How much does gravel cost per ton?

US bulk delivered prices: $25-$50/ton for #57 crushed stone, $40-$70/ton for pea gravel, $50-$85/ton for river rock, $20-$40/ton for ABC/crusher run base, and $15-$25/ton for recycled concrete. Regional variation is significant.

How much does gravel cost per cubic yard?

Roughly $40-$100/yd³ delivered, depending on stone type. To convert ton pricing to yard pricing: multiply ton price by ~1.35 (since 1 yd³ ≈ 1.35 tons for most aggregates).

How much does it cost to spread gravel?

Pro labor for spreading is typically $40-$100 per hour, or $25-$50 per ton spread by a tailgate dump truck. DIY with a wheelbarrow saves the labor at the cost of 2-4 hours of your time per ton.

Is bulk gravel cheaper than bagged?

Far cheaper. A ton of bulk #57 delivered runs about $40-$60. The same ton in 0.5 cuft bags retail (about 54 bags at $5 each) is $270 — roughly 5× the bulk price. Bagged makes sense only for repairs and projects under 1 ton.

What's the labor cost to spread gravel per ton?

$25-$50 per ton when spread by truck-tailgate. $50-$100 per ton when hand-spread by labor for fine grading. Add $200-$400 if a plate compactor or skid steer is needed.

Are there hidden fees on a gravel order?

Common ones: minimum-tonnage surcharge (orders under 1 ton), fuel surcharge (5-15% of delivery fee), Saturday delivery premium, split-load fee (multiple materials in one delivery), distance surcharge beyond a base radius. Always ask for the all-in delivered price.

How much should I budget for gravel delivery?

$80-$200 in most US markets, distance-based. Many yards waive delivery for orders over 5 tons. For very small jobs (under 1 ton), pickup in a contractor truck may be cheaper than delivery.

Why is bagged gravel so much more expensive?

Bagged gravel runs $4–$8 per 0.5 cu-ft bag at retail — about $250 per cubic yard equivalent — compared with $40–$100 per cubic yard delivered in bulk. The premium covers bagging, retail markup, and the convenience of small quantities. Bagged is fine for repairs and small projects under ~½ cubic yard. Anything bigger should go bulk.

Does gravel cost more in 2026 than it used to?

Yes. National averages have risen roughly 10–15% over the past three years, driven by fuel costs (most aggregate is delivered by truck, so diesel prices flow through directly) and quarry consolidation. Smaller regional yards often beat the chain landscape suppliers — get at least three quotes before ordering.

How much does a gravel pad for a shed cost?

A 10 ft × 12 ft shed pad at 4 inches of crushed stone needs about 1.5 yd³ (roughly 2 tons). Material runs $40–$100, plus an $80–$200 delivery fee, so budget $200–$400 all-in for a DIY build with bulk-delivered stone. Add geotextile fabric ($0.20–$0.40/sq ft) and edging ($1–$3/linear ft) if you want a crisp, weed-free edge. Bagged stone for a pad this size costs far more — go bulk.

How much does a gravel driveway cost?

A single-car driveway (about 12 ft × 24 ft, 6 inches total of base plus top course) needs roughly 7 tons and runs $400–$800 DIY with bulk delivery. A two-car or longer drive (20 ft × 40 ft at 6 inches) needs about 20 tons and runs $1,000–$2,500. Crusher run / ABC base is the cheapest fill at $20–$40/ton; a #57 top course adds $25–$50/ton. Hiring out spreading and grading adds $300–$1,000 in labor.

How much does a pea gravel path or patio cost?

Pea gravel is $40–$70/ton bulk delivered. A 3 ft × 40 ft path at 2 inches deep needs about 1 ton, so $150–$250 all-in with delivery. A 12 ft × 12 ft pea gravel patio at 3 inches needs about 2 tons, landing around $250–$400 once fabric and edging are included. Pea gravel spreads fast by wheelbarrow, so most of the cost is material plus the one delivery fee.

