How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Driveway?
A 20' × 40' driveway at a 4-inch depth needs 9.9 cubic yards, or about 14 tons, of #57 stone. At $65 per ton delivered, that's approximately $910—plus a day's rental of a spreader and roller if you want it done right.
Why Is Buying Driveway Gravel So Confusing?
Quarries sell gravel by the ton (weight), landscapers sell it by the cubic yard (volume), and bags at the store are marked in cubic feet. Meanwhile, “gravel” includes pea gravel, #57 stone, #8 stone, crusher run, and river rock—each with a different bulk density and coverage rate.
What Do Gravel Driveway Calculations Show?
Across recent MaterialCalc gravel calculations, users overwhelmingly build residential driveways at a median depth of 4 inches, and #57 crushed limestone is the most frequently quoted material. That matches what quarry dispatchers see in the yard.
How Do You Calculate Gravel Yards and Tons?
cubic yards = (length_ft × width_ft × depth_in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 tons = cubic_yards × bulk_density_tons_per_yd
Typical bulk densities:
Pea gravel: 1.35 t/yd
#57 crushed stone: 1.40 t/yd
Crusher run (dense grade): 1.50 t/yd
River rock: 1.35 t/yd
How Much Gravel Does a 20 × 40-Foot Driveway Need?
20 feet wide × 40 feet long, 4 inches deep, #57 stone:
20 × 40 × (4 ÷ 12) = 266.7 cu ft
266.7 ÷ 27 = 9.88 cu yd
9.88 × 1.40 = 13.8 tons
Round up to 14 tons and order in half-ton increments.
How Much Area Does One Ton of #57 Stone Cover?
Depth | Coverage 1 inch | ~200 sq ft 2 inches | ~100 sq ft 3 inches | ~67 sq ft 4 inches | ~50 sq ft 6 inches | ~33 sq ft
What Gravel Driveway Mistakes Should You Avoid?
Ordering by the yard when the quarry quotes by the ton. Always confirm the units before placing your order.
Skipping a base course. #57 stone alone will rut within a season when installed over soft dirt. Put down 4 inches of crusher run first, compact it, and then top it with #57 stone.
Underordering. Gravel settles by approximately 15% under traffic during the first month. Account for that settlement in the depth, not the volume.
Skipping edging. Without pressure-treated 2×6 or metal edging, gravel migrates off the driveway.
Choosing the wrong stone size for the job. Pea gravel is attractive, but it rolls under tires. Never use it for a primary driveway; reserve it for patios and walkways.
How Much Does Driveway Gravel Cost in 2026?
#57 crushed limestone: $45–$70 per ton delivered for 10–20-ton loads.
Crusher run: $30–$55 per ton—the least expensive subbase material.
Pea gravel: $35–$55 per ton in bulk; $5–$8 per 0.5-cubic-foot bag at big-box stores, or five times the bulk price.
Delivery: usually a flat fee of $80–$150, regardless of load size, within approximately 15 miles.
Small jobs of less than 3 tons often cost less at the store if you have a trailer.
Calculate Your Driveway Gravel Estimate
Get an exact estimate in tons and cubic yards with the gravel calculator. It handles driveways, French drains, and pads and provides results in both units.