Thinking about a home project? Need to buy crushed stone? You probably wonder about the price. How much is a yard of crushed stone? How much does gravel cost per yard? A yard of crushed stone or gravel can cost anywhere from about \$20 to over \$60. Sometimes it costs even more. This price changes a lot. It depends on many things. The type of stone matters. Where you buy it matters. How much you buy matters. Getting it delivered adds to the cost too. Let’s look closer at what affects the price.
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What Makes Crushed Stone Prices Change?
Many things can make the cost of crushed stone go up or down. It’s not a set price everywhere. Knowing these things helps you guess the price better.
Location
Where you live is a big factor. Stone prices are often higher in some areas than others. This is because of nearby quarries. If a quarry is close, the stone costs less to move. If it’s far away, the price goes up. Fuel costs also play a part here.
Type of Stone
There are many kinds of crushed stone. They are used for different jobs. Some types cost more than others. A fine crushed stone for paths might cost less than big rocks for drainage. We will look at different types later. Different sizes of stone have different prices. Different colors or stone types (like granite vs. limestone) also have different prices. This affects the ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’.
How Much You Buy
Buying a small amount costs more per yard. Buying a lot usually gives you a better price per yard. This is called ‘Bulk crushed stone cost’. Suppliers give discounts for large orders. They save on trips and paperwork this way. So, if you need many yards, the cost per yard goes down.
Delivery
Getting stone delivered costs extra. This is a big part of the ‘Delivered crushed stone price’. The distance from the supplier changes the delivery cost. How much stone you get in one trip also matters. The truck size needed affects the price. Access to your property matters too. A simple drop-off is cheaper than needing the truck to go down a long, narrow driveway. This cost is often called the ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’ for budgeting.
Supplier
Different places sell crushed stone. Quarries, landscape suppliers, and large home improvement stores might sell it. Each place has its own prices. It’s a good idea to check prices at a few places.
Grasping Stone Sizes and Types
Not all crushed stone is the same. It comes in different sizes and types. These differences mean different uses and different prices. Knowing the type helps you know the ‘Types of crushed stone prices’.
Common Crushed Stone Sizes and Their Uses
Crushed stone is sorted by size after it’s broken up. Numbers are used to show the size. Smaller numbers usually mean smaller stones.
- #1 Stone: Large stones. Bigger than 2 inches. Used for culverts or big drainage jobs.
- #3 Stone: Stones about 1 to 2 inches. Used for drainage, maybe under roads.
- #5 Stone: Stones about 1 inch. Used for drainage, driveways, and paths.
- #57 Stone: Very common. Stones are about 1/2 to 1 inch. Used for driveways, paths, concrete mix, and drainage. This is a popular choice. Its price is often checked when asking about ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’.
- #67 Stone: Stones about 3/4 inch and smaller. Used like #57 stone but maybe for thinner layers. Also good for drainage.
- #8 Stone: Small stones. About 1/2 inch. Used for paths, concrete, and asphalt mixes.
- #10 Stone (Screenings or Stone Dust): Very fine material. Like coarse sand or dust. Used for paver base, paths, and sometimes mixed with other stone to pack down well. It packs very tightly.
- Crusher Run (or Processed Gravel): This is a mix of crushed stone and stone dust (#10). It has larger stones mixed with fine material. It packs down extremely well. This makes a very stable base for driveways, roads, or patios. The size of the largest stone can vary. It might be called 3/4 inch Crusher Run or 1 1/2 inch Crusher Run based on the largest stone size. This mix affects the ‘Types of crushed stone prices’.
Other Stone Types
Beyond just size, the kind of rock matters.
- Limestone: Very common and often cheaper. Good for driveways and bases. Might break down over time.
- Granite: Stronger and lasts longer than limestone. Can be more expensive. Often used where a strong, long-lasting material is needed.
- Gravel: Natural stones that have been worn smooth by water or time. Not crushed. It’s rounder. Often used for decorative paths or driveways where a softer look is wanted. The ‘Cubic yard of gravel cost’ can be different from crushed stone. Sometimes gravel is cheaper, sometimes it’s similar. It depends on where it comes from.
