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Gravel Driveway Calculator · Free calculator

30x40 Gravel Driveway Calculator

Covering 30' × 40' (1200 sq ft) with 4" of gravel takes 16.30 cubic yards — about 22.81 tons — with 10% extra. A full 3-layer driveway build for 30x40 is 57.04 tons. Depths, layers, truck loads and fabric are below.

Quick answer

4" gravel
16.30 yd³
Weight @ 4"
22.81 tons
3-layer driveway (10")
57.04 tons
Tandem truck loads (15 t)
4
Geotextile fabric
147 sq yd
Est. gravel cost @ 4"
$908

▍Gravel Calculator

Material
ft
in
ft
in
in
Waste Factor
$
L = 40' 0"W = 30' 0"D = 4"
Cubic Yards
16.30yd³
incl. 10% waste · Bulk delivery: order 16.50 yd³
Cubic Feet
440.00ft³
Area
1,200.0sq ft
Weight
22.81tons
Weight
45,630lbs
Gravel bags needed
  • 0.5 cu ft bag (~50 lb) (0.5 ft³ yield)880

Gravel for 30x40 by depth

1200 sq ft, 10% waste. Crushed stone ≈ 1.4 tons/yd³, ~$55/yd³ delivered.

DepthUseCubic yardsTonsTruck loadsBulk est.
2"Top dressing / refresh8.15 yd³11.411$454
4"Top layer (#57 stone)16.30 yd³22.812$908
6"New pad on firm soil24.44 yd³34.223$1,348
8"New driveway on soft soil32.59 yd³45.634$1,801

3-layer gravel driveway build for 30x40

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"16.30 yd³22.81
#57 stone (¾"–1") middle4"16.30 yd³22.81
Crusher run / dense grade top2"8.15 yd³11.41
Total10"40.74 yd³57.04

How the math works

  1. Area: 40 ft × 30 ft = 1200 sq ft
  2. Volume @ 4": 1200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 400.00 cu ft
  3. Add 10%: 400.00 × 1.10 = 440.00 cu ft
  4. Cubic yards: 440.00 ÷ 27 = 16.30 yd³
  5. Tons: 16.30 × 1.4 = 22.81 tons
  6. Truck loads: 57.04 tons ÷ 15 tons per tandem = 4

Trade pro tips

  • At 4" deep, 30x40 takes 22.81 tons — that is more than one tandem dump truck load.
  • 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 30x40 driveway?

At 4" deep: 22.81 tons. At 6": 34.22 tons. A complete 3-layer driveway (4" #3 + 4" #57 + 2" crusher run) is 57.04 tons. All include 10% extra.

How many cubic yards of gravel for 30x40?

2": 8.15 yd³; 4": 16.30 yd³; 6": 24.44 yd³; 8": 32.59 yd³. 30x40 is 1200 sq ft.

How many truck loads of gravel for a 30x40 driveway?

A tandem dump truck carries about 15 tons. 30x40 at 4" (22.81 t) is 2 loads; the full 3-layer build (57.04 t) is 4 loads.

How much does a 30x40 gravel driveway cost?

Stone alone at 4" is about $908 (~$55/yd³). A 3-layer build runs roughly $2,241 in material plus 147 sq yd of fabric; delivery and grading are extra.