A driveway wants a 4-inch compacted layer of angular stone, not decorative rounded gravel, and this view defaults to that depth. Build it in lifts with a plate compactor and set edging first, or it wanders into the lawn.
Why order extra? The headline number is the exact material your project needs. When you actually order, add about 5–10% on top — the “with 5% waste” figure in the result is a safe starting point. That margin covers what you lose to compaction, cuts around edges and corners, and ordinary spillage during handling. It is cheaper to have a little left over than to stop mid-job and wait on a second delivery.
Field notes
Buy about 20% over on any driveway — crushed stone compacts hard, and the number you calculate is the finished volume, not the loose delivery. Use angular crushed stone, not rounded river rock, anywhere tires roll; round stone shifts and ruts. Build it in layers with a plate compactor between each, and set edging first or the gravel migrates into the lawn within a season.
How the gravel driveway calculator works
The math behind the tool:
cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth ft) ÷ 27
tons = cubic feet × 100 lb/ft³ ÷ 2000Material density
| Material | Density | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed gravel | 100 lb/ft³ | 1.35 tons |
Sources: Oregon State University Extension (soil and compost volume guidance).