Gravel Driveway Cost Calculator

This calculator estimates the cost of a gravel, metal or chip driveway in New Zealand, the budget-friendly alternative to a sealed concrete or asphalt drive. A loose-surface driveway is far cheaper to lay, suits rural and rural-residential properties, drains well, and is easy to top up over time, which is why it is so common across the country. The catch is that buying gravel by the cubic metre and spreading it is harder to budget by eye than a per-square-metre sealed quote, because the volume depends on both the area and the depth you lay. A typical driveway uses a compacted base layer with a finer top course, often 75 to 150mm deep in total, and the deeper and larger the area, the more cubic metres you need. You enter the driveway area, the depth of gravel you plan to lay, the price of gravel per cubic metre, and a rate for spreading and labour per square metre if you are paying someone, and the calculator returns the gravel volume in cubic metres, the gravel cost, the spreading cost and the total, plus the cost per square metre. This helps you order the right amount of metal, avoid a half-finished drive or a leftover pile, and compare a gravel driveway against the cost of sealing. Bear in mind that gravel compacts, so order a little extra, and that a good driveway needs a firm, well-drained base and edging to stop the metal spreading. This is a planning estimate; gravel prices and cartage vary by region and quarry, so confirm with your local supplier.

Gravel compacts, so order a little extra. Cartage and a base course may be additional. An estimate; confirm with your quarry.