- Recycled Concrete or Asphalt: Old concrete or asphalt that is crushed up. Can be a cheaper option. Used for bases under roads or driveways. Might not look as nice as new stone.
Cubic Yards vs. Tons: Which Unit?
Crushed stone is usually sold in two ways: by the cubic yard or by the ton.
- Cubic Yard: This is a measure of volume. It’s a cube shape that is 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet high. Think of a box 3ft x 3ft x 3ft. This is 27 cubic feet.
- Ton: This is a measure of weight. A ton is 2000 pounds.
Why do they use both? Crushed stone of the same volume can have different weights. This depends on the type of stone, its size, and how wet it is. Wetter stone weighs more. Denser stone (like granite) weighs more than less dense stone (like limestone) for the same volume.
Suppliers often sell by the ton for larger jobs or certain types of stone. For smaller jobs or when people want to know the price per volume for easier calculating (like filling a specific area), they use cubic yards.
When you ask for prices, make sure you know which unit they are using. Ask for the ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’ or the ‘Crushed stone price per ton’. The price sounds very different depending on the unit.
How Much Does a Cubic Yard Weigh?
This is important because sometimes you buy by the yard, but delivery trucks have weight limits (tons).
A typical cubic yard of crushed stone or gravel weighs about 2400 to 2700 pounds.
* Wet stone weighs more.
* Fine stone (like stone dust) packs more tightly and weighs more per yard than larger, looser stone.
* Denser stone types weigh more.
So, a cubic yard is often more than a ton in weight (a ton is 2000 pounds).
Figuring Out How Much Stone You Need
Before you can find the price, you need to know how much stone you need. This is called ‘Estimating crushed stone needs’. Getting the right amount is key. Too little means more delivery fees later. Too much means waste and extra cost.
You need to know three things:
1. The length of the area.
2. The width of the area.
3. The depth (or thickness) you want the stone layer to be.
It’s best to measure in feet. The depth should be in inches, but you will change it to feet later.
Simple Steps for Calculating Cubic Yards
Follow these steps to figure out how many cubic yards you need. This is ‘Calculating cubic yards of stone’.
- Measure Length and Width: Use a tape measure. Write down the length in feet. Write down the width in feet.
- Example: Your driveway is 50 feet long. It is 10 feet wide.
- Measure Depth: Decide how deep you want the stone layer. Write this down in inches.
- Example: You want the stone to be 4 inches deep.
- Convert Depth to Feet: There are 12 inches in a foot. Divide your depth in inches by 12.
- Example: 4 inches / 12 inches per foot = 0.33 feet (approx).
- Calculate Volume in Cubic Feet: Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in feet) by the depth (in feet).
- Example: 50 feet (Length) * 10 feet (Width) * 0.33 feet (Depth) = 165 cubic feet.
- Convert Volume to Cubic Yards: There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. Divide your volume in cubic feet by 27.
- Example: 165 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet per yard = 6.11 cubic yards.
So, for this example, you would need about 6.11 cubic yards of stone. It’s always smart to order a little extra (maybe 10%) because the ground might not be perfectly level, or you might spread it a little thicker than planned. So, you might order 6.5 or 7 cubic yards.
What if the Area is Not a Simple Rectangle?
If your area is oddly shaped, break it down into smaller rectangles or squares. Calculate the cubic yards for each smaller part. Then add them all together.
For a circle:
1. Find the radius (distance from the center to the edge).
2. Calculate the area: Pi (use 3.14) * radius * radius. This gives you square feet.
3. Multiply the area by the depth in feet (depth in inches / 12). This gives cubic feet.
4. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
For a triangle:
1. Measure the base (the bottom side).
2. Measure the height (from the base to the tip, straight up).
3. Calculate the area: 0.5 * base * height. This gives you square feet.
4. Multiply the area by the depth in feet.
5. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
Remember to add extra for waste or settling.
Average Prices for Crushed Stone
It’s hard to give exact prices because they change so much. But we can look at common price ranges. These are just estimates. Always get local quotes for your specific needs.
