Roadway and Driveway Fill Calculator

For a small to medium sized driveway or carport, pouring a concrete pad is the best option for constructing a stable driving surface. But for a long driveway or roadway, it is more economical to fill the area with fine or coarse gravel. You can calculate the cubic yards and tonnage of gravel needed if you know the dimensions of the driveway and the density of the material.

To calculate the amount of materials in cubic yards, multiply the length and average width of the driveway, in feet. If the driveway is curved, measure the length of the curve going down the center of the driveway. Multiply this number by the depth, in inches. And finally, divide by 324 to convert to cubic yards.

Example: You are going to fill a roadway that is 35 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 4 inches deep. You need 3.025 cubic yards of material, since (35)(7)(4)/324 = 3.025.

To find the total weight of the material in tons, multiply the cubic yardage by the density of the material, where the density units are tons per cubic yard.

Example: Dry loose gravel has a density of 1.2827 tons per cubic yard. If the project requires 3.025 cubic yards, then the total weight of gravel needed is 3.8802, since (1.2827)(3.025) = 3.8802.

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