How Much Gravel for a 22x40 Driveway?
A 22 by 40 foot driveway is 880 square feet. How much gravel for a 22x40 driveway depends on depth: at 4 inches it is about 10.86 cubic yards or 15.2 tons. Suppliers usually sell by the ton, so the tonnage is the number to give them.
Volume and tonnage calculator →The math for a 22x40 driveway
- Area: 22 × 40 = 880 sq ft.
- Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Cubic feet: 880 × 0.333 = 293.3 cu ft.
- Cubic yards: ÷ 27 = 10.86 yd³.
- Tons: × 1.4 = 15.2 tons.
The volume and tonnage calculator does this for any size.
Gravel needed by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards | Tons (approx.) | Tons +10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 5.43 | 7.6 | 8.4 |
| 3 in | 8.15 | 11.4 | 12.5 |
| 4 in | 10.86 | 15.2 | 16.7 |
| 6 in | 16.30 | 22.8 | 25.1 |
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. 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. 16.7 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
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 3 inches takes about 5.1 tons.
- Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.
Mistakes that throw off the order
- Ordering exactly the math. Uneven ground and spillage nearly always need a little more than the flat calculation.
- Ignoring the base. A thin surface layer over soft soil fails early no matter how much material is on top.
- Mixing up cubic yards and tons. Yards are volume, tons are weight; convert with the product’s weight per yard.
- Measuring only the main rectangle. Aprons, turnouts and curved edges add real square footage.
Questions people ask
How many tons of gravel for a 22x40 driveway?
About 15.2 tons at 4 inches deep, or 16.7 tons with 10 percent extra.
How many cubic yards is a 22x40 driveway at 4 inches?
About 10.86 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 22x40?
880 square feet.
Related guides
- How Much Does a Ton of Gravel Cover? Depth Chart
- Tons to Cubic Yards for Gravel: Conversion Chart
- How Many Tons of Gravel in a Dump Truck? Loads and Coverage
- How Much Gravel for a 22x30 Driveway?
- How Much Gravel for a 22x35 Driveway?
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