How much gravel do I need for a 12×50 area?
A 12 × 50 ft area is 600 square feet. At 4 inches deep, the usual depth for a driveway, it takes 8.15 cubic yards of gravel, or 11.4 tons of 3/4 in crushed stone with 10 percent extra for compaction. In bags that would be 441 bags of 0.5 cubic feet. At 6 inches for a driveway base it is 12.22 cubic yards, about 17.1 tons.
Gravel for a 12×50 area by depth
| Depth | Cubic yards (10% extra) | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 4.07 | 5.70 | 221 | top dressing a path or refreshing a driveway |
| 3 in | 6.11 | 8.56 | 330 | walkway, light patio base |
| 4 in | 8.15 | 11.41 | 441 | patio base, shed pad, pavers |
| 6 in | 12.22 | 17.11 | 660 | driveway base, parking |
Figures use 3/4 in crushed stone at 1.4 tons per cubic yard. Pea gravel and river rock are lighter per yard; crusher run and road base are heavier. Change the material in the calculator to see the difference.
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Delivery or bags for 600 square feet
441 bags is too many to carry; at about $5 a bag it would cost $2,205 for material that costs $513 to $741 delivered by the ton. Order bulk. A full-size pickup carries about half a cubic yard, so hauling 8.1 yards yourself means 17 trips. At 17.1 tons for a 6 in depth you are looking at about 1.4 dump-truck loads, so ask the yard about a tandem or tri-axle delivery.
Laying gravel on a 12×50 area
- Excavate to the finished depth plus the gravel depth and compact the soil. A 12 × 50 area 4 in deep means hauling off about 7.4 cubic yards of dirt if you are not raising the grade.
- Lay landscape fabric (660 sq ft) under a patio or walkway base to keep the stone from sinking into the soil.
- Spread in lifts no thicker than 2 to 3 in and compact each with a plate compactor. Loose gravel settles about 10 percent, which is why the order includes extra.
- For a driveway, crown the center an inch or two so water runs off. For a pad under a shed or pavers, screed it dead flat.
Common questions
How many tons of gravel for a 12x50 area?
5.7 tons at 2 inches, 8.6 at 3 inches, 11.4 at 4 inches, and 17.1 tons at 6 inches deep, using crushed stone at 1.4 tons per yard with 10 percent extra.
How many yards of gravel for a 12x50 driveway or pad?
8.15 cubic yards at 4 inches deep or 12.22 at 6 inches. Multiply 600 square feet by the depth in feet, divide by 27, and add 10 percent for compaction.
How much does gravel for a 12x50 area cost?
About $513 to $741 for 11.4 tons delivered at 4 inches deep, depending on the stone and your distance from the quarry. Decorative stone like river rock or marble chips costs two to four times more than crushed limestone.