Cost Per Cubic Yard
The ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’ for common types like #57 or Crusher Run often falls into these ranges:
- Low End: \$20 – \$35 per cubic yard (Might be for common types, large orders, or close to a quarry).
- Average: \$35 – \$50 per cubic yard.
- High End: \$50 – \$65+ per cubic yard (Could be for special types, small orders, or far from a quarry).
Remember, these are just rough numbers. The actual price depends on the factors we talked about.
Price Per Ton
If buying by the ton, the ‘Crushed stone price per ton’ might look like this:
- Low End: \$15 – \$25 per ton.
- Average: \$25 – \$40 per ton.
- High End: \$40 – \$55+ per ton.
Again, this is just an estimate. Since a cubic yard usually weighs more than a ton (around 1.2 to 1.35 tons per yard), the price per yard will seem higher than the price per ton, even if the overall cost is the same for the same amount of stone. For example, if stone is \$30/ton, a yard might cost \$30 * 1.3 = \$39.
Cubic Yard of Gravel Cost
The price for a ‘Cubic yard of gravel cost’ can be similar to crushed stone. Sometimes it’s slightly less if natural gravel is easy to get nearby. Sometimes it’s similar or more if it needs to be transported far or is a special type of gravel. Expect prices roughly in the same ranges as crushed stone (\$20 – \$65+ per yard).
Deciphering Bulk Crushed Stone Cost
Buying stone in ‘Bulk crushed stone cost’ usually means getting a lower price per yard or per ton. Suppliers often have price breaks.
- Maybe the price per yard is \$50 if you buy 1-5 yards.
- Maybe the price drops to \$40 per yard if you buy 6-15 yards.
- Maybe it drops to \$35 per yard if you buy 16+ yards.
Delivery cost might also be cheaper per yard when buying in bulk because they can bring more stone in one truckload. Instead of paying \$100 delivery for 5 yards (\$20 per yard delivery), you might pay \$150 delivery for 15 yards (\$10 per yard delivery).
Always ask suppliers about their bulk pricing. Find out the price tiers. This helps you decide if you should buy slightly more to get a better per-yard price.
The Added Cost of Delivery
Getting the stone to your project site is a major part of the total expense. This is the ‘Delivered crushed stone price’. The ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’ isn’t usually a set price per yard. It’s often a flat fee per truckload, sometimes with an added charge based on distance.
Factors in Delivery Cost
- Distance: How far is the supplier from your location? This is the biggest factor. Delivery fees often increase with distance.
- Load Size: How much stone fits on the truck? Larger trucks can carry more weight/volume. Delivery might be a flat fee for a certain truck capacity (e.g., up to 10 tons or 15 cubic yards). If you need more than one truckload, you pay the delivery fee for each load.
- Access: Is your driveway easy to get to? Is there space for a large dump truck to maneuver and dump the stone? Tight spots, steep hills, or soft ground can make delivery harder or even impossible with a large truck. This might mean needing a smaller truck (more loads, more fees) or the supplier won’t deliver.
- Time: Some suppliers might charge more for weekend or rush delivery.
- Fuel Costs: High fuel prices mean higher delivery costs.
How Delivery Cost is Often Charged
- Flat Fee: A set price per truckload regardless of how full the truck is (up to its limit).
- Zone Pricing: The supplier has zones based on distance. A fee is set for each zone.
- Mileage Charge: A base fee plus a charge per mile.
- Per Ton/Yard Delivery: Less common, but some might calculate it this way, especially for very large jobs.
It’s essential to get the delivery cost from the supplier when you ask for stone prices. Don’t just get the stone price per yard; get the total ‘Delivered crushed stone price’.
Putting It All Together: Getting Quotes
To get a real idea of the price for your project, you must contact local suppliers. Here’s what to do:
- Know Your Needs: Figure out the type of stone you want (e.g., #57 crushed limestone, 3/4″ Crusher Run). Calculate how many cubic yards you need (plus a little extra).
