Gravel Cost Calculator
A {length}×{width} ft area covered {depth} in deep in {material} costs about {total} — {tons} tons at ${pricePerTon}/ton, plus {delivery} delivery.
Estimated cost for common project sizes
| Area | Depth | Material | Tons | $/ton | Material | Total* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 ft | 2 in | Gravel | 0.95 | $35 | $33 | $108 |
| 20×10 ft | 4 in | Gravel | 3.80 | $35 | $133 | $208 |
| 50×10 ft (driveway) | 4 in | Gravel | 9.51 | $35 | $333 | $408 |
| 100×10 ft (driveway) | 4 in | Gravel | 19.01 | $35 | $665 | $740 |
| 20×20 ft (parking pad) | 4 in | Gravel | 7.60 | $35 | $266 | $341 |
| 50×10 ft (driveway) | 4 in | Crusher run | 10.19 | $40 | $407 | $482 |
| 50×10 ft (driveway) | 4 in | #57 stone | 9.85 | $38 | $374 | $449 |
| 30×12 ft | 4 in | Sand | 6.60 | $30 | $198 | $273 |
*Total assumes a flat $75 delivery fee and 10% waste. Prices vary by region and distance from the supplier — update the calculator with your own quote.
How the math works
Cost follows directly from the volume and tonnage math on the gravel calculator: figure out how much material the area needs in tons, then multiply by the local price per ton and add delivery.
tons = cubic yards × material density
total = (tons × price per ton) + delivery
Density and price both depend heavily on material — sand and pea gravel are usually cheaper and less dense than crusher run or crushed stone, so both the tonnage and the price per ton shift together when you change materials.
Delivery is typically a flat or stepped charge rather than one that scales proportionally with quantity, and that single fact drives most of the economics on this page. A small order pays the same delivery charge as a large one, spread across far fewer tons — so per-ton cost falls fast as the order grows. The counterintuitive but usually correct conclusion: if you're close to needing a bit more, ordering meaningfully more can cost very little extra per ton, and unlike concrete, surplus aggregate is storable and gets used eventually rather than becoming a disposal problem.
What's actually in a gravel delivery price
Material is priced per ton or per yard and scales with quantity. Delivery is where the real structure is — often a flat or stepped charge, sometimes zoned or priced per mile beyond a base radius. Many suppliers also set a minimum order tonnage or a minimum charge regardless of how little you need, and truck type (a standard dump truck vs. a triaxle vs. a trailer) changes both capacity and rate. If you're having two materials delivered on the same trip, some suppliers charge extra for the split load, and spreading or placement — as opposed to just dumping the pile — is usually a separate line item.
Self-haul vs. delivery
A half-ton pickup will physically hold far more gravel than it can legally or safely carry — bed volume and payload rating aren't related. At roughly 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard, a single cubic yard of gravel already exceeds the rated payload of most half-ton pickups. Overloading degrades braking and steering, damages suspension, and is a citable violation — and if you're towing, the trailer and hitch each have their own separate rating to check. This is the same weight-vs-volume lesson as the concrete weight page: the pile looks manageable and the scale says otherwise.
Beyond the payload limit, self-hauling means your own time and fuel (usually undercounted), manual unloading unless you have a dump bed, and multiple trips for anything beyond a small amount — against delivery's one trip, dumped where the truck can reach, for a flat fee. Roughly: a few bags' worth belongs at a hardware store, delivery isn't really part of that conversation. Under about a cubic yard, self-haul can be practical if your vehicle's payload actually allows it. A yard or two is the genuine decision zone — multiple self-haul trips against one delivery plus a minimum charge. Several yards and up, delivery essentially always wins, since self-hauling turns into more trips than anyone wants and likely exceeds vehicle capacity anyway. At or near a full truck, delivery is both the practical choice and where per-ton cost is lowest.
There's no single break-even number that holds across regions, since it depends on local material pricing, the delivery charge, distance, and your specific vehicle — but the calculation is simple: divide the delivery charge by the tons you'd otherwise haul yourself to get the per-ton premium delivery is actually costing you, then weigh that against the value of your own time, fuel, and the number of trips required.
Before you buy
- Ask for a delivered price, not just a yard price — some suppliers quote gate pricing and add delivery separately based on distance.
- Bulk delivery often has a minimum order, commonly 5 to 10 tons; smaller amounts may be cheaper from bagged material at a hardware store despite the higher per-pound cost.
- Get quotes from at least two suppliers — per-ton pricing for the same material can vary meaningfully depending on how far you are from the quarry or yard.
- If you're also paying to have the material spread and compacted, ask whether that's priced separately or bundled into a per-square-foot installed rate.
- Use the gravel calculator first if you just need tons and cubic yards without a cost estimate.
Common questions
How much does a ton of gravel cost?
Typically $25 to $50 per ton for bulk delivered gravel, depending on region, material type, and distance from the quarry. Crushed and processed materials like crusher run often cost more than plain bank-run gravel.
How much does it cost to gravel a driveway?
A 50×10 ft driveway covered 4 inches deep needs roughly 9.5 tons of gravel, which runs about $330 to $475 in material at typical per-ton prices, plus a delivery fee.
Does the price per ton include delivery?
Usually not. Most suppliers quote material price per ton separately from a delivery or trip fee, which can be flat or based on distance. Always ask for the delivered price, not just the yard price, before comparing quotes.
Is it cheaper to haul gravel myself?
For small amounts — a truck bed or two — picking it up yourself avoids the delivery fee and can be cheaper. For anything over a couple of tons, a dump truck delivery is usually worth the fee in time saved and avoids overloading a pickup.
Does spreading and compacting cost extra?
Yes, if you're hiring it out. This calculator covers material and delivery only; labor to spread and compact the gravel is a separate line item, often quoted per hour or per square foot by a landscaper or contractor.