As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cubic yards = length × width (ft) × total depth (in) ÷ 324, plus about 10% for compaction; tons ≈ cubic yards × 1.4–1.5. Worked example: a 60 × 12 ft driveway built 11 in deep in three layers is 60 × 12 × 11 ÷ 324 = 24.4 cubic yards, about 27 with 10% extra — roughly 39 tons of stone.
With these inputs:
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total gravel needed | 38.13 tons |
| Total volume | 26.89 yd³ |
| Driveway area | 720 sq ft |
| Estimated total cost | $1,387 – $2,198 |
| Driveway | 60 ft × 12 ft |
| Total depth | 11 in |
| Base course — #4 Crushed Stone (1.5"), 4" | 9.78 yd³ / 13.2 tons |
| Middle course — Crusher Run / #411 (base), 4" | 9.78 yd³ / 14.67 tons |
| Top course — #57 Crushed Stone (3/4"), 3" | 7.33 yd³ / 10.27 tons |
| Truck loads | 4 × 12 tons |
| Delivery | $360 |
| Material subtotal | $1,027 – $1,838 |
Compact each layer with a plate compactor or roller before adding the next. Skipping compaction is the single most common reason gravel driveways develop ruts and potholes in their first year.
A driveway that lasts is not one layer of stone. It is a coarse base, a binding middle course, and a finished top layer, each compacted before the next goes down. This calculator sizes all three, or a single layer if you are resurfacing an existing drive.
For a new build, plan on 8 to 12 inches of total depth across three layers. A 60 ft × 12 ft driveway at 11 inches total needs roughly 27 cubic yards, or about 39 tons.
Eight to twelve inches for a new driveway over undisturbed soil, built in three compacted layers. Resurfacing an established driveway only needs 2 to 3 inches of fresh top stone.
Use large #4 stone for the base, crusher run for the binding middle layer, and #57 or #411 on top. Avoid rounded pea gravel on driveways — it will not lock together and it migrates under tires.
Ten to twelve feet for a single vehicle, and twenty to twenty-four feet where two cars need to pass or park side by side. Add two feet at curves so tires do not drop off the edge.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.