How much does a yard of gravel cost? How much does a ton of gravel cost? The price for a yard of gravel usually falls between $15 and $75. The price for a ton of gravel is often similar, also ranging from about $15 to $75. But the actual cost can be much higher, sometimes up to $300 or more, depending on many things. These include the kind of gravel, how much you buy, where you live, and the cost to deliver a yard of gravel or a ton of gravel. Gravel delivery cost is almost always extra.
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What Affects the Price?
Lots of things change the price of gravel. You might see different prices for the same amount of gravel. Knowing what affects the price helps you guess the cost for your project.
Here are the main things that change the cost:
- The type of gravel
- How much gravel you need
- The cost to get it to your place (delivery)
- Where you are located
- Who you buy it from
We will look at each of these more closely.
Different Kinds of Gravel
Not all gravel is the same. There are many kinds. They look different and feel different. They also have different prices.
Some gravel is small and smooth, like pea gravel. Other gravel is sharp and broken up, like crushed stone. Some gravel has color or is very clean. These special kinds cost more money.
The price of crushed stone per yard or pea gravel cost per yard can be very different. Basic crushed stone that is used for driveways or paths is often cheaper. Fancy rocks for gardens or drainage might cost a lot more.
Think about what you need the gravel for. This will help you pick the right kind. And picking the right kind helps you figure out the likely cost.
How Much You Need
The amount of gravel you buy changes the price per yard or per ton. Buying a little bit usually costs more per unit. Buying a lot, like buying bulk gravel price per ton, often costs less per unit.
Gravel is often sold by the cubic yard or by the ton.
A cubic yard is a box that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. It measures space.
A ton measures weight. It is 2000 pounds.
Heavy gravel takes up less space than light gravel. The same amount of space might weigh different amounts depending on the type of rock and if it’s wet.
Often, suppliers sell by the cubic yard for small amounts. They might switch to selling by the ton for bigger orders. Getting a bulk gravel price per ton is usually cheaper than buying many single yards.
We will look at costs per cubic yard of gravel and how much does a ton of gravel cost later.
Getting it to You
This is a big cost. Gravel is heavy. Getting heavy stuff from the seller to your house needs big trucks. This costs money.
The cost to deliver a yard of gravel or more depends on how far away you are from the gravel place. It also depends on how much you order. Some places charge a flat fee for delivery. Others charge by the mile. Some might include delivery if you buy a very large amount.
Gravel delivery cost can add $30 to $200 or even more to your total bill. This is a very important part of the cost to think about.
Where You Live
Gravel prices are different in different areas. Local gravel prices change based on a few things:
- How close are you to gravel pits or quarries? If you are close, gravel might be cheaper because it does not have to travel far.
- Is gravel hard to get where you are? If there is not much gravel nearby, it might cost more.
- What are the costs for the company selling the gravel? Their rent, staff costs, and other costs can change the price.
Checking local gravel prices is important. Prices in one state can be very different from prices in another state. Even within the same state, prices can change a lot from one town to the next.
Who You Buy It From
You can buy gravel from different types of places:
- Big garden or home stores: These might be easy to use, but the price per yard might be higher, especially for small amounts. They often sell gravel in bags.
- Local gravel yards or quarries: These places often sell gravel in bulk by the yard or ton. Their prices per unit are usually lower than big stores.
- Landscape supply yards: These places are good for many types of gravel. They often have delivery. Their prices are usually fair.
Buying from a local gravel yard often gives you the best bulk gravel price per ton or cost per cubic yard of gravel.
Price Ranges for Different Gravel Kinds
Let’s look at the cost for some common types of gravel. Remember, these are just rough numbers. Your local gravel prices might be higher or lower.
The types of gravel cost different amounts because of how they are made, how rare they are, and how far they travel.
Here are some common types and their rough prices per cubic yard:
| Gravel Type | Description | Rough Price Per Cubic Yard (Material Only) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone (Base) | Sharp, broken rock, often gray or white | $15 – $50 | Driveways, paths, under patios, construction base |
| Pea Gravel | Small, round, smooth stones (like peas) | $30 – $75 | Walkways, playgrounds, drainage, decorative |
| River Rock (Small) | Smooth, rounded stones, natural colors | $40 – $100 | Decorative beds, drainage, water features |
| Decomposed Granite | Fine granite particles mixed with larger bits | $20 – $60 | Paths, patios, natural-looking areas |
| Clean Stone (3/4″) | Crushed rock, washed clean, no dust/fine bits | $25 – $60 | Drainage, behind retaining walls, concrete mix |
| Wash Stone | Crushed rock, washed, various sizes | $30 – $70 | Drainage, decorative, septic systems |
- Crushed Stone (Base): This is very common. It’s crushed big rocks. It locks together well. It’s often the cheapest option. The price of crushed stone per yard is usually low.
- Pea Gravel: These are small, round stones. They are nice to walk on. They are popular for paths and gardens. Pea gravel cost per yard is often a bit more than basic crushed stone.
