How much gravel do I need for a 50-foot driveway?
A 50×12 ft driveway with a 4 in layer of #57 stone needs 8.3 cu yd with the 12% allowance, which is 11.2 US tons. Double the length and you double the tons.
Driveway Gravel Calculator: Length × Width × Depth
Enter the length, width and depth of your driveway and pick the stone. The calculator returns tons, cubic yards, bag count and the price of a bulk delivery with an allowance for compaction. Use one zone per section if the driveway has a turnaround or a parking pad.
1. Material Grade & Project Dimensions
Area: 1,200.0 sq ft (111.48 m²)Net Vol: 14.81 cu yd (11.33 m³)
2. Material Takeoff, Blueprint & Cost
Total Volume & Tonnage (incl. waste)
16.59 cu yd · 22.40 US tons
12.69 m³ · 20.32 t (44,800 lbs)
Total Material Weight
22.40 US tons
44,800 lbs (100 lb/ft³)
Store Bags (50-lb)
897 bags
448.0 cu ft (12,686 L)
Total Project Area (Net)
1,200.0 sq ft
111.5 m² (+12% Waste)
Half-Ton Pickup Truck Loads
30 trips
@ 1,500 lb safe bed payload
Cost Break-Even: Bulk Dump Truck vs. Store Bags
Bulk Delivery saves $3,352
Bulk Dump Truck (22.40 US tons + $85)
$1,115
897 × 50-lb Hardware Store Bags
$4,467
Show Step-by-Step Formula & Takeoff Math
Net Area = 1,200.00 sq ft (111.48 m²)
Net Volume = 400.00 cu ft ÷ 27 = 14.81 cu yd
With +12% Allowance = 16.59 cu yd (12.69 m³)
Weight = 448.00 cu ft × 100 lb/ft³ = 44,800 lbs = 22.40 US tons (20.32 t)
How much gravel a driveway takes
A driveway is a long, thin rectangle, so the volume is length × width × depth. A 100×12 ft driveway at 4 in deep is 14.8 cu yd net and 16.6 cu yd with the 12% compaction allowance. #57 crushed stone weighs 100 lb per cu ft in the calculator, so that is 22.4 US tons, or 30 loads for a half-ton pickup at the calculator's 1,500 lb payload.
A durable driveway has two layers. Calculate them one after the other by switching the material and depth: a 6 in base of crusher run (115 lb per cu ft) over 100×12 ft at a 15% allowance is 39.7 US tons, and a 3 in topcoat of #57 at 10% is 16.5 US tons. Together that is 56.2 tons for the whole driveway.
Delivered in bulk at the calculator's default price the 100×12 ft topcoat in the first example costs $1,115, including the delivery fee, against $4,467 as 50-lb bags. Enter your quarry's price per ton and delivery charge for a real number.
Tons of gravel for a 12 ft wide driveway (12% allowance)
| Length | 3 in #57 topcoat | 4 in #57 topcoat | 6 in crusher run base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 4.2 tons | 5.6 tons | 9.7 tons |
| 50 ft | 8.4 tons | 11.2 tons | 19.3 tons |
| 100 ft | 16.8 tons | 22.4 tons | 38.6 tons |
| 150 ft | 25.2 tons | 33.6 tons | 58.0 tons |
| 200 ft | 33.6 tons | 44.8 tons | 77.3 tons |
Frequently Asked Questions & Field Guide
How many tons are in a cubic yard of driveway gravel?
#57 crushed stone weighs 100 lb per cu ft, so a cubic yard is 1.35 US tons. Crusher run packs denser at 115 lb per cu ft, which is 1.55 tons per cubic yard. Pick the stone first, because the same volume weighs more in crusher run.
How deep should driveway gravel be?
Many drivers use 6 in of crusher run as a base and a 3 to 4 in topcoat of #57 stone; a light-duty or temporary drive can get by with less. Enter the depth for each layer, as in the table above, and add the tons together.
Should I buy gravel in bulk or in bags?
Bulk by the ton is the usual choice for a driveway. For the 100×12 ft example the calculator shows $1,115 delivered against $4,467 in 50-lb bags, because 897 bags would be needed. Your own prices per ton and delivery fee go in the two price fields.
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