How Much Gravel for a 18x80 Driveway?

How much gravel for a 18x80 driveway: at 4 inches deep you need about 17.78 cubic yards, which is roughly 24.9 tons at 1.4 tons per yard. The driveway covers 1,440 square feet, so every inch of depth adds about 4.44 yards.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

The math for a 18x80 driveway

Area: 18 × 80 = 1,440 sq ft.
Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
Cubic feet: 1,440 × 0.333 = 480.0 cu ft.
Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 17.78 yd³.
Tons: × 1.4 = 24.9 tons.

The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.

Gravel needed by depth

Depth	Cubic yards	Tons (approx.)	Tons +10%
2 in	8.89	12.4	13.7
3 in	13.33	18.7	20.5
4 in	17.78	24.9	27.4
6 in	26.67	37.3	41.1

About gravel

Because ’gravel’ covers so many products, the weight per yard moves with stone size and how much fine material is in the pile. Rounded stone with no fines rolls under tires; crushed stone with fines locks together. 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. 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. 27.4 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.

Good and poor uses for gravel

Works well for:

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 14x28 area at 4 inches takes about 6.8 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Common estimating mistakes

Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
Forgetting that compaction shrinks loose material. A loose 4-inch spread of a dense-graded stone may finish closer to 3 inches after rolling.
Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel for a 18x80 driveway?

About 24.9 tons at 4 inches deep, or 27.4 tons with 10 percent extra.

How many cubic yards is a 18x80 driveway at 4 inches?

About 17.78 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 18x80?

1,440 square feet.

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