- River Rock: These are bigger and smoother than pea gravel. They come from river beds. They look very natural. They cost more, especially larger sizes.
- Decomposed Granite: This is like sand but with small pieces of granite. It packs down well. It’s good for paths and patios.
- Clean Stone / Wash Stone: These types are washed to remove dirt and small dust. This is important for drainage or mixing with concrete. Washing adds to the cost.
Fancy or colored gravels can cost much more, sometimes over $100 or $200 per yard. This includes things like lava rock, marble chips, or special colored stones.
Breaking Down Delivery Costs
Gravel delivery cost is a major part of the total price. You buy the gravel, but then you have to pay to get it from the seller to where you need it.
The cost to deliver a yard of gravel (or any amount) depends on:
- Distance: How many miles is the trip? This is usually the biggest factor.
- Amount Ordered: Delivering a full truckload might cost less per yard than delivering a small amount. Some companies have a minimum order for delivery.
- Truck Size: Bigger trucks can carry more but might cost more per hour or trip.
- Location Access: Is your place easy to get to? Is there a good spot for the truck to dump the gravel? Hard-to-reach places might cost extra.
Delivery costs can range a lot.
| Delivery Distance | Estimated Delivery Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local (within 5-10 miles) | $30 – $80 | Often a flat fee for nearby places |
| Medium (10-20 miles) | $50 – $150 | Might be a mix of flat fee and mileage |
| Long (20+ miles) | $100 – $200+ | Often based mostly on mileage, can be high |
Keep in mind: This table shows just the delivery fee. You add this to the price of the gravel itself. So, if gravel is $40 a yard and delivery is $75, the total cost to get one yard to your house is $115.
Some companies might offer “free” delivery if you order a very large amount, like 10 or 15 yards. But the cost of the delivery is probably just built into the price per yard for big orders. Always ask about the total cost including delivery.
Yard vs. Ton: What’s Cheaper?
Gravel is sold by the cubic yard (volume) or by the ton (weight). The cost per cubic yard of gravel and how much does a ton of gravel cost are related but different.
One cubic yard of gravel usually weighs between 2400 and 3000 pounds. This means one cubic yard is often more than one ton (2000 pounds).
So, buying by the ton might seem cheaper at first glance because the number might be lower. But you are getting less volume than a cubic yard.
Let’s look at an example:
* Gravel Type: Crushed Stone
* Price per cubic yard: $40
* Price per ton: $30
At first, $30 per ton looks cheaper than $40 per yard.
But a cubic yard of crushed stone might weigh 2700 pounds.
2700 pounds is 1.35 tons (2700 / 2000).
So, one cubic yard costs $40. But that same amount (1.35 tons) would cost $40.50 if you bought it by the ton ($30 * 1.35).
In this case, buying by the yard is slightly cheaper for the same amount of gravel.
However, suppliers often price bulk gravel price per ton to be more attractive for large orders. If you need many tons, the price per ton might drop significantly.
Key Idea: Don’t just look at the price number. Think about how much space (volume) the gravel will fill for that price. Ask the supplier how much a cubic yard of the gravel you want weighs. This helps you compare correctly.
Suppliers often sell by the yard for orders under 8-10 yards. They switch to selling by the ton for larger bulk orders. The bulk gravel price per ton is usually lower than the per-ton equivalent of a single yard.
Figuring Out Average Costs
The average gravel price includes the cost of the material and the delivery. Since these things change a lot, the average cost also changes a lot.
Looking at the ranges we talked about:
- Material Cost: $15 to $100+ per yard (for common types)
- Delivery Cost: $30 to $200+ per trip
So, the total average cost for one yard of basic gravel delivered might be:
- Material: $30 (using a middle number)
- Delivery: $75 (using a middle number)
- Total: $105 per yard delivered
But if you buy 10 yards:
- Material: 10 yards * $30/yard = $300
- Delivery for 10 yards: Maybe $100-$150 (often not 10x the single yard delivery cost, but higher than for one yard)
- Total: $400 – $450 for 10 yards delivered
- Average per yard in this case: $40 – $45 per yard delivered
This shows that buying in bulk lowers the average cost per yard.
The average gravel price across many projects and locations likely falls in the range of $50 to $200 per cubic yard delivered. This wide range shows how much location, type, and quantity matter.
To get the best idea of the average cost for your project, you need to get quotes based on your specific needs and location.
Finding Good Local Deals
Getting good local gravel prices takes a little effort. You need to look around and compare.
- Find Local Suppliers: Use the internet to search for “gravel near me,” “landscape supply,” “quarry,” or “crushed stone delivery.”
- List the Suppliers: Make a list of 2-4 places that seem good.
- Know What You Need: Before you call, know:
- The type of gravel you want (e.g., 3/4″ crushed stone, pea gravel).
- How much you need (in cubic yards or tons). You might need to measure your area and use an online calculator.
- Your address for delivery.
- Call or Visit for Quotes: Contact each supplier. Ask for a quote for the material and delivery. Ask for the total cost delivered to your address.
- Compare Prices: Write down