Gravel Cost Calculator

Driveway Calculator

Estimate the total gravel volume for a driveway built with a compacted base layer and a top surface layer.

Most driveways are rectangular or tapered; use trapezoid for a driveway that widens toward the street.

ft
ft
in

Compacted crushed stone base — most driveways use 4–6 in.

in

Top gravel layer for finish and drainage — typically 2 in.

Covers compaction, spillage, and uneven sub-grade. 10% works for most driveways.

How this is calculated

Area is calculated from the shape you select — rectangle (length × width), circle (π × radius²), triangle (½ × base × height), circular ring (π × (outer radius² − inner radius²)) for a circular loop driveway, or trapezoid (average of the two parallel sides × length) for a driveway that tapers between the street and garage. Base and surface layer volumes are calculated separately (area × depth in feet) and then summed, since driveways are typically built with a compacted crushed-stone base topped by a finer surface layer. Both layers are converted to cubic yards (27 ft³ per yd³). Weight assumes standard crushed aggregate at approximately 2,800 lb per cubic yard. We add your selected waste percentage to cover compaction, spillage, and uneven sub-grade, then round the combined total up to the nearest full yard.

Example calculation

A 50 ft × 12 ft driveway with a 4 in base and 2 in surface layer needs 11.11 yd³ total. With 10% waste that's 12.22 yd³, so order 13 yd³ — about 18.2 tons.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Use the "Driveway shape" dropdown to switch to circle (a turnaround pad), triangle, circular ring (a loop driveway around an island), or trapezoid (a driveway that widens toward the street). Each shape shows the measurements it needs and the area formula used is shown in the breakdown.