Gravel for a 12×12 ft driveway
A 12 × 12 ft driveway at 6 in deep needs 2.67 cubic yards of gravel — about 144 × 50 lb bags, roughly 3.78 tons and $138.67 of material. Fine-tune below.
Full breakdown
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume before waste | 72.0 ft³ |
| Volume with 10% waste | 79.2 ft³ |
| Cubic yards | 2.93 |
| Cubic metres | 2.24 |
| Cubic feet | 79.2 |
| Weight | 4.16 tons (8,316 lb) |
| Full dump-truck loads | 1 × 10 yd³ truck |
| 50 lb bags | 159 bags · $715.50 |
| Sq ft covered at 1 in deep | 950 |
| Sq ft covered at 3 in deep | 317 |
- Formula: length × width × depth, with depth converted from inches to feet (÷ 12), then × (1 + waste%).
- Gravel: Gravel is sold by the cubic yard from a landscape yard, or by the bag for small patches; crushed stone is the usual choice for driveways and decorative gravel for beds.
- Gravel compacts as much as 20% under traffic, so a 4-inch loose layer settles to about 3¼ inches. Order by the compacted depth you want, not the loose depth you see in the truck.
- Prices are national averages for planning, not quotes. Confirm with a local supplier — delivery, short-load fees and tax are extra.
Working out 144 square feet at a 6 in depth gives 72.0 ft³ — 2.67 cubic yards of gravel, weighing roughly 3.78 tons.
The calculator above is pre-filled with these dimensions — change any field to see the numbers update. Gravel is sold by the cubic yard from a landscape yard, or by the bag for small patches; crushed stone is the usual choice for driveways and decorative gravel for beds.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic yards of gravel for a 12×12 ft driveway?
About 2.67 cubic yards at 6 in deep, which is 72.0 cubic feet or 3.78 tons. Add 10% waste if the ground is uneven.
How many bags is that?
144 × 50 lb bags, or 144 × 50 lb bags. Bagged is only worth it at this size if you cannot take a truck delivery.
What depth should a driveway be?
6 in is the standard for gravel in this application. Gravel compacts as much as 20% under traffic, so a 4-inch loose layer settles to about 3¼ inches. Order by the compacted depth you want, not the loose depth you see in the truck.