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How Much Road Base for a 24x100 Driveway?

How much road base for a 24x100 driveway is a quick volume problem. 2,400 square feet at 4 inches comes to 29.63 cubic yards. Road base usually weighs about 1.4 to 1.65 compacted tons per cubic yard, so plan on roughly 44.4 tons.

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The math for a 24x100 driveway

  1. Area: 24 × 100 = 2,400 sq ft.
  2. Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
  3. Cubic feet: 2,400 × 0.333 = 800.0 cu ft.
  4. Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 29.63 yd³.
  5. Tons: × 1.5 = 44.4 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Road base needed by depth

DepthCubic yardsTons (approx.)Tons +10%
4 in29.6344.448.9
6 in44.4466.773.3
8 in59.2688.997.8

About road base

Road base (also called base rock, ABC, or Class 2 base in different states) is a graded mix of stone and fines made to compact into a load-bearing layer. Ask your supplier for their own tons-per-yard figure, since stone source and moisture shift it.

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. This driveway sees car and truck traffic, so match the depth to that load rather than to the minimum.

Ordering tips

  • Round up. Compaction and uneven ground eat material. Adding about 10 percent is common.
  • Delivery size. 48.9 tons may take more than one 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.

Where road base fits

Best suited to:

  • Base under asphalt and concrete
  • Gravel roads and drives
  • Equipment and shed pads

Less suited to:

  • Drainage layers
  • Decorative surfaces
  • Surfaces that will stay uncompacted

Quick reference numbers

  • Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.46 tons of road base (0.31 cubic yards).
  • Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.6 tons.
  • Another size for comparison: a 15x30 area at 3 inches takes about 6.2 tons.
  • Weight used here: about 1.5 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

  • Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
  • Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
  • 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 road base for a 24x100 driveway?

About 44.4 tons at 4 inches deep, or 48.9 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 24x100 driveway at 4 inches?

About 29.63 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of road base weigh?

Usually around 1.4 to 1.65 compacted tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should road base be for a driveway?

The table above shows 4 to 8 inches. Shallower depths suit top dressing; deeper depths suit new installs and heavier use.

How many square feet is 24x100?

2,400 square feet.

Related guides

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