How many tons of gravel for a 10x20 driveway?

About 3.5 tons at 4 inches deep (2.47 cubic yards × ~1.4 tons per yard), plus 5–10% extra for compaction.

How deep should gravel be on a driveway?

Four inches over a compacted base is the residential standard. Use 6 inches for heavy vehicles or soft soil.

Should I buy gravel by the yard or by the ton?

Quarries sell both. Cubic yards measure volume (what you need to fill the space); tons measure weight (what the truck carries). Convert with roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard and confirm the factor with your supplier.

What type of gravel is best for a driveway?

Angular crushed stone (like #57 or crusher run) compacts and locks together. Rounded pea gravel looks nice but shifts under tires.

Do I need landscape fabric under driveway gravel?

Yes — woven geotextile fabric stops gravel from sinking into the soil and reduces how much stone you lose over time.

Guide

How Much Gravel Do I Need for a 10x20 Driveway?

A 10 × 20 foot driveway covers 200 square feet. At the standard 4-inch depth that is about 66.7 cubic feet of gravel, or 2.47 cubic yards — and since gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, plan on about 3.5 tons delivered. The depth chart and step-by-step math below cover the details.

Key Takeaways

A 10 × 20 ft driveway covers 200 sq ft.
At 4 inches deep that is about 66.7 cu ft, or 2.47 cubic yards.
Gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard — about 3.5 tons total.
Four inches over a compacted base is standard for a residential driveway.
Add 5–10% extra for compaction, spillage, and an uneven subgrade.

Calculate Your Gravel

How to Calculate Gravel for a 10x20 Driveway

Gravel is sold by the cubic yard or the ton, so convert the driveway volume to cubic yards first, then to weight.

1Find the area: 10 × 20 = 200 sq ft.
2Convert depth to feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
3Calculate cubic feet: 200 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft.
4Convert to cubic yards: 66.7 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.47 cu yd.
5Convert to tons: 2.47 × 1.4 ≈ 3.5 tons.

The Gravel Volume Formula

Driveway gravel is a simple box volume. Convert to cubic yards because that is how quarries sell it, then multiply by about 1.4 to get tons (weight varies slightly by stone type).

Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Depth in ft) ÷ 27

Worked Example: 10 ft × 20 ft Driveway at 4 Inches

Full calculation for a standard 10 × 20 driveway, plus a chart for other depths.

Step 1

Driveway dimensions: 10 ft × 20 ft, 4 inches deep.

Step 2

Area: 10 × 20 = 200 sq ft.

Step 3

Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.

Step 4

Volume: 200 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft.

Step 5

Cubic yards: 66.7 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.47 cu yd.

Step 6

Weight: 2.47 × 1.4 ≈ 3.5 tons.

Gravel depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx)
2 in	1.23	1.7
4 in	2.47	3.5
6 in	3.70	5.2

Common Mistakes

Ordering by the ton without checking the quarry’s tons-per-yard for that stone.
Skipping the compacted base — gravel sinks into soft soil and you need more.
Using a 2-inch depth for a driving surface; it ruts and migrates.
Forgetting edging — gravel spreads sideways without a border.
Ordering the exact tonnage with no buffer for compaction.

Practical Tips

Compact the subgrade before spreading gravel so the depth stays true.
Use angular crushed stone (not rounded pea gravel) for driveways — it locks together.
Crown the driveway slightly so water drains off instead of pooling.
Install edging boards or stone borders to keep gravel in place.
Double-check with the NOVORY Gravel Calculator before ordering delivery.