How to Figure How Much Rock Is Needed for a Driveway

Gravel is a traditional driveway covering for those who do not want concrete or asphalt. A well-constructed gravel driveway can last for years with proper maintenance. A proper bed must be prepared for the gravel, which means removing topsoil down to the subsoil. In most places this is approximately 5 inches deep. The only other two figures necessary to know how much gravel to use are the length and the width of the driveway.

Instructions

- 1
  Multiply the length of the driveway times the width to get the square footage. Assume that the depth for the moment is 5 inches.
- 2
  Multiply the square footage by 61.5 to determine the total approximate pounds. For example, if the driveway is 15 feet wide and 30 feet long, the total square footage is 450. Multiply that times 61.5; the approximate number of pounds of gravel needed is 27,675 pounds, or just over 13.8 tons of gravel.
- 3
  Add or subtract 20 percent of the total number for each inch of depth that you change in the estimate. For example, if you use 6 inches instead of 5-inches depth, you would add another 2.76 tons for an approximate weight of 16.56 tons.

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