Gravel Reference

Gravel for a 20 by 40 Driveway

How much gravel you need for a 20 by 40 foot driveway, in cubic yards and tons.

Gravel for a 20x40 driveway

At 3 inches deep, with a 5 percent allowance.

Cubic yards
7.78cu yd
Tons (approx)
10.89tons
cubic yards = 20 × 40 × (3 / 12) ÷ 27 × 1.05 = 7.78 cu yd

That is about 6.1 × 12.2 m, roughly 5.95 m³ at 8 cm deep.

Open the interactive Gravel Calculator

About this estimate

A 20 by 40 foot area at 3 inches is about 7.41 cubic yards before waste. Crushed gravel runs roughly 1.4 tons per cubic yard, though pea gravel and washed stone differ.

Spreading gravel? A contractor wheelbarrow makes short work of moving it from the pile.

View on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Common questions

How much gravel for a 20 by 40 driveway?

A 20 by 40 foot area at 3 inches deep needs about 7.78 cubic yards, roughly 10.89 tons of crushed gravel.

How deep should a gravel driveway be?

Three to four inches for a top layer over an existing base, more for a full build with a sub base. Confirm the stone density with your supplier.
Knowledge Base

Estimating Guides & Reference

Plain-language guides on measuring, coverage and how much extra to buy, written for DIYers and trades.

Measuring & Estimating
Concrete & Aggregate
Soil & Lawn
Interior & Finishing