How this calculator works for driveways
A residential driveway needs two layers of aggregate to last: a coarse, dense-grade base (4 inches of ABC, CA6, 21AA, or Class 5) topped with 2 inches of decorative or traffic-bearing stone like #57. The base does the load-bearing work; the top course is what your tires actually run on.
The calculator above defaults to a single combined 6-inch depth of ABC because that is what most homeowners order for a one-shot driveway refresh. For a brand-new driveway built right, run the calculator twice: once at 4 inches with a base material (ABC / CA6) and once at 2 inches with a top material (#57 or limestone — see the crushed stone calculator for size grades). Add the two orders.
Driveways that see RV or truck traffic should go to 6 inches of base + 3 inches of top. If your sub-grade is soft clay, lay woven geotextile fabric before the first stone — it doubles the practical lifespan of the driveway. Read our full depth guide if you're unsure which depth fits your situation.
Recommended depth & material
| Use | Depth | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light car driveway, firm sub-grade | 4" base + 2" top = 6" | ABC / CA6 base, #57 top | Most common residential spec. |
| RV / truck / heavy use | 6" base + 3" top = 9" | ABC / Class 5 base, #57 top | Add geotextile for soft soil. |
| Driveway refresh (over existing base) | 2" – 3" | #57 stone or pea gravel | Skip the base layer; top up only. |
| Long rural lane, soft soil | 8" – 12" | #4 stone deep base + ABC + #57 top | Three-layer build; consult local codes. |
How to measure a driveway
A driveway is rarely a perfect rectangle — there is usually a flare at the street and an apron near the garage. Use the multi-area mode in the calculator to break the shape into two or three rectangles.
- Measure the long run. Length from the street to the garage door (or parking pad). Use a 100 ft tape or a wheel; a laser distance meter works for shorter drives.
- Measure the average width. Driveways are rarely a constant width — measure at the street, the middle, and the garage end, then average. Single-car drives are typically 10–12 ft; double-wide is 16–20 ft.
- Add the apron and flare. The trumpet-shape flare at the street and the apron in front of the garage add 5–15% to the area. Add them as separate rectangles (or one triangle) in multi-area mode.
- Pick your depth. Use 6" for a single-pour refresh, or run the calculator twice (4" base + 2" top) for a fresh build.
- Choose your material. ABC / crusher run is the default base. #57 is the default top. The calculator's material picker shows densities and typical depths for each.
- Add a buffer. 10% is standard. Bump to 15% if your driveway is sloped or curves around a tree.
Worked example: 100-ft driveway, two-layer build
A standard one-car driveway: 100 ft long × 12 ft wide = 1,200 sq ft.
- Base layer: 1,200 sq ft × 4 in ÷ 324 = 14.8 yd³ of ABC. At 2,700 lb/yd³, that is 20 tons. With 10% buffer: 22 tons.
- Top layer: 1,200 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 324 = 7.4 yd³ of #57 stone. At 2,750 lb/yd³, that is 10.2 tons. With 10% buffer: 11.2 tons.
- Combined order: ~33 tons of aggregate.
- Cost estimate: at $50/ton delivered, that is roughly $1,650 in material, plus delivery fees. For a full project breakdown including labor, geotextile, and edging, see our gravel driveway cost guide.
For a quick driveway refresh — just topping up the existing base — you would order only the second layer (~11 tons).
Driveway layer reference
| Layer | Depth | Material | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-grade | Native soil | Compacted; geotextile if soft | Bears the load |
| Deep base (heavy use only) | 4–6" | #4 crushed stone | Reinforces soft soil |
| Base course | 4" | ABC / crusher run or 21AA / CA6 | Compacts hard, supports tires |
| Top course | 2" | #57 stone or limestone | Drainage + finished surface |