How Much Does Gravel Cost? Per Ton, Per Yard and Per Bag

Typical gravel prices

These are common price ranges for bulk material before delivery and tax. Prices vary a lot by region and distance from the quarry, so treat them as a guide for budgeting and get a local quote before you order.

Type	Per ton	Per cubic yard	Common uses
Crusher run or road base	$15 to $40	$25 to $60	Driveway and patio base
Crushed stone, such as #57	$20 to $50	$30 to $70	Driveway top layer, drainage
Pea gravel	$30 to $60	$40 to $80	Paths, patios, play areas
River rock	$45 to $150+	$60 to $200+	Garden beds, dry creek beds
Decorative stone (colored, marble chips)	Often $100+	Often $130+	Beds and borders

Per-yard prices are the per-ton price times about 1.35 to 1.5 tons per yard. See the gravel weight chart.

Bags vs bulk

Home centers sell gravel in bags, often half a cubic foot each and often around $4 to $8 a bag. A cubic yard is 54 of those bags, which works out to roughly $200 to $430 a yard, several times the bulk price.

Bags are worth it for a small job, a top-up, or a backyard a truck cannot reach. Past about half a cubic yard, bulk is almost always cheaper, even after paying for delivery.

What delivery adds

Most suppliers charge a flat fee per load, often somewhere between $50 and $200 depending on how far you are. Many have a minimum order, often a few tons. Ask whether the driver can spread the load as it tips (sometimes called a tailgate spread), which can save a lot of wheelbarrow trips.

If you have a truck or trailer, picking up yourself saves the fee, but check how much it can carry first: one yard of gravel weighs about 2,700 lb.

Two worked examples

A garden path: 30 ft long, 3 ft wide, 3 in deep

Volume: 30 × 3 × 0.25 = 22.5 cubic feet, or 0.83 cubic yards.
Weight: 0.83 × 1.35 = about 1.1 tons.
Bulk pea gravel at $40 a ton: about $45, plus delivery.
Bags: 45 half-foot bags at $6 = about $270, no delivery.

Here the two come out closer than you might expect, because delivery is a big part of a small order.

A driveway top-up: 60 ft long, 10 ft wide, 4 in deep

Volume: 60 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 200 cubic feet, or 7.4 cubic yards.
Weight: 7.4 × 1.35 = about 10 tons.
Bulk crushed stone at $35 a ton: about $350, plus $100 to $150 delivery.
Bags would need 400 of them, about $2,400. Bulk is the only sensible choice.

Your own numbers: the gravel calculator takes any shape, gives tons, yards and bags, and multiplies by the price you are quoted.

What makes gravel cost more

Distance from the quarry. Stone is heavy, so trucking is a big share of the price.
Type and color. Plain gray crushed stone is cheapest. Rounded, washed and colored stone costs more.
Small orders. Per-ton prices fall at truckload quantities; small loads may carry a fee.
Season. Spring is the busiest time for landscape suppliers.

Ways to spend less

Measure carefully and add 5 to 10%, so you do not pay for a second delivery.
Ask for the price per ton and the weight per yard, then compare suppliers on the same basis.
Use cheap crusher run for the base layers and save the nicer stone for the top 2 to 3 inches.
Combine orders with a neighbor to share one delivery fee.

Common questions

How much is a ton of gravel?

Common crushed stone and pea gravel often run about $20 to $60 a ton before delivery. Decorative stone and river rock can cost far more. Prices vary a lot by region.

How much is a yard of gravel?

Often about $30 to $75 a cubic yard for common gravel before delivery. Multiply the price per ton by the tons per yard if your supplier quotes by the ton.

Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bags or bulk?

Bulk is much cheaper for anything over about half a cubic yard. Bags make sense for small jobs or where a truck cannot reach.

How much does gravel delivery cost?

Often a flat $50 to $200 a load, depending on distance. Many suppliers have a minimum order, often a few tons.

How much does gravel cost?