Ordering gravel for a driveway is one of the most common projects we help with on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Order too little and you're left with thin, bare patches. Order too much and you've paid for material you can't use. This guide walks you through the math so you can buy the right amount the first time.
Step 1: Measure your driveway
Grab a tape measure and write down the length and width of the driveway in feet. For an irregular shape, break it into rectangles, measure each one, and add them together. A typical residential driveway runs somewhere around 10 to 12 feet wide and 20 to 50 feet long.
Step 2: Choose a depth
For a new gravel driveway, plan on a total depth of 4 to 6 inches. Many driveways are built in layers: a coarse base of crushed stone topped with a finer surface layer. If you're just refreshing an existing driveway, 2 inches of new gravel is often enough to bring it back to life.
Step 3: Do the volume math
Here's the formula:
- Multiply length x width to get square feet.
- Convert your depth to feet by dividing inches by 12 (so 4 inches = 0.33 ft).
- Multiply square feet x depth in feet to get cubic feet.
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Example: a 12 ft x 40 ft driveway at 4 inches deep is 480 sq ft x 0.33 = about 158 cubic feet, or roughly 5.9 cubic yards.
Step 4: Convert cubic yards to tons
Avanni sells everything by the ton, so convert your cubic yards to weight. One cubic yard of gravel or crushed stone weighs roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons. Using 1.4 as a middle estimate, our 5.9-cubic-yard example works out to about 8.3 tons. Round up slightly so you're not short.
Which gravel for a driveway?
For a smooth, decorative drive, our river gravel in 3/4 inch is a popular choice. For a firmer, more compactable surface, many Gulf Coast homeowners build the base with crushed limestone, which has angular edges that lock together. Our guide on building a solid driveway base covers layering in detail.
Get help with your estimate
If your driveway is large, sloped, or oddly shaped, send your measurements through our quote request page or call (985) 205-3396. There's no minimum order, and we deliver across Harrison and Hancock counties Monday through Saturday.
