Gravel Driveway Cost Calculator
Estimate what a gravel driveway costs to build or resurface. Prices the three stone layers by the ton, adds delivery by the truckload, and gives cost per square foot.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Total estimated cost
- $1,373
- Stone and delivery only; grading, geotextile, culverts and permits are not included
- Stone to order
- 31.11 tons
- 4 in of #3 base 12.4 tons, 3 in of #57 9.3 tons, 3 in of crusher run 9.3 tons
- Stone cost
- $1,073
- Priced per ton at the quarry, 22.2 cu yd of material
- Delivery
- $300
- 2 loads at 20 tons each
- Cost per square foot
- $1.91 per sq ft
- Total divided by the driveway area
Gravel Driveway Cost formula
Tons per layer = Length x Width x Depth (in) / 12 / 27 x 1.4
New build = 4 in of #3 base + 3 in of #57 + 3 in of crusher run
Loads = Total tons / tons per truck, rounded up
Total = Sum of (tons x price per ton) + Loads x delivery fee + labor per sq ft x areaWorked example
Resurfacing a 12 x 80 ft drive with 2 in of crusher run: 960 x (2 / 12) = 160 cubic feet, or 5.93 cubic yards, which is 8.3 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. At $40 per ton the stone is $332, and it fits one tandem load, so add $150 for delivery. The total is $482, or $0.50 per square foot.
Building a new 12 x 40 ft drive in three courses: 8.3 tons of #3 base, 6.2 tons of #57 and 6.2 tons of crusher run, 20.7 tons in all. At $30, $35 and $40 per ton that is $716 of stone. It takes two tri-axle loads, so with $150 per load the total is about $1,016, or $2.12 per square foot before grading.
Quick reference
| Driveway | Area | Tons of stone | Stone cost | Loads | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 50 ft | 500 sq ft | 21.6 | $745 | 2 | $1,045 |
| 12 x 60 ft | 720 sq ft | 31.1 | $1,073 | 2 | $1,373 |
| 12 x 100 ft | 1,200 sq ft | 51.9 | $1,789 | 3 | $2,239 |
| 16 x 100 ft | 1,600 sq ft | 69.1 | $2,385 | 4 | $2,985 |
| 20 x 150 ft | 3,000 sq ft | 129.6 | $4,472 | 7 | $5,522 |
Why a driveway is three courses, not one
Each layer does a different job. The bottom 4 inches is #3 or #2 stone, fist-sized angular rock that bridges soft ground and gives the drive something to sit on. The middle 3 inches of #57 fills the voids in that base and drains. The top 2 to 3 inches is crusher run or 3/4 minus, the only course with fines in it, and those fines are what let the surface pack under traffic. Skip the bottom courses and 4 inches of stone on bare soil sinks out of sight in a year.
Over clay or any subgrade that ruts, roll out a woven geotextile before the first stone. The FHWA guide asks for at least 6 inches of stone in the first lift over fabric and no equipment tracking directly on it. Loose stone also compacts: a 4 inch lift placed and rolled finishes near 3-1/4 inches, so add about 20 percent to any course you intend to end up at a finished thickness, or place it in two lifts and roll each one.
Drainage is what makes the stone last
A gravel drive fails from water, not traffic. Crown the surface about 1/2 inch per foot of width, roughly 4 percent, so rain runs off into the ditch line instead of standing in the wheel tracks; more than 6 percent and cars drift toward the ditch. Keep the shoulder lower than the driving surface, cut a ditch on the uphill side of a sloped drive, and set a culvert where the drive crosses the road ditch. Most towns require a driveway permit and set the minimum pipe size, commonly 15 to 18 inches.
Budget for maintenance instead of a rebuild. Dragging or grading twice a year, in spring and after the wettest part of fall, pulls the material back from the shoulders and restores the crown. A fresh 2 inch top course every three to five years is normal on a drive that sees daily traffic, and it costs a fraction of rebuilding the base. Potholes that keep coming back in one spot are a drainage problem underneath, so fix the water before buying more stone.
What this calculator leaves out
Excavation and haul-off of topsoil, geotextile fabric, culvert pipe and headwalls, ditching, the town driveway permit and any apron the road authority requires. It also leaves out the compaction allowance, the plate or roller rental, edging or timbers, and the dust control or stabilizer some owners apply. It prices stone from the quarry plus the delivery fee, not an installed contractor bid.
Mistakes that cost money
- One 4 in layer of clean #57 dumped on dirt: the stone rolls under tires and pumps into the mud within a season.
- No geotextile over clay: the base migrates into the subgrade, and the drive eats a load of stone every year.
- A flat driveway holds water in wheel ruts; without about 1/2 in of crown per foot the surface potholes after every wet spell.
- Clean stone as the wearing course: with no fines it never packs, so the top layer has to be crusher run or 3/4 minus.
- Ordering by the cubic yard from a quarry that sells by the ton; convert at 1.4 tons per yard before you call.
- A loaded tri-axle at 70,000 lb cracks concrete aprons and collapses septic lines and culverts; walk the route with the driver first.
Key facts
- Crushed stone runs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so a ton covers roughly 58 sq ft at 4 in deep.
- The FHWA gravel roads guide calls for about 1/2 in of crown per foot of width, near 4 percent, and warns against exceeding 6 percent.
- Surface gravel needs 4 to 15 percent of the material passing the #200 sieve; those fines are what let the top course pack instead of rolling.
- Placing geotextile over weak subgrade calls for a first lift of at least 6 in of stone over the fabric, and no equipment driven directly on the fabric.
- A tandem dump carries 10 to 14 tons and a tri-axle 18 to 22, and the delivery fee is charged per load, not per ton.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
Stone and delivery for a new three-course build run about $1.80 to $2.10 per square foot at typical 2026 quarry prices. Add $0.75 to $2 per square foot if a machine operator strips, shapes and rolls it.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a driveway?
About 0.043 tons per square foot for the full 10 in three-course build, so a 12 x 60 ft drive takes 31.11 tons. Resurfacing with 2 in of crusher run takes about 0.0086 tons per square foot.
What kind of gravel goes on top of a driveway?
Crusher run or 3/4 minus, sold regionally as 21A, ABC, road base or Class 5. It contains the fines that let the surface pack. Clean stone like #57 or pea gravel has no fines, so it stays loose and rolls under tires.
How often does a gravel driveway need work?
Grade it twice a year to pull material back off the shoulders and restore the crown, and add a 2 in top course every three to five years. If one spot potholes repeatedly, the problem is water under the drive, not the amount of stone on it.
Sources and references
- Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide (crown, geotextile, surface gravel fines) (Federal Highway Administration)
- Gravel Road Maintenance Manual: A Guide for Landowners (layer thickness, gradation, ordering) (Maine Department of Environmental Protection)
- Construction aggregates calculator (volume to tons) (Vulcan Materials)
Next steps for this project
The usual order for a landscaping & outdoor project. See all landscaping & outdoor calculators.
Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.