Calculators / Gravel Cost
Gravel Cost
Gravel costs $15 to $75 per ton, or roughly $20 to $60 per cubic yard, before delivery in 2026 — most common crushed stone and pea gravel land at $20–$55 per ton. Delivered, expect $40–$100 per ton once a flat delivery fee ($60–$200 per load) is spread over the load. Crushed run and road base are cheapest ($15–$30/ton); decorative river rock and washed stone are the most ($45–$160/ton). A cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons.
Real ranges, not AI guesses.
Gravel cost breakdown
per ton / per cubic yard, bulk (before delivery).
National-average ranges (as of 2026-06); estimates, not quotes. Get a few local estimates for your project, and use the calculator below for exact quantities.
What drives the cost
- Gravel type — crushed run < #57 stone < pea gravel < decorative river rock
- Bulk vs bagged — a 0.5 cu ft bag works out to $200–$400 per ton; always go bulk for any real area
- Distance from the quarry — remote sites pay a 30–50% delivery premium
- Load size — the flat delivery fee makes small loads cost far more per ton
- Washing, screening, and color all raise the per-ton price
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Gravel itself is the cost — there's little 'installation' beyond spreading and grading. Order bulk delivery and spread it with a rake and wheelbarrow yourself, and you pay only for stone plus the delivery fee. Hiring out the spreading, grading, or compaction (a skid steer and plate compactor) adds about $1–$3 per sq ft of labor — worth it for a long driveway or one that needs a properly compacted base. For a small bed or path, DIY spreading saves nearly all the labor.
Cost by region
The Midwest and Southern Plains are cheapest thanks to abundant quarries ($15–$25/ton for crushed run). New England and the Mountain West run 30–50% higher on scarce material and freight, and California/New York metros the most. Wherever you are, the delivery fee is driven by how far the truck travels from the nearest pit.
Know exactly how much you need
Cost ranges get you a budget. For the actual quantity to buy — with editable prices — use the free gravel calculator.
Open the Gravel Calculator →Gravel cost FAQ
How much is a yard of gravel?+
A cubic yard of bulk gravel costs about $20–$60 before delivery, depending on type — crushed run at the low end, decorative river rock at the high end. A yard weighs roughly 1.4 tons and covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
How much does a ton of gravel cost?+
About $15–$75 per ton before delivery, with most crushed stone and pea gravel at $20–$55. Delivered, figure $40–$100 per ton once the flat delivery fee is included — the per-ton price drops the more you order.
What's the cheapest gravel?+
Crushed run (also called road base or crusher run) is the cheapest at $15–$30 per ton. It's a mix of crushed stone and stone dust that packs down hard, which makes it ideal as a driveway or paver base — just not as a clean decorative top layer.
How much gravel do I need, and what will it cost?+
At 4 inches deep, 1 ton covers about 60 sq ft, so a 600 sq ft driveway needs roughly 10 tons. At $40–$100 per ton delivered, that's about $400–$1,000 in gravel. Use the gravel calculator for your exact dimensions and depth.