- Find Suppliers: Look for local quarries, sand and gravel companies, and landscape supply yards.
- Ask for Quotes: Call or email several suppliers. Ask them these questions:
- What is the ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’ or ‘Crushed stone price per ton’ for the type and amount I need?
- Do you have ‘Bulk crushed stone cost’ rates for larger amounts? What are the tiers?
- What is the ‘Delivered crushed stone price’ or ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’ to my address? (Give them your address).
- How much stone (in yards or tons) can fit on one delivery truck?
- Are there any extra fees? (like fuel surcharges)
- Compare Quotes: Write down the prices from each supplier. Look at the total cost, including delivery. This helps you find the best deal.
Use a table to compare quotes easily:
| Supplier Name | Stone Type | Quantity (Yards) | Price Per Yard (Stone Only) | Delivery Fee | Total Delivered Cost | Notes (Truck Size, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier A | #57 Lime | 7 | \$45 | \$120 | \$435 | Max 10 yards per truck |
| Supplier B | #57 Lime | 7 | \$40 | \$150 | \$430 | Max 15 yards per truck |
| Supplier C | #67 Granite | 7 | \$55 | \$100 | \$485 | Max 8 yards per truck |
In this example, Supplier B has a lower price per yard, but Supplier A has a lower delivery fee for this quantity. Supplier B ends up being slightly cheaper in total delivered cost for 7 yards. Supplier C sells a different, more expensive type of stone (granite).
Other Costs to Think About
The stone itself and the delivery are the main costs. But think about other things too:
- Labor: Will you spread the stone yourself? Or will you pay someone to do it? Labor adds to the total project cost.
- Tools: Do you have rakes, shovels, or a wheelbarrow? You might need to buy or rent tools.
- Site Prep: Do you need to remove old material? Level the ground? Put down landscape fabric? These steps cost time and maybe money for tools or help.
- Compaction: For driveways or patios, you need to pack the stone down. You might need to rent a plate compactor. This makes the stone layer firm and stable.
These extra costs are not part of the ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’ but are part of the overall job cost.
How Much Does Gravel Cost Per Yard?
As mentioned before, the ‘How much does gravel cost per yard’ is often similar to crushed stone. Natural gravel that is screened to size without crushing usually falls in the \$20 to \$60+ per yard range. The exact price depends on size, type, color, location, and how much you buy, just like crushed stone. Sometimes, decorative gravels (special colors, smooth river rocks) can cost much more per yard.
Tips for Saving Money on Stone
Here are some ways to potentially lower the cost of your crushed stone project:
- Buy in Bulk: If you need a decent amount, figure out the bulk price breaks. Buying a bit more might lower the per-yard cost enough to save money overall, even with the extra stone.
- Choose Common Types: Standard crushed limestone or basic gravels are usually cheaper than special stone types, colors, or recycled materials (though sometimes recycled is cheaper).
- Get Local: Buy from a supplier or quarry close to your project site. This greatly reduces the ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’.
- Combine Deliveries: If you need stone for different parts of your project, try to get it all delivered at once. This means only paying the delivery fee one time instead of many times for small loads. Max out the truck if possible.
- Pick Up Yourself (Small Jobs): For very small amounts (like a few wheelbarrow loads), picking up the stone yourself in a truck or trailer avoids the delivery fee. Make sure your vehicle can handle the weight safely. A cubic yard is heavy (over 1 ton)!
- Compare Prices: Always get quotes from 2-3 different suppliers. Prices can vary quite a bit.
- Ask About Pick-Up Loading: Some suppliers charge a small fee to load your truck or trailer if you pick up. Ask about this.
Understanding Stone Delivery Cost Per Yard
While delivery is often a flat fee per trip, you can think about the ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’ by dividing the total delivery fee by the number of yards delivered in that trip.
Example:
* Delivery fee = \$150
* Stone delivered = 10 yards
* Stone delivery cost per yard = \$150 / 10 yards = \$15 per yard.
If you only got 5 yards on that same trip with the same \$150 fee:
* Stone delivery cost per yard = \$150 / 5 yards = \$30 per yard.
