How Much #57 Stone for a 18x30 Driveway?
A 18 by 30 foot driveway is 540 square feet. How much #57 stone for a 18x30 driveway depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 6.67 cubic yards or 9.0 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 18x30 driveway
- Area: 18 × 30 = 540 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 540 × 0.333 = 180.0 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 6.67 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.35 = 9.0 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
#57 stone needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 3.33 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| 3 in | 5.00 | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| 4 in | 6.67 | 9.0 | 9.9 |
| 6 in | 10.00 | 13.5 | 14.9 |
About #57 stone
Since #57 is washed and open-graded, it moves a little underfoot. Many installers put it over a compacted base of a dense-graded stone rather than straight on soil. If the yard sells by the cubic yard instead of the ton, use the cubic-yard column directly.
Preparing the driveway
Strip sod and soft topsoil, grade for drainage and compact the subgrade before any stone goes down. Gravel drives last longer with a compacted base layer under the top stone and a slight crown so water runs off. For car and truck traffic, the depths in the table above are a reasonable starting range.
Ordering tips
- Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
- Delivery size. 9.9 tons fits in a single typical dump truck load; small loads may carry a delivery fee. See how many tons of gravel in a dump truck.
- Bulk vs bags. At this size bulk delivery is usually the practical choice.
- Where it drops. Have the truck dump as close to the driveway as firm ground allows.
Good and poor uses for #57 stone
Best suited to:
- French drains and drainage layers
- The top course of a gravel driveway
- Under sheds where water needs to drain away
Less suited to:
- A standalone base, since it does not pack hard without fines
- Paver setting beds
- Walk paths meant for strollers or wheelchairs
Quick reference numbers
- Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.42 tons of #57 stone (0.31 cubic yards).
- Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.2 tons.
- Another size for comparison: a 8x16 area at 2 inches takes about 1.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.35 tons per cubic yard.
Common estimating mistakes
- Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
- Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
- Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
Questions people ask
How many tons of #57 stone for a 18x30 driveway?
About 9.0 tons at 4 inches deep, or 9.9 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 18x30 driveway at 4 inches?
About 6.67 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of #57 stone weigh?
Usually around 1.3 to 1.45 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.
How deep should #57 stone be for a driveway?
The table above shows 2 to 6 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.
How many square feet is 18x30?
540 square feet.
Related guides
- Number 57 Stone: Size, Weight, Uses, and Coverage
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- How Much #57 Stone for a 16x300 Driveway?
- How Much #57 Stone for a 18x25 Driveway?
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