Gravel Parking Pad: Size, Depth and Tons of Stone
A gravel parking pad is one of the quickest ways to add a parking spot beside a driveway, behind a garage or for a trailer. Done well, it is a compacted base of angular stone with a finer top layer, held in by edging. Done badly, it is a few inches of loose stone dumped on grass that ruts the first wet week.
Gravel tons calculator →How big to make it
Measure the vehicles you will park, then add room to open doors and walk around. As rough planning sizes, many single-car pads are around 10 feet wide and 20 feet long, and two-car pads around 20 by 20 feet. Trucks, boats and campers need more length; our RV parking and horse trailer pad guides cover bigger rigs. For standard stall widths, see parking stall width.
Check the rules first
Some towns and HOAs limit front-yard parking, require a permit for new driveway area, or count gravel toward lot coverage or impervious surface limits. A short call to the zoning or permit office can save a tear-out. Our guide to driveway permits lists the usual questions.
Layers and depth
- Dig out sod and topsoil. Organic soil compresses and stays soft. Remove it down to firm ground.
- Fabric on soft ground. A separation fabric stops stone from pushing into clay or mud; see geotextile fabric.
- Base layer. Angular stone such as crusher run or a coarser base stone, compacted in lifts. Many pads use somewhere around 4 to 6 inches, more on soft soil or for heavy vehicles.
- Top layer. A couple of inches of finer crushed stone that packs smooth. Round decorative stone looks nice but moves; see pea gravel driveway.
- Edging and slope. Give the surface a slight fall away from buildings so water drains, and edge it so stone stays in place.
How many tons of gravel for a parking pad
Tons = length × width × depth (ft) ÷ 27 × weight per yard. The table uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a common planning figure for crushed stone.
| Pad size | 2 in top | 4 in base | 6 in base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft (200 ft²) | ~1.2 yd³ / ~1.7 t | ~2.5 yd³ / ~3.5 t | ~3.7 yd³ / ~5.2 t |
| 12 × 24 ft (288 ft²) | ~1.8 yd³ / ~2.5 t | ~3.6 yd³ / ~5.0 t | ~5.3 yd³ / ~7.5 t |
| 20 × 20 ft (400 ft²) | ~2.5 yd³ / ~3.5 t | ~4.9 yd³ / ~6.9 t | ~7.4 yd³ / ~10.4 t |
Add the base and top tons together for the order. Compaction thins each layer, so order a little extra. A single tandem dump truck load is often enough for a one- or two-car pad; see tons of gravel in a dump truck.
Compaction and upkeep
Compact each layer with a plate compactor, dampening dusty stone so it packs. Rake ruts out in spring, top up thin spots, and keep the edges from drifting. If you later want to pave the spot, a well-built gravel pad becomes the base; the 10×20 asphalt pad guide gives the tons for paving it.
Questions people ask
How deep should a gravel parking pad be?
Many pads use a compacted base of around 4 to 6 inches of angular stone with a couple of inches of finer stone on top. Soft soil or heavy vehicles call for more.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x20 parking pad?
At about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, a 6-inch base is roughly 5 tons and a 2-inch top layer about 1.7 tons, so around 7 tons total before extra for compaction.
Do I need fabric under a gravel parking pad?
On soft, clay or wet soil it helps keep the stone from sinking into the ground. On firm, well-drained soil it is optional.
Do I need a permit for a gravel parking pad?
Sometimes. Some towns and HOAs regulate new parking areas, front-yard parking or impervious surface. Check before you dig.
Related guides
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