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.