MOT Type 1 delivery explained: coverage, compaction and bulk order tips

What MOT Type 1 actually is

MOT Type 1 is a granular sub-base material graded to the Department for Transport's Specification for Highway Works (SHW) Clause 803. It's a crushed rock (usually limestone, granite or crushed concrete) with a particle-size distribution from 0 mm fines up to 63 mm — designed to lock together and compact to a near-impermeable, load-bearing platform.

The 0–63 mm grading is critical: the fines fill voids between the larger stones when compacted, giving Type 1 its characteristic hard-set finish. Cheaper "scalpings" or Type 2 material has more fines and larger inconsistencies — fine for garden paths, but not a substitute for Type 1 under any load-bearing surface.

How much do you need? Coverage calculations

The rule of thumb: 1 tonne of compacted MOT Type 1 covers roughly 5 m² at 100 mm depth, or 10 m² at 50 mm depth. That's the compacted volume — loose material takes up ~20% more space before compaction.

For a typical residential driveway (say 60 m² at 150 mm compacted depth), you need around 18 tonnes — one full tipper load. A 40 m² patio at 100 mm depth needs ~8 tonnes, so a half-load or bulk bags will do.

Depth guidance: 100 mm for foot-traffic patios, 150 mm for car driveways, 200–300 mm for heavier vehicular use or clay subsoils. Always over-order by 5–10% to allow for uneven excavation and compaction losses.

Tipper, grab or bulk bags?

Tipper (loose load, 18–20 tonnes): cheapest per tonne by 20–30%. Needs a flat drop area, hard standing, and 7 m of overhead clearance for the bed to raise. Best for driveways and civils sites with a defined stockpile area.

Grab lorry (16 tonnes with hydraulic arm): a few pounds more per tonne but the arm reaches 6–8 m to place material over a wall, into a back garden or into a marked trench. Best for tight urban sites and back-garden work.

Bulk bags (850 kg each, HIAB-delivered): most expensive per tonne but the only option for domestic addresses with no drop space. Comes on a pallet, lifted onto the pavement or driveway.

Compaction: it's not optional

MOT Type 1 only becomes a load-bearing sub-base once it's compacted properly — laid loose, it's just gravel. Compact in layers of no more than 100 mm at a time using a vibrating plate (for driveways up to 3 tonnes) or a twin-drum roller (for larger areas and heavier loads).

The material should feel hard-set underfoot after compaction — if a plate compactor sinks or ripples the surface, you have too many fines or insufficient depth. Damping down lightly with water before compaction helps the fines bind, particularly in dry summer weather.

Bulk ordering tips

Order full tipper loads where possible — the price per tonne drops sharply above 15 tonnes. If you have back-to-back projects, sequencing deliveries a day apart is usually cheaper than one huge stockpile.

For public-sector and highways work, request a certificate of conformity — Atlas ships SHW Clause 803-certified Type 1 from stock across most UK depots.

For SuDS-compliant permeable driveways, ask for open-graded Type 3 or 4/20 mm clean stone instead — it acts as both sub-base and attenuation reservoir.

Atlas Stone Supplies delivers MOT Type 1 nationwide — see our full aggregates range or request a quote with your postcode and volume.