Build a gravel driveway as 4–6 inches of compacted base topped with 2–4 inches of surface stone; a refresh of existing gravel needs only about 2 inches. The base does the structural work — skimp there and the surface fails no matter how nice the top stone is, especially after a freeze-thaw New England winter.
Layer by layer
| Layer | Thickness | Material type |
|---|---|---|
| Base (new driveway) | 4–6", compacted | Dense-graded base blend |
| Top coat | 2–4" | ¾" angular stone |
| Refresh only | ~2" | Match your existing stone |
For yardage, one cubic yard covers about 162 sq ft at 2 inches or 80 sq ft at 4, so a typical two-car refresh runs a handful of yards. Browse driveway gravel, and let the material calculator size each layer.
