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Gravel Driveway Calculator · Free calculator

12x16 Gravel Driveway Calculator

Covering 12' × 16' (192 sq ft) with 4" of gravel takes 2.61 cubic yards — about 3.65 tons — with 10% extra. A full 3-layer driveway build for 12x16 is 9.13 tons. Depths, layers, truck loads and fabric are below.

Quick answer

4" gravel
2.61 yd³
Weight @ 4"
3.65 tons
3-layer driveway (10")
9.13 tons
Tandem truck loads (15 t)
1
Geotextile fabric
24 sq yd
Est. gravel cost @ 4"
$151

▍Gravel Calculator

Material
ft
in
ft
in
in
Waste Factor
$
L = 16' 0"W = 12' 0"D = 4"
Cubic Yards
2.61yd³
incl. 10% waste · Bulk delivery: order 2.75 yd³
Cubic Feet
70.40ft³
Area
192.0sq ft
Weight
3.65tons
Weight
7,301lbs
Gravel bags needed
  • 0.5 cu ft bag (~50 lb) (0.5 ft³ yield)141

Gravel for 12x16 by depth

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

DepthUseCubic yardsTonsTruck loadsBulk est.
2"Top dressing / refresh1.30 yd³1.831$83
4"Top layer (#57 stone)2.61 yd³3.651$151
6"New pad on firm soil3.91 yd³5.481$220
8"New driveway on soft soil5.21 yd³7.301$289

3-layer gravel driveway build for 12x16

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"2.61 yd³3.65
#57 stone (¾"–1") middle4"2.61 yd³3.65
Crusher run / dense grade top2"1.30 yd³1.83
Total10"6.52 yd³9.13

How the math works

  1. Area: 16 ft × 12 ft = 192 sq ft
  2. Volume @ 4": 192 × (4 ÷ 12) = 64.00 cu ft
  3. Add 10%: 64.00 × 1.10 = 70.40 cu ft
  4. Cubic yards: 70.40 ÷ 27 = 2.61 yd³
  5. Tons: 2.61 × 1.4 = 3.65 tons
  6. Truck loads: 9.13 tons ÷ 15 tons per tandem = 1

Trade pro tips

  • At 4" deep, 12x16 takes 3.65 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 12x16 driveway?

At 4" deep: 3.65 tons. At 6": 5.48 tons. A complete 3-layer driveway (4" #3 + 4" #57 + 2" crusher run) is 9.13 tons. All include 10% extra.

How many cubic yards of gravel for 12x16?

2": 1.30 yd³; 4": 2.61 yd³; 6": 3.91 yd³; 8": 5.21 yd³. 12x16 is 192 sq ft.

How many truck loads of gravel for a 12x16 driveway?

A tandem dump truck carries about 15 tons. 12x16 at 4" (3.65 t) is 1 load; the full 3-layer build (9.13 t) is 1 load.

How much does a 12x16 gravel driveway cost?

Stone alone at 4" is about $151 (~$55/yd³). A 3-layer build runs roughly $359 in material plus 24 sq yd of fabric; delivery and grading are extra.