This shows why buying in bulk (getting more yards on one trip) makes the delivery cost per yard much lower.
Common Uses for Crushed Stone
Knowing how people use crushed stone helps illustrate why different types and amounts are needed.
- Driveways: Often use Crusher Run for a base layer, then maybe #57 or #67 as a top layer. This is a common reason people are ‘Estimating crushed stone needs’.
- Walkways and Patios: Can use stone dust (#10) or fine crushed stone as a base under pavers. Sometimes decorative gravel is used for the path itself.
- Drainage: Sizes like #3, #5, #57, or #67 are good for drain fields, around pipes, or in French drains because water flows through them easily.
- Base for Concrete or Asphalt: #57 or Crusher Run are common bases for pouring concrete slabs or laying asphalt driveways.
- Landscaping: Different sizes and colors of crushed stone or gravel are used for ground cover, garden beds, or decorative features.
- Construction Base: Large amounts of Crusher Run or larger stones might be used as a base for buildings or roads. This is where ‘Bulk crushed stone cost’ is important.
Summary of Crushed Stone Pricing
To quickly review the ‘Cost of crushed stone per yard’:
- Base price per yard: Roughly \$20 – \$65+. Varies by stone type, size, and location.
- ‘Crushed stone price per ton’: Roughly \$15 – \$55+. Different unit, relates to yard price based on weight.
- ‘Cubic yard of gravel cost’: Similar range to crushed stone, depends on type and location.
- ‘Bulk crushed stone cost’: Lower price per yard when buying large amounts.
- ‘Delivered crushed stone price’: Base stone cost plus delivery fee.
- ‘Stone delivery cost per yard’: Calculated by dividing delivery fee by yards delivered. Often cheaper per yard for larger loads.
Always calculate the cubic yards needed accurately (‘Estimating crushed stone needs’, ‘Calculating cubic yards of stone’). Get quotes from multiple local suppliers to find the best price for your specific project.
Buying crushed stone is a key step for many outdoor projects. By understanding how the price is set and how to calculate your needs, you can plan your budget better and get the right amount of stone without spending too much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much crushed stone do I need for a driveway?
A: This depends on the size of the driveway and how deep you want the stone. Measure the length and width in feet, and the desired depth in inches. Multiply length x width x (depth in inches / 12) to get cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. For a typical residential driveway base, 4-6 inches is common.
Q: Is it cheaper to buy crushed stone by the yard or by the ton?
A: It depends on the supplier and the stone type. You need to get prices for both units and know the weight of a cubic yard of that specific stone to compare fairly. Often, suppliers list prices by the unit they most commonly sell that product in.
Q: Will the delivery truck damage my driveway?
A: Large dump trucks are very heavy. They can potentially crack or damage existing driveways (especially asphalt or older concrete) or lawns. Talk to the supplier about the truck size and weight. Ask where they can safely dump the stone. You might need them to dump it by the street.
Q: Can I mix different sizes of crushed stone?
A: Yes, often this is done on purpose. Crusher Run is a mix of different sizes including fine material, designed to pack down well. For a top layer on a driveway, you might use a uniform size like #57, but the base layer needs something that compacts better. Don’t just randomly mix sizes; use the right type for each layer of your project.
Q: How much does one cubic yard of crushed stone cover?
A: This depends on the depth you spread it.
* At 1 inch deep: 1 cubic yard covers about 324 square feet.
* At 2 inches deep: 1 cubic yard covers about 162 square feet.
* At 3 inches deep: 1 cubic yard covers about 108 square feet.
* At 4 inches deep: 1 cubic yard covers about 81 square feet.
Use your calculated area in square feet and divide by one of these numbers (based on your desired depth) to double-check your yardage estimate.
Q: Why do some places sell by the yard and others by the ton?
A: Selling by the yard is common for smaller, measured projects (like a specific path size). Selling by the ton is common for larger jobs or for materials where weight is a more consistent measure (like aggregate sold to contractors). The price might be set based on how the material is processed and transported from the quarry.