Driveway Calculator

Use our free driveway calculator to find out how much gravel or concrete your driveway needs. Switch between gravel and concrete — the calculator adjusts thickness options, quantities, and cost automatically.

🚗
Driveway Calculator
Gravel or concrete needed for your driveway
Driveway Dimensions
ft
ft
Your Local Price (optional)
$
Leave the price blank to see our USD estimate. For any other currency, enter your local supplier price to get the cost.
📐 Your Results
—
Cubic Yards
Exact volume
—
Cubic Feet
Volume
—
Tons
Weight
Estimated Cost
Avg. $25–$45/cubic yard
$—
💡 Always order 10–15% extra for waste and settling.
4–6 in
recommended gravel depth
1.35–1.5 tons
one cubic yard of crushed gravel
3 layers
base + mid + top for best results
+10–15%
extra — order for compaction

👤 Who is this for: homeowners, contractors & rural property owners.

How to use

  1. Enter your driveway length and width in feet.
  2. Choose Gravel or Concrete — thickness options and result labels update automatically.
  3. Hit Calculate Driveway.

Driveway calculator formula

Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Thickness in feet) ÷ 27. Gravel tons = cubic yards × 1.4; concrete bags = cubic yards × 45 (80-lb bags).

Example: a 40 × 12 ft driveway at 6 inches of gravel → (40 × 12 × 0.5) ÷ 27 = 8.89 cubic yards ≈ 12.4 tons.

Recommended driveway thickness

Driveway typeThickness
Gravel driveway6 inches (4 inches minimum)
Concrete driveway4–6 inches

📝 Real Project Example

20×20 ft parking pad, 6 inches of crusher run:

  • Area: 400 sq ft
  • Volume: 400 × 0.5 = 200 cu ft
  • Cubic yards: 200 ÷ 27 = 7.4 → order 8 cubic yards
  • Tons: 7.4 × 1.4 = ~10.4 → order 11 tons
  • Cost check: 11 tons at ~$35/ton = ~$385 + delivery; plan two single-axle loads or one tandem

Build in 3 layers — 4 in large crushed base, 2 in mid-size, 1–2 in fines on top — compacting each. A single thick layer never compacts evenly.

Tips

  • Crown the driveway slightly so water runs off to the sides.
  • Use edge restraints to keep gravel from spreading.
  • Top up gravel driveways every 1–2 years as it compacts.

📚 Sources & Methodology

How we calculate. Step 1: volume in cubic feet = length × width × depth (all in feet). Step 2: cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Step 3: tons = cubic yards × 1.4 (crusher run ≈ 2,800 lbs per cubic yard). We recommend 4–6 inches minimum depth and 10–15% extra for compaction.

Cross-checked. Our density and 3-layer build guidance match published driveway-gravel references; crusher run compacts best because mixed stone sizes lock together.

Sources:

Last updated: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How thick should a gravel driveway be?
6 inches is recommended for most driveways; 4 inches is the minimum for light use.
How much gravel do I need for a 2-car driveway?
A typical 40×12 ft two-car driveway at 6 inches deep needs about 8.9 cubic yards (roughly 12.4 tons) of gravel.
Is a gravel or concrete driveway cheaper?
Gravel is much cheaper upfront — roughly $35 per cubic yard of material versus $125+ per cubic yard for concrete, before labor.
How often do you need to add gravel to a driveway?
Most gravel driveways need a fresh top-up every 1–2 years as the stone compacts and spreads.

Related calculators: Gravel Calculator, Concrete Calculator