose Custom Density.
6. 6Adjust the material density if your supplier states a different figure.
7. 7Select an extra material allowance, and optionally a compaction adjustment and truck capacity.
8. 8Optionally enter your local price per ton, cubic yard or cubic meter, then select Calculate.

Every measurement is normalized before multiplying, so feet, yards, inches, meters and centimeters can be mixed freely. With multiple sections each section is calculated on its own and the volumes are added — dimensions are never averaged.

Volume and weight are not the same thing. Cubic yards describe how much space the gravel occupies; tons describe how heavy it is. Converting between them requires a density figure.

1.35 tons per cubic yard is used as a planning reference for crushed driveway gravel. Broader aggregate references can run higher, so treat every weight figure here as approximate.

Density varies with stone type, particle size, gradation, void space between particles, moisture content and how the material has been processed. Two loads of the same nominal volume can differ noticeably in weight. When your supplier states a density, enter it — it will always be closer than a general reference value.

Volume is directly proportional to depth: doubling the depth doubles both the volume and the weight for the same driveway area. The depth comparison table shows this for your own measurements.

BuildCalcWorks does not recommend a gravel depth. Appropriate depth depends on the driveway design, subgrade, traffic and local practice. Use the depth specified for your driveway project.

Aggregate is normally delivered loose and reduces in volume once it is spread and compacted. How much it reduces depends on the material, its gradation, moisture and the compaction method, so this calculator never applies an automatic compaction factor. If your supplier or specification gives a figure, enter it as the optional compaction adjustment in Advanced Options — it is shown separately from the extra material allowance.

Gravel is sold by weight or by volume depending on the supplier and region, so the calculator lets you price per ton, per cubic yard or per cubic meter and applies that price to the recommended order quantity. There is no universal gravel price — enter a local quote. The result is a material estimate only and excludes delivery unless you enter it, along with spreading, grading, compaction, labor, excavation, geotextile and tax.

Truck capacity varies widely by vehicle, supplier and local weight limits, so no standard load size is assumed. Enter the capacity your supplier uses, in tons, cubic yards or cubic meters, and loads are calculated as Recommended Quantity ÷ Capacity, rounded up.

• Measure the driveway width in several places — gravel driveways are rarely perfectly straight.
• Use the depth specified for your driveway design rather than a generic figure.
• Ask your supplier for the density of the exact material you are ordering.
• Confirm whether your supplier sells by weight or by volume before comparing prices.
• Check the truck capacity your supplier uses so load counts match what they deliver.