How Much Does Gravel Cost? Per Ton and Per Cubic Yard
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Gravel is usually quoted at $15–$75 per ton, but the price per ton is only part of the bill. Delivery, the type of stone, and how much you order can change the total as much as the headline rate. Here's how to compare quotes, convert between tons and cubic yards, and budget the whole project.
Typical price range
Bulk gravel commonly falls between $15 and $75 per ton. Plain crushed stone and recycled aggregate sit at the low end. Washed, decorative, or specialty stone such as river rock and decomposed granite costs more. Prices vary widely by region and by how far the quarry is from your site, so treat any published range as a starting point and call two or three local suppliers.
| Material | Relative price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled crushed concrete | Lowest | Made from demolished concrete; common near cities |
| Crusher run / road base | Low | Unwashed, with the fines left in; minimal processing |
| Crushed stone (#57, #67) | Medium | Screened to a single size, often washed |
| Pea gravel | Medium | Naturally rounded stone, screened and washed |
| Decomposed granite | Medium to high | Stabilized and resin-bound versions cost more |
| River rock and decorative stone | High | Sorted by size and color, often trucked long distances |
Relative prices are typical, but local supply can reorder the list: stone quarried nearby is often cheaper than a "cheap" stone trucked in from far away.
What drives the price
- Processing. Washing and screening stone to a single size costs more than selling it as it comes off the crusher.
- Distance. Stone is heavy and cheap for its weight, so trucking is a large share of the price. The same stone can cost far more 50 miles from the quarry than at the gate.
- Local geology. Areas with nearby limestone or granite quarries pay less than regions where all stone is shipped in.
- Order size. Larger orders often get a lower per-ton rate, while small orders may hit a minimum charge.
- Looks. Color-sorted and decorative stone is priced for appearance, not just weight.
Convert price per ton to price per cubic yard
Suppliers may quote by weight or by volume. A cubic yard of crushed stone weighs about 1.3 tons, and denser stone such as pea gravel or decomposed granite about 1.4 tons, so multiply the ton price by that factor. To go the other way, divide: $65 per cubic yard of crushed stone is about $50 per ton.
| Price per ton | Per yd³ (crushed stone, ~1.3 t) | Per yd³ (pea gravel / DG, ~1.4 t) |
|---|---|---|
| $20/ton | $26/yd³ | $28/yd³ |
| $30/ton | $39/yd³ | $42/yd³ |
| $40/ton | $52/yd³ | $56/yd³ |
| $50/ton | $65/yd³ | $70/yd³ |
| $60/ton | $78/yd³ | $84/yd³ |
| $75/ton | $98/yd³ | $105/yd³ |
Delivery and other costs
- Delivery: often a flat fee within a set radius plus a per-mile charge beyond it, and sometimes waived above a minimum order. Ask for it separately from the material price.
- Truck capacity: each truck has a maximum load. An order slightly over one truckload means a second trip and a second fee, so ask what the truck holds and size your order to fit.
- Minimum orders: some yards have a minimum load, which matters for small jobs. Bagged gravel costs more per ton but avoids minimums.
- Spreading: ask whether the driver can tailgate-spread, dumping the load in a strip while the truck rolls forward. It can save hours of wheelbarrow work.
- Surcharges and tax: fuel surcharges and sales tax may be added on top of the per-ton price.
- Waste and compaction: plan on ordering about 10% extra so you don't run short.
- Site prep: landscape fabric, edging, and equipment rental, such as a plate compactor, are not included in the material price.
Bulk vs bagged gravel
Bagged gravel from home centers usually comes in 0.5 ft³ bags, so it takes 54 bags to make one cubic yard. At $5 a bag, that's $270 per cubic yard, or about $208 per ton of crushed stone: several times the typical bulk price.
Bags still make sense for small jobs, for areas a truck can't reach, and when you'd otherwise pay a delivery fee for a few wheelbarrow loads. The break-even depends on the delivery charge: with bags at $5, bulk stone at $50 per ton, and a $100 delivery fee, bulk becomes cheaper at around half a cubic yard.
If you have a pickup, many yards will load it for you. Check the payload rating on the door-jamb sticker first: a cubic yard of gravel weighs 2,600–2,800 lb, so a typical half-ton pickup can carry only about half to three-quarters of a yard per trip.
Worked example: budgeting a gravel driveway
Say you're building a 12 × 50 ft driveway with a 4 in base and a 2 in top layer. Using the Gravel Calculator's crushed stone (#57) setting and 10% waste, and assuming base stone at $40 per ton, top-layer stone at $50 per ton, and $100 per delivery with one load of each material:
| Item | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Base layer, 4 in | 8.15 yd³ (10.6 tons at $40/ton) | $424 |
| Surface layer, 2 in | 4.07 yd³ (5.3 tons at $50/ton) | $265 |
| Delivery, 2 loads | 2 × $100 | $200 |
| Total before tax | $889 |
Prices here are illustrative assumptions, not quotes. Not included: geotextile fabric, edging, equipment rental, and labor.
If you hire a contractor, the quote will usually be per square foot or a lump sum that includes excavation, grading, and compaction. Ask each contractor what depth and how many tons they're planning: a low bid often means a thinner base.
How to compare quotes
- Put every quote in the same unit, converting per-yard prices to per-ton (or the reverse) with the factors above.
- Add delivery, surcharges, and tax to get a delivered price for the whole order.
- Confirm the exact material. Washed #57, unwashed #57, and crusher run are different products at different prices.
- Remember that stone is sold loose. Compacted stone takes up less space, which your 10% allowance covers.
- Ask for the scale ticket. Stone sold by the ton is weighed at the yard, and the ticket shows exactly what you paid for.
Ways to save
- Buy bulk rather than bags once you need more than about half a cubic yard.
- Use crusher run or recycled concrete for base layers, and save pricier stone for the top layer where it shows.
- Size orders to full truckloads, or split a load with a neighbor doing a project at the same time.
- Haul small loads yourself if your truck or trailer is rated for the weight.
- Measure carefully so you don't over-order, or pay for a second delivery to cover a shortfall.
Estimate your own cost
Enter your area, depth, gravel type and your supplier's price per ton in the Gravel Calculator to get cubic yards, tons and total cost in one step. To check how far your order will stretch, see the gravel coverage chart, or compare materials in the gravel types and sizes guide.
Related guides and calculators
Frequently asked questions
Stone is heavy and cheap for its weight, so on a small order the trucking can cost as much as the stone. A $100 delivery fee adds about $33 per ton to a 3-ton order, but under $7 per ton to a 15-ton order.