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Gravel Driveway Calculator · Free calculator

12x12 Gravel Driveway Calculator

Covering 12' × 12' (144 sq ft) with 4" of gravel takes 1.96 cubic yards — about 2.74 tons — with 10% extra. A full 3-layer driveway build for 12x12 is 6.84 tons. Depths, layers, truck loads and fabric are below.

Quick answer

4" gravel
1.96 yd³
Weight @ 4"
2.74 tons
3-layer driveway (10")
6.84 tons
Tandem truck loads (15 t)
1
Geotextile fabric
18 sq yd
Est. gravel cost @ 4"
$110

▍Gravel Calculator

Material
ft
in
ft
in
in
Waste Factor
$
L = 12' 0"W = 12' 0"D = 4"
Cubic Yards
1.96yd³
incl. 10% waste · Bulk delivery: order 2.00 yd³
Cubic Feet
52.80ft³
Area
144.0sq ft
Weight
2.74tons
Weight
5,476lbs
Gravel bags needed
  • 0.5 cu ft bag (~50 lb) (0.5 ft³ yield)106

Gravel for 12x12 by depth

144 sq ft, 10% waste. Crushed stone ≈ 1.4 tons/yd³, ~$55/yd³ delivered.

DepthUseCubic yardsTonsTruck loadsBulk est.
2"Top dressing / refresh0.98 yd³1.371$55
4"Top layer (#57 stone)1.96 yd³2.741$110
6"New pad on firm soil2.93 yd³4.111$165
8"New driveway on soft soil3.91 yd³5.481$220

3-layer gravel driveway build for 12x12

The standard US build for a driveway that won’t rut: big stone base, mid-size stone, fines on top.

LayerDepthCubic yardsTons
#3 stone (1"–2½") base4"1.96 yd³2.74
#57 stone (¾"–1") middle4"1.96 yd³2.74
Crusher run / dense grade top2"0.98 yd³1.37
Total10"4.89 yd³6.84

How the math works

  1. Area: 12 ft × 12 ft = 144 sq ft
  2. Volume @ 4": 144 × (4 ÷ 12) = 48.00 cu ft
  3. Add 10%: 48.00 × 1.10 = 52.80 cu ft
  4. Cubic yards: 52.80 ÷ 27 = 1.96 yd³
  5. Tons: 1.96 × 1.4 = 2.74 tons
  6. Truck loads: 6.84 tons ÷ 15 tons per tandem = 1

Trade pro tips

  • At 4" deep, 12x12 takes 2.74 tons — a single dump truck delivery covers it.
  • Build in layers: 4" of #3 (2"–3") stone, 4" of #57, then 2" of crusher run / dense grade on top.
  • Lay non-woven geotextile over clay soil first — it stops stone from sinking.
  • Crown the driveway ½" per foot so water sheds to the sides.
  • Spread with a box blade and compact each layer before the next.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of gravel do I need for a 12x12 driveway?

At 4" deep: 2.74 tons. At 6": 4.11 tons. A complete 3-layer driveway (4" #3 + 4" #57 + 2" crusher run) is 6.84 tons. All include 10% extra.

How many cubic yards of gravel for 12x12?

2": 0.98 yd³; 4": 1.96 yd³; 6": 2.93 yd³; 8": 3.91 yd³. 12x12 is 144 sq ft.

How many truck loads of gravel for a 12x12 driveway?

A tandem dump truck carries about 15 tons. 12x12 at 4" (2.74 t) is 1 load; the full 3-layer build (6.84 t) is 1 load.

How much does a 12x12 gravel driveway cost?

Stone alone at 4" is about $110 (~$55/yd³). A 3-layer build runs roughly $269 in material plus 18 sq yd of fabric; delivery and grading are extra.