Tons of Gravel per 100 Feet of 16 ft Road

Tons of gravel per 100 feet of 16 foot road: about 28 tons at 4 inches deep. The strip is 16 ft × 100 ft = 1,600 square feet. Long runs magnify small depth changes, so pin the depth down before ordering.

Volume and tonnage calculator →

Tons by depth

Depth	Tons	Truckloads (~14 t)
3 in	21	2
4 in	28	2
6 in	41	3
8 in	55	4

The math

Area: 16 × 100 = 1,600 sq ft.
Volume at 4 in: 1,600 × 0.333 = 533 cu ft (20 cubic yards).
× 1.4 tons per yard = 28 tons.

Building a road this width

A 16-foot width allows two vehicles to pass carefully. 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. Crown the surface so water sheds to ditches on both sides.

Practical notes

Phasing. Large tonnages are delivered over days; schedule spreading and compaction to keep up with trucks.
Waste. Allow 5 to 10 percent.
Hauling. Distance from the quarry or plant often costs as much as the material on long jobs; see asphalt hauling cost per ton.

Check other sizes with the volume and tonnage calculator.

Good and poor uses for gravel

Best suited to:

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

Less suited to:

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 12x24 area at 2 inches takes about 2.5 tons.
Weight used here: about 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

Mistakes that throw off the order

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.
Assuming every supplier uses the same weight. Two yards selling the same product name can quote different tons per yard.
Skipping drainage. Water sitting under any surface softens the base and leads to ruts and potholes.

Questions people ask

How many tons of gravel per 100 feet of 16 ft road?

About 28 tons at 4 inches.

How many truckloads is that?

About 2 loads at roughly 14 tons each.

How many square feet is 100 feet of 16 ft road?

1,600 square feet.

Should I add extra for waste?

Yes, 5 to 10 percent is common.

Does this include the shoulders?

No. Measure shoulders and pullouts separately and add them.

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