Layers and depths
| Guidance | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Road base under a driveway | 4 to 6 in, in 2 in lifts | hellogravel.com |
| Three-layer gravel driveway, total | 12 to 18 in, each layer 4 to 6 in | angi.com (archived) |
| Paver driveway base | 6 in minimum | cmha.org |
Hello Gravel describes road base (crusher run) as the packed layer that goes under the stone you drive on, laid 4 to 6 inches deep for a driveway and compacted in 2-inch lifts, with clean stone such as No. 57 on top. Angi's guide recommends three layers of 4 to 6 inches each for the most stable driveway.
Working it out
Each layer: length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = cubic yards; × tons per cubic yard = tons.
Example: a 50 × 12 ft driveway with 4 inches of crusher run under 2 inches of No. 57 stone, plus 10%, takes 8.15 cubic yards (12.2 tons) of crusher run and 4.07 cubic yards (5.25 tons) of No. 57.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel for a 50 ft driveway?
At 12 ft wide with 4 inches of crusher run and 2 inches of No. 57 stone, about 17.5 tons including 10% extra.
What goes under a gravel driveway?
A compacted base of road base or crusher run, which keeps its fines and packs hard, with clean stone such as No. 57 on top.
Sources
- https://hellogravel.com/products/road-base/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230601114804/https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-make-gravel-driveway.htm
- https://www.cmha.org/news-and-insights/proper-concrete-paver-base-and-depth-what-to-know-and-why-it-matters/
- https://selectsg.com/how-much-does-a-yard-of-crushed-stone-weigh/
- https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/15034/003.cfm
- https://rochestercp.com/resources/installation-manuals/installation-manual-vintage-6.pdf