How Deep to Pour a Gravel Driveway

Excavation

• You must prepare the area that you want to use for a driveway. If you simply pour loose gravel on top of the ground, you'll probably end up having to pour another driveway within a short period of time. Loose topsoil is simply not designed to support the kind of traffic a driveway is used for. You'll need to excavate all the topsoil, along with any organic debris such as branches and leaves, from the driveway area. Move the excess soil to another location on your property to use for other landscaping projects. You'll need to dig down 10 to 12 inches.

Base Layer

• The base layer of a gravel driveway needs to be approximately 6 inches deep. The rocks used for the base layer should be at least the size of your fist, and they should be rough in shape. You don't want rocks with rounded edges for your base layer, as these may easily shift under the weight of the top layer. Compact the base layer with a tamper or roller.

Middle Layer

• The second, or middle, layer of rocks in your gravel driveway should be around the size of a golf ball. Spread this layer on top of the base layer, and tamp them down to fill in the gaps created by the larger rocks. Add additional golf ball--sized rocks until you get a layer 2 to 4 inches deep. Compact the finished middle layer with a tamper or roller.

Top Layer

• Finish your gravel driveway with a top layer of 2 to 4 inches of gravel ranging in size from golf ball to marble size. Lay an inch at a time, and compact each layer with a tamper or roller to ensure the best foundation. You can really make your landscape pop if you use a top layer of colored gravel that accentuates the exterior of your home.