Gravel Driveway: Tonnes of Stone and Materials Needed (UK)
A 6 × 5 m gravel drive (30 m²) needs 10.9 tonnes of MOT Type 1 for a 150 mm sub-base and 2.5 tonnes of 20 mm gravel for a 50 mm top layer, which is about 18 bulk bags in all. Here is the full list, and a chart for other sizes.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| MOT Type 1 sub-base | 10.9 tonnes (14 bulk bags of 0.8 tonnes) | Gravel calculator: 30 m² at 150 mm compacted, 10% extra |
| Weed-control membrane | 33 m² | The area plus 10% for overlaps, laid over the sub-base to keep weeds and stones apart |
| Gravel retention grid (optional) | 30 m² plus 5% | A plastic grid stops the stones moving and rutting, and holds the gravel in place on slopes and in turning areas |
| 20 mm gravel | 2.5 tonnes (4 bulk bags) | Gravel calculator: 50 mm deep, 5% extra |
| Edging | Up to 22 m | The perimeter, 2 × (6 + 5), less any side against a wall or a hard surface. Edging holds the gravel in |
| Delivery | Check access and the delivery charge | A tipper truck or a grab lorry drops the load where it can stop, so plan where the heap or bags will go |
Materials for other drive sizes
150 mm of MOT Type 1 (10% extra) and 50 mm of 20 mm gravel (5% extra), in bulk bags of 0.8 tonnes:
| Drive size | Area | MOT Type 1 | 20 mm gravel | Bulk bags in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 5 m | 15 m² | 5.4 tonnes | 1.3 tonnes | 9 |
| 3 × 10 m | 30 m² | 10.9 tonnes | 2.5 tonnes | 18 |
| 5 × 5 m | 25 m² | 9.1 tonnes | 2.1 tonnes | 15 |
| 6 × 5 m | 30 m² | 10.9 tonnes | 2.5 tonnes | 18 |
| 6 × 8 m | 48 m² | 17.4 tonnes | 4.0 tonnes | 28 |
Before you order
- Check the front garden rules. Gravel is permeable, so a gravel drive in England is normally fine, but a new access (dropped kerb) needs your highway authority, and some areas have extra limits.
- Check for buried services before you dig. The free LSBUD (LinesearchbeforeUdig) service shows the gas, water, electricity and telecoms assets near your address.
- Plan the drainage. Give the drive a slight fall away from the house, and do not let water run onto the pavement.
- Choose the right stone. Angular 20 mm gravel locks together and is firmer underfoot than rounded pea gravel, which moves under tyres.
How the job goes
- Mark out the drive, dig out about 200 mm for the sub-base and gravel, and compact the soil.
- Fit the edging, in concrete if it needs to be firm.
- Lay the MOT Type 1 in layers of about 100 mm, and compact each one with a plate compactor.
- Lay the membrane with generous overlaps, then the grid if you are using one.
- Spread the gravel and rake it level, to the depth of the grid or 40 to 50 mm.
Mistakes that cost people money
- Skipping the sub-base. Gravel on soil sinks, ruts and grows weeds.
- Making the gravel too thick. A very deep layer is hard to walk and drive on.
- Forgetting the edging, so the gravel spreads onto the lawn and the road.
- Ordering with no thought to access, so the lorry cannot reach where you need the stone.
Frequently asked questions
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
For a 6 × 5 m drive (30 m²) laid 50 mm deep with 20 mm gravel, about 2.5 tonnes with 5% extra, on top of 10.9 tonnes of MOT Type 1 for the sub-base.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
A layer of 40 to 50 mm of gravel on a compacted sub-base of at least 150 mm of MOT Type 1, over a membrane. Cars compress thin layers and show the membrane through.
Do I need planning permission for a gravel driveway?
Gravel is a permeable surface, so in England a gravel drive in a front garden does not normally need planning permission. Paving more than 5 m² with an impermeable surface does, unless the rainwater drains to a lawn or border. Check with your council.
How many bulk bags of gravel do I need?
A bulk bag holds about 0.8 tonnes, and covers about 10 m² at 50 mm. The 30 m² drive takes 4 bags of gravel, and 14 of MOT Type 1.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.