Calculating the Grade of Driveways

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Calculating the grade for driveways is an important step in construction and maintenance. The grade refers to the slope or incline of the driveway, which affects its functionality and durability. To calculate the grade, you need to measure the rise and run of the driveway. The rise is the vertical distance between the highest and lowest points of the driveway, while the run is the horizontal distance. Divide the rise by the run and multiply by 100 to get the grade percentage. A steeper grade may be suitable for areas with heavy rainfall, while a gentler grade is better for ease of use.


The grade of a driveway, which is the steepness of its elevation change, is an important factor to consider when planning to redo your driveway. Many driveways are sloped to prevent water from pooling. To calculate the grade of a driveway, you will need to know the length of the driveway and the change in elevation.

Step 1

To measure the change in elevation, use a string. One person should hold the string at the top of the driveway, while another person stands at the bottom and holds the string so it is level. Measure the distance from the ground to the string at the bottom of the driveway to determine the change in elevation.

Step 2

Determine the length of the driveway by measuring the length of the string used in Step 1.

Step 3

To find the grade, divide the rise of the driveway by the length of the driveway. For example, if the driveway rises 2 feet over a distance of 20 feet, divide 2 by 20 to get 0.2, or 20 percent, as the grade.

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