How Much Gravel for a 18x300 Driveway?

How much gravel for a 18x300 driveway: at 4 inches deep you need about 66.67 cubic yards, which is roughly 93.3 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The driveway covers 5,400 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 16.67 yards.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 18x300 driveway

Area: 18 × 300 = 5,400 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
Cubic feet: 5,400 × 0.333 = 1,800.0 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 66.67 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 93.3 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Gravel needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
2 in	33.33	46.7	51.3
3 in	50.00	70.0	77.0
4 in	66.67	93.3	102.7
6 in	100.00	140.0	154.0

About gravel

Plain gravel is a loose term. Yards use it for rounded bank or river stone as well as for crushed rock, so ask whether the load is washed, crushed or a mix before you lock in a tonnage. Weight per yard is a planning number; the scale ticket at the yard is the real one.

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. 102.7 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 gravel fits

Good uses:

Rural driveways and lanes where low upfront cost matters
Drainage areas and around downspouts
Temporary access while a site is under construction

Think twice for:

Steep slopes, where loose stone washes downhill
Spots plowed often, since plows push gravel into the lawn
Areas next to doors, because stone tracks inside

Quick reference numbers

Per inch over 100 sq ft: about 0.43 tons of gravel (0.31 cubic yards).
Per inch over 1,000 sq ft: about 4.3 tons.
Another size for comparison: a 10x20 area at 3 inches takes about 2.6 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

Using inches as if they were feet. Depth has to be divided by 12 before you multiply; skipping that step inflates the order twelvefold.
Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel for a 18x300 driveway?

About 93.3 tons at 4 inches deep, or 102.7 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 18x300 driveway at 4 inches?

About 66.67 cubic yards.

How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?

Usually around 1.3 to 1.5 tons, depending on stone size, fines and moisture.

How deep should gravel 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 18x300?

5,400 square feet.

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