Gravel driveway buying guide for Central Texas
Compare compactable road base, clean crushed stone and asphalt millings before ordering a driveway load. Drainage and a stable foundation matter more than appearance alone.
- Foundation
- Prepared subgrade and specified compacted base
- Surface
- Angular stone versus rounded gravel
- Quantity
- Calculate each layer separately
Choose base and surface as separate layers
Crushed limestone base and road base contain a graded mixture of particles and fines that can compact into a stable layer. Clean crushed limestone has fewer fines and behaves differently: it is not automatically a replacement for compactable base. Rounded pea gravel or river rock can move under tires. Asphalt millings are a recycled option, but binding, drainage and source condition vary. Follow the driveway design rather than choosing by the cheapest per-ton price.
Prepare for Central Texas clay and rain
Remove organic matter and soft spots. Blackland clay can swell and shrink, while Hill Country sites may have thin soil over limestone. Plan surface drainage away from buildings and choose any separation layer with your installer. On slopes, loose stone can migrate during storms. Correct runoff and subgrade problems before adding another load.
Measure the base, then the finish
Measure driveway length and width, and calculate each layer using its own planned depth and material density. Compacted base depth is not the same as loose delivered thickness. The calculator estimates geometric coverage only: have your contractor confirm compaction allowance, finished elevations and layer depths for traffic and soil conditions. No single depth suits every driveway.
Keep the driveway working
Maintain the crown or planned crossfall, keep ditches open and address ruts at their cause. Replenish worn areas with the correct grade. For heavy trucks, steep slopes, culverts or structural work, obtain a site-specific design and any required source tests.
Plan the delivery
Provide the delivery address, gate width, overhead clearance and a firm unloading spot. A dump delivery is not spreading or installation. Material prices and sales tax are separate from freight. Standard online haul bands stop at 40 miles; longer deliveries require an address-specific quote. Dispatch confirms access, truck and date.
Materials we deliver for this project
Current public prices, grade details and canonical product links. Delivery and sales tax are separate.
Limestone Flex Base - Standard
From $26.00/ton
Standard crushed limestone base with fines Standard crushed limestone base with fines. Follow the approved project moisture, lift thickness and installation specification.
3 ton minimum
View material →
Caliche Road Base
From $20.00/ton
Economical binding base for ranch roads. Natural caliche with mixed aggregate. Excellent when moisture-conditioned.
5 ton minimum
View material →
Crushed Limestone - Clean, 3/4 in
From $42.00/ton
Washed open graded drainage stone with no fines. Open-graded washed limestone, fines removed. Low; stays open so water can move through.
2 ton minimum
View material →
Asphalt Millings
From $32.00/ton
Recycled asphalt for driveways, ranch roads and parking pads. Ground recycled asphalt pavement (RAP). High; roll in 3 to 4 in lifts, binds tighter in summer heat.
2 ton minimum
View material →Gravel quantity calculator
$42.00/ton · 1.35 tons/yd³ planning density · 2 ton minimum
French drains, Retaining wall backfill, Septic and foundation drainage · Open-graded washed limestone, fines removed
Use the depth specified for your project. Calculate each layer or rectangular section separately. No compaction or waste allowance is automatically added.
Enter positive length, width and depth to see volume, tons and material cost.
Request a delivered quotePlanning estimate only. Moisture, source density and compaction affect actual quantities. Confirm finished depth and any allowance with your installer. Standard delivery bands end at 40 miles; longer hauls need an address-specific quote. Truck access and scheduling are confirmed by dispatch.
Project planning
