How Much Gravel for a 5m x 3m Driveway?

A 5 × 3 m driveway (15 m²) covered with 50 mm of 20 mm gravel needs 1.26 tonnes including 5% extra. That is 0.79 m³, or about 2 bulk bags of 0.8 tonne. Under it you need a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base. Change the depth and the material below.

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Example job shown. Change the numbers to match yours.

Material needed

1.26 tonnes

Includes your waste allowance

What to buy

Bulk bags2 bags

Cubic metres: 0.79 m³
Bulk bags0.80 tonnes each: 2 bags
Area covered by one tonneAt this depth, with no waste: 12.5 m²
Area: 15.0 m²

Cost

Estimated cost: £56.70

Assumptions used: 5% waste added; 1.6 tonnes/m³ for the material you chose; 0.80 tonnes per bulk bag.
Typical weights per m³: 20 mm gravel about 1.6 tonnes, slate chippings about 1.5, sharp sand about 1.7 and compacted MOT Type 1 about 2.2. Moisture and the type of stone change them, so use your supplier's figure when you can. Delivery is often a big part of the price.

Before you buy: round up to whole packs, check the size printed on the label, and add a little spare. Your supplier has the final say.

Gravel for a 5 × 3 m driveway, by depth

The driveway is 15 m². A top layer of 40 to 50 mm is usual, over a compacted sub-base. These figures use 20 mm gravel at 1.6 tonnes per m³ and 5% extra:

Depth	Tonnes	m³	Bulk bags (0.8 tonne)
25 mm	0.63	0.39	1
40 mm	1.01	0.63	2
50 mm	1.26	0.79	2
75 mm	1.89	1.18	3
100 mm	2.52	1.58	4

Sub-base underneath

Gravel on its own moves and ruts, so lay it over a compacted sub-base of MOT Type 1 and a weed-suppressing membrane, and consider a plastic or cellular grid to hold it in place. For 15 m² the MOT Type 1 needed is:

Sub-base depth	MOT Type 1 (tonnes)
100 mm	3.5
150 mm	5.2
200 mm	6.9

About a 5 × 3 m driveway

This size suits a short single-car driveway or a parking bay. Edging stops the gravel spreading onto the lawn, and the entrance needs enough fall that rain does not run onto the road or pavement. Paving a front garden with more than 5 m² of non-permeable surface needs planning permission in England, but loose gravel over a permeable membrane is permeable. Check with your council. The gravel driveway materials calculator lists the sub-base, membrane, edging and gravel together.

Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Gravel & Aggregate Calculator (UK): edit any number and the results update instantly.

Tools & materials for this project

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Gravel retention grid Weed control membrane Lawn and path edging Garden rake (landscape)Wheelbarrow

Frequently asked questions

How much gravel do I need for a 5m x 3m driveway?

A 5 × 3 m driveway is 15 m². A 50 mm layer of 20 mm gravel with 5% extra is 1.26 tonnes (0.79 m³), which is 2 bulk bags of 0.8 tonne.

How much MOT Type 1 for a 5m x 3m driveway?

A 150 mm compacted sub-base of MOT Type 1 under the gravel is 5.2 tonnes. Use 100 mm for a path and a deeper sub-base on soft ground.

How many tonnes of gravel is 15 m² at 50 mm?

1.26 tonnes with 5% extra, using 1.6 tonnes per m³ for 20 mm gravel. Chippings are lighter, so the tonnage is a little lower for the same depth.

Related sizes and guides

Related sizes

Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.

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