Gravel Driveway Calculator

How to Calculate Gravel Needed for a Driveway

Calculating the amount of gravel needed for a driveway is essential for proper planning and budgeting. This process involves determining the volume of the area to be filled with gravel.

Gravel Calculation Formula

The formula for calculating the volume of gravel needed is:

Volume (cubic yards) = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27

Where:

• Length and Width are the dimensions of the driveway in feet
• Depth is the desired thickness of the gravel layer in feet
• 27 is the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard

Calculation Steps

1. Measure the length and width of the driveway in feet
2. Determine the desired depth of the gravel layer in inches, then convert to feet
3. Multiply length × width × depth to get the volume in cubic feet
4. Divide the result by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards
5. Round up to the nearest whole number for purchasing purposes

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the amount of gravel needed for a driveway with the following dimensions:

• Length: 50 feet
• Width: 12 feet
• Depth: 4 inches (0.33 feet)

1. Calculate the volume in cubic feet: \[Volume_{ft^3} = 50 ft \times 12 ft \times 0.33 ft = 198 ft^3\]
2. Convert to cubic yards: \[Volume_{yd^3} = \frac{198 ft^3}{27 ft^3/yd^3} = 7.33 yd^3\]
3. Round up for purchasing: \[Gravel needed = 8 cubic yards\]

For this driveway, you would need to order 8 cubic yards of gravel.

Gravel Volume Visualization

This diagram visually represents the area to be covered (180 sq ft) and the actual coverage provided by 6 sheets of 4x8 plywood (192 sq ft), showing the slight overage to ensure full coverage.