Gravel Cost Calculator — Price & Budget

How this calculator estimates gravel cost

The calculator multiplies your buffered weight (or volume) by the price you enter. Pricing modes:

Per ton — how most US quarries quote bulk gravel. Default placeholder: $50/ton (US national average for #57 delivered in 2025–26).
Per cubic yard — common at landscape supply yards and in the UK (per tonne or per m³). Default placeholder: $65/yd³.

The headline price is rarely the final price

Quarry quotes typically don't include delivery, fuel surcharge, minimum-tonnage fees, or spreading labor. Add 10–25% to the material cost for the all-in number on a small order.

Recommended depth & material

Use	Depth	Material	Notes
Pea gravel (decorative)	2" – 3"	Pea gravel	Bulk: $40–$70/ton.
Driveway top course (#57)	2"	#57 crushed stone	Bulk: $25–$50/ton.
Driveway base (ABC / crusher run)	4" – 6"	ABC / 21AA / Class 5	Bulk: $20–$40/ton (cheaper than #57).
River rock (decorative)	2" – 3"	River rock 1"-3"	Bulk: $50–$85/ton.
Recycled concrete	4" – 6"	Recycled concrete	Bulk: $15–$25/ton — cheapest option.
Bagged retail (any type)	any	0.5 cuft bags	$3.50–$7 per bag = ~$300–$600/ton equivalent.

How to budget a gravel project

Material price is one line item. Real gravel projects have four or five.

Get a per-ton quote from your supplier. Phone or email a local quarry or landscape supply. Ask for the price "delivered to [your zip], for [tonnage] tons of [material]." This locks in the all-in rate.
Add the delivery fee. Typically $80–$200 in the US, more for distant or hard-to-access sites. Some yards waive delivery over a minimum tonnage (5+ tons).
Check the minimum-tonnage surcharge. Orders under 1 ton (or 1 yd³) often have a $50–$100 small-load fee. If you need just under a ton, often cheaper to round up to 1 ton.
Decide on spreading labor. Pros charge $40–$100/hour to spread gravel from a tailgate dump. For most DIY projects, a wheelbarrow and 2 hours of work saves the labor fee.
Add fabric, edging, and accessories. Geotextile fabric: $0.20-$0.40/sq ft. Edging: $1-$3 per linear foot. Polymeric joint sand (for pavers): $20-$30/bag.
Apply 10% buffer to material. The cost calculator already does this. The buffer covers the volume; it doesn't cover delivery cost overruns or unexpected accessories.

Worked example: 200 sq ft patio, all-in budget

A simple 14' × 14' patio base, 4 inches of #57 stone:

Volume: 196 × 4 ÷ 324 = 2.42 yd³
Weight: 3.33 tons of #57
With 10% buffer: ~3.7 tons
Material at $45/ton: $167
Delivery: $120
Geotextile fabric: 200 sq ft × $0.30 = $60
Edging: 56 linear ft × $2 = $112 (optional)
Plate compactor rental: $80/day
Total all-in: ~$540

Skipping fabric and edging cuts that to ~$367. Hiring it out instead of DIY adds $300–$700 in labor.

Typical all-in project costs

Ballpark DIY budgets for bulk gravel delivered, before spreading labor. Material at mid-range prices plus one delivery fee. Bigger orders spread the delivery cost over more tons, so the per-ton number drops as the project grows.

DIY bulk-delivered estimates. Real quotes vary by region, material, and delivery distance — always price 2–3 local suppliers.
Project	Size & depth	Gravel needed	All-in budget
Garden path	3 ft × 40 ft, 2" pea gravel	~1 ton	$150 – $250
Patio / paver base	12 ft × 12 ft, 3" #57	~2 tons	$250 – $450
Shed pad	10 ft × 12 ft, 4" crushed stone	~2 tons	$200 – $400
Single-car driveway	12 ft × 24 ft, 6" (base + top)	~7 tons	$400 – $800
Two-car driveway	20 ft × 40 ft, 6"	~20 tons	$1,000 – $2,500

Prices moved with the broader aggregate market. US construction sand and gravel production was about 890 million tons in 2024, down from roughly 967 million in 2023, per the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries. Regional supply, diesel prices (most gravel ships by truck), and the building season all push local rates up or down, which is why a quote 30 miles away can beat the yard down the road.

Gravel Cost Calculator