Gravel Driveway Calculator
Calculate cubic yards and estimated gravel tonnage needed for your driveway grading project in Alabama. Enter your driveway's length, width and gravel depth below.
Driveway Dimensions
Adjust length, width, and depth below:
Estimate only — actual tonnage depends on the stone and the base. We confirm the exact tonnage in your free on-site estimate.
How to Measure Your Driveway
Length is the distance from the road to the end of the drive — measure down the center, following any curves. For an L-shaped or curved drive, lay a tape along the path you actually drive. Width is the surface width, edge to edge; most residential drives are 10 to 12 feet wide. Depth is how thick the gravel layer will be — for a full rebuild that is the base plus the top layer, for a top-up it is just the new top layer.
If your drive is wider at the turnaround or has a parking pad, measure those sections separately and add the tonnage. A quick text with a photo of the drive lets us check your numbers before you order stone.
Why Depth Matters — Base vs. Top Layer
A gravel driveway is not one layer of stone — it is a base layer of larger, angular stone that locks together and carries the load, topped by a top layer of smaller stone that gives a smoother surface. The base is what keeps the drive from rutting; the top is what you drive on.
A drive with no base — just a thin layer of gravel spread on dirt — will rut and wash out fast no matter how much stone you add on top. That is why a full rebuild uses more tons than a top-up: you are paying for the base that makes the drive last. When you tell us the depth in the calculator, count the full base-plus-top depth for a new drive, or just the top layer for a refresh.
Common Driveway Gravel Reference Table
Cubic yards = Length × Width × (Depth ÷ 12) ÷ 27. Approximate tons = cubic yards × 1.4.
| Driveway Size | Dimensions | Depth | Est. Cubic Yards | Est. Tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Driveway / Turnaround | 50 ft × 10 ft | 4 inches | 6.2 yards | 8.7 tons |
| Small Driveway / Turnaround | 50 ft × 10 ft | 6 inches | 9.3 yards | 13.0 tons |
| Standard Residential Driveway | 100 ft × 10 ft | 4 inches | 12.3 yards | 17.3 tons |
| Standard Residential Driveway | 100 ft × 12 ft | 4 inches | 14.8 yards | 20.7 tons |
| Standard Residential Driveway | 100 ft × 12 ft | 6 inches | 22.2 yards | 31.1 tons |
| Long Rural / Farm Roadbed | 200 ft × 10 ft | 4 inches | 24.7 yards | 34.6 tons |
| Long Rural / Farm Roadbed | 200 ft × 12 ft | 6 inches | 44.4 yards | 62.2 tons |
Estimate only — actual tonnage depends on the stone and the base.
Driveway Giving You Trouble?
Ruts, potholes, washouts, thin gravel — our Driveway Doctor walks you through what is likely causing it and how we fix it.
Open the Driveway DoctorGet Your Free On-Site Estimate
We confirm the exact tonnage and price when Chris comes out to look at the drive.