Worked example

How Much Gravel for a Driveway?

This driveway gravel example starts with a 40 ft by 10 ft area at 4 in deep and includes a 10% compaction overage.

Landscaping

Calculator inputs

Gravel Calculator Results

Results update in your browser as you edit inputs. They are planning estimates, not complete shopping lists.

Enter project dimensions to calculate material quantity.

Inputs used in this example

Driveway area: 40 ft by 10 ft.
Depth: 4 inches.
Approximate density: 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Compaction / overage: 10%.

Expected output

The calculator estimates about 133.33 cubic feet before overage, 5.43 cubic yards after overage, and about 7.6 tons using the selected density.

When to adjust this example

Use supplier density if you know it, because gravel weight varies by material and moisture.
Increase overage for uneven subgrade, compaction, or irregular driveway edges.
This example does not include excavation, geotextile, base layers, edging, delivery, or installation labor.

Formula explanation

Convert 4 inches to 0.333 feet.
Multiply length, width, and depth for cubic feet.
Apply compaction overage.
Divide by 27 for cubic yards and multiply by density for approximate tons.

Main calculator

Use the full Gravel Calculator to change dimensions, waste factor, and optional user-entered unit price.

FAQ

Is the tons estimate exact?

No. It is an approximation based on selected density. Supplier weight can vary.

Does this include driveway base design?

No. It estimates gravel quantity only and does not replace site-specific base or drainage planning.