How much gravel for a 200-foot driveway?
Quick Answer
A 200-foot driveway that is 12 feet wide with a 6-inch gravel layer needs approximately 14.8 cubic yards (about 20 tons) of gravel. At $25–50 per ton delivered, that's $500–1,000 in gravel materials. A properly built gravel driveway has 3 layers: 4–6 inches of base rock, 3–4 inches of middle stone, and 2 inches of top dressing.
Quick Reference Table
| Driveway Length | Gravel needed (6" depth, 12 ft wide) |
|---|---|
| 50 ft | 3.7 yd³ / 5 tons |
| 100 ft | 7.4 yd³ / 10 tons |
| 200 ft | 14.8 yd³ / 20 tons |
| 300 ft | 22.2 yd³ / 30 tons |
| 500 ft | 37 yd³ / 50 tons |
| 1,000 ft | 74 yd³ / 100 tons |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Calculate volume: length × width × depth (all in feet). 200 × 12 × 0.5 ft (6") = 1,200 cubic feet.
- 2
Convert to cubic yards: 1,200 ÷ 27 = 44.4 cubic yards for the full base.
- 3
For a single 6-inch layer: 200 × 12 × 0.5 ÷ 27 = 44.4 ÷ 3 = 14.8 cubic yards.
- 4
Convert to tons: gravel weighs ~1.35 tons/yd³. 14.8 × 1.35 = 20 tons.
Pro Tip
Order crusher run (also called road base or 21AA) for the base layers — it contains fines that compact and bind well. Use pea gravel or ¾" clean crushed stone only for the top 2-inch dressing layer. Mixing types at the base leads to poor compaction.
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