Free tool
Gravel Calculator
Measure the area, pick a depth, and this works out the cubic yards. Driveway gravel is sold and delivered by the cubic yard, so this is the number you order with.
Getting the depth right
- A driveway that is firm underfoot and only greasy on top usually needs 2 to 3 inches of fresh material, not a rebuild.
- A new driveway over soft native soil wants 4 to 6 inches of compacted base before any surface layer goes down.
- Deeper is not always better. Spread more than about 4 inches at once and the bottom of the lift never packs properly.
The maths behind it
Length times width gives square feet. Multiply that by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. The answer is cubic yards. One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, or 100 square feet at about 3¼ inches deep.
The 324 comes from a cubic yard being 27 cubic feet, and 27 times 12 inches is 324. Nothing else is going on, which is why you can check this calculator against a tape measure and a phone.
Materials this suits
Common questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply the length by the width in feet, multiply that by the depth in inches, then divide by 324. A 12 by 40 foot driveway at 4 inches deep works out to about 6 cubic yards, before the compaction allowance.
How many cubic yards of gravel are in a standard driveway?
Most single residential driveways in Prince George fall between 4 and 10 cubic yards for a surface refresh. A full rebuild on soft ground can be double that, because the base layer is deeper than the surface layer.
What is the best gravel for a driveway in northern BC?
A crushed minus product, which means it contains the fine material that lets the stone lock together. Road Crush 3/4 inch minus is the usual base, and a limestone or Striker driveway gravel is the usual surface. Clean washed rock stays loose and will not hold under a vehicle.
How much does a yard of gravel cover?
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, or about 80 square feet at 4 inches deep.