How to Lay a Gravel Driveway

What you need

A spade and wheelbarrow (or a mini digger for a big driveway), a tape measure, a rake, a spirit level, a weed membrane, timber or stone edging, a sub-base of crushed stone and the gravel itself — usually 20 mm angular stone, which locks together instead of rolling under tyres.

Step 1 — Check what is underground, then dig out

Before you dig, check for underground cables and pipes — in the US call 811, in the UK use LinesearchbeforeUdig, and anywhere else ask your local utility. Then dig out the driveway to the depth of the sub-base plus the gravel: typically 150 mm of sub-base and 50–75 mm of gravel. The sides must be straight, because the edging follows them.

Step 2 — Lay the membrane and the edging

Lay a weed membrane over the dug-out area and pin it down — it stops the gravel sinking into the soil and weeds coming up. Fit the edging along both sides and fix it firmly: without edging, gravel migrates onto the lawn and the path within a month.

Step 3 — Sub-base, then gravel

Spread the sub-base (crushed stone) and compact it — a plate compactor hired for the day is worth it. Then spread the gravel in layers, raking it level, to a depth of about 50–75 mm. Thinner than that and tyres push through to the sub-base; thicker and the gravel moves underfoot.

Drainage and fall

Gravel is permeable, so rain soaks through it instead of running off — one reason it is popular for front drives. Even so, give the driveway a slight fall away from the house so water does not sit against the walls, and keep the finished level below the damp-proof course. If the ground is heavy clay and water already pools there, improve the drainage first: a gravel drive laid over a puddle is still a puddle.

Worked example

A driveway 20 ft × 10 ft with gravel 3 in deep is 50 ft³ (1.42 m³, or 1.85 yd³). Add 10% wastage: 55 ft³ (1.56 m³, or 2.04 yd³), which weighs 2.49 tonnes (2.75 US tons). Order by the cubic yard or by the tonne — whichever your supplier uses — and those are exactly the numbers the gravel calculator gives you.

Common mistakes

• No edging. Gravel without edging spreads everywhere. Fit the edging first, not as an afterthought.
• Skipping the membrane. Without it the gravel sinks into the soil and weeds grow through within a season.
• Too thin. Less than 50 mm of gravel and tyres cut through to the sub-base. Depth is not where to save money.

Safety

Check for underground utilities before you dig — hitting a cable or gas pipe is dangerous and expensive. Gravel is heavy: lift with your knees and take barrow-loads you can control. If the driveway crosses a public footpath or drains into the road, check your local rules first — some areas require planning permission or a dropped kerb.

Try these calculators

• Gravel Calculator — volume and weight for any area and depth.
• Concrete Driveway Calculator — concrete volume for a driveway slab.
• Driveway Calculator — area and material for a driveway by surface.