Class 5 Gravel Calculator
A Class 5 gravel calculator finds cubic yards (L × W × depth ÷ 27) and multiplies by 1.5 t/yd³. A 20 × 10 ft pad at 6 in needs 5.56 tons of Class 5.
What your order looks like
One bulk delivery is usually easier than hauling it yourself.
3.70 yd³ · 5.6 tons
50 wheelbarrow trips (2 cu ft each)
8 pickup loads (0.75 ton each)
1 small dump truck load (6 tons each)
Rules of thumb: A wheelbarrow trip is 2 cubic feet of heavy material, about 200 lb, a load most people can push. A pickup load is 0.75 ton, the payload of a full-size half-ton pickup (1,500 lb). A small single-axle dump truck carries about 6 tons.
How much Class 5 gravel you need
A Class 5 gravel calculator converts the area and depth you want to cover into the tons a pit or quarry will load. Multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 to get cubic yards, then multiply by 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Tons = (L × W × depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27 × 1.5. A 20 × 10 ft pad at 6 inches needs 5.56 tons.
Tick the 10% box to cover settling and an uneven subgrade. The cost line multiplies tons by your price per ton.
What makes Class 5 behave the way it does
Class 5 is a blend of crushed stone or gravel with sand and fine dust. The fines fill the gaps between the stones. When the mix is damp and compacted, it locks into a hard, smooth surface that sheds water. That is why it is the standard base and surface material for rural driveways across Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Its weight, about 1.5 tons per cubic yard, is higher than clean stone like #57. The fines add mass in the spaces clean stone would leave empty.
Worked examples
Example 1: Parking pad, 20 × 10 ft, 6 in deep, $30 per ton
- Volume: 20 × 10 × 0.5 = 100 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.70 yd³
- Tons: 3.704 × 1.5 = 5.56 tons
- With 10% extra: 4.07 yd³ × 1.5 = 6.11 tons
- Cost: 6.111 × $30 = $183.33 ($166.67 without the allowance)
Example 2: New rural driveway, 80 × 12 ft, 6 in deep, $30 per ton
- Volume: 80 × 12 × 0.5 = 480 ft³ ÷ 27 = 17.78 yd³
- Tons: 17.78 × 1.5 = 26.67 tons
- With 10% extra: 29.33 tons, about $880
Example 2 is two or three dump-truck loads, depending on the truck. Ask the supplier how many tons their truck carries, and have them spread it as they tip if they offer that service.
Class 5 tons per 100 sq ft
| Compacted depth | Tons per 100 sq ft | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | 1.39 | Top-up on an existing driveway |
| 4 in | 1.85 | Walkways, shed pads, slab base |
| 6 in | 2.78 | New residential driveway |
| 8 in | 3.70 | Soft ground, frequent truck traffic |
| 12 in | 5.56 | Heavy equipment yards, poor soil |
Figures are net, at 1.5 tons per cubic yard.
Class 5 compared with similar base materials
| Material | Approx. weight | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Class 5 | 1.5 t/yd³ | Upper Midwest spec, stone plus fines |
| Road base | 1.5 t/yd³ | Generic name, varies by region |
| Crusher run | 1.5 t/yd³ | East Coast name, ¾ in stone plus dust |
| Class 5 recycled | varies | Crushed concrete and asphalt blend; check with supplier |
How to measure the area
- Measure the finished surface. Length along the centreline, width at three points averaged.
- Allow for shoulders. A driveway base usually runs a little wider than the drivable surface so the edges do not crumble.
- Use compacted depth. The calculator expects the finished thickness. The 10% allowance helps cover the extra loose material that compaction squeezes down.
- Break up curves. Treat each straight run and each bend as its own rectangle.
Common mistakes
- Spreading it dry. Dry Class 5 will not compact well. Wet it lightly before rolling.
- Placing it on topsoil. Strip organic soil first, or the base will sink and pothole.
- Skipping the crown. A driveway needs a slight crown or cross-slope so water runs off. Flat Class 5 holds puddles.
- Ordering by the yard when the quote is per ton. Use the tons figure for a per-ton price.
Related calculators
The gravel driveway calculator handles layered builds, the fill dirt compaction calculator estimates how much loose material shrinks, and the gravel driveway cost calculator adds labor and grading to the budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much Class 5 gravel do I need?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet, divide by 27 for cubic yards, then multiply by 1.5 tons per cubic yard. A 20 × 10 ft pad at 6 inches is 3.70 yd³, or 5.56 tons, and 6.11 tons with 10% extra.
What is Class 5 gravel?
Class 5 is a graded aggregate base used mainly in Minnesota and neighbouring states, made to a state transportation department specification. It blends crushed rock or gravel with a controlled amount of fines, so it compacts into a dense, firm layer for driveways, roads, and slab bases.
How is Class 5 different from crusher run or road base?
They do the same job. Crusher run, road base, and dense-graded aggregate are regional names for similar stone-and-fines mixes, and all run about 1.5 tons per cubic yard. Class 5 refers specifically to the gradation in the Upper Midwest specification, so the exact particle mix can differ.
What depth of Class 5 gravel is typical for a driveway?
A new residential driveway commonly gets 4 to 6 inches of compacted Class 5, and more on soft or frost-prone soil or where heavy trucks park. A top-up over an old, firm driveway is often 2 to 3 inches.
Do I need to compact Class 5 gravel in lifts?
Yes, for anything thicker than about 4 inches. Spread and compact it in 3 to 4 inch layers, slightly damp, with a plate compactor or roller. One thick layer often stays loose at the bottom and ruts later.
How many tons of Class 5 are in a cubic yard?
This calculator uses 1.5 tons, or 3,000 lb, per cubic yard. Moisture and the pit or quarry source change the real figure, so ask your supplier for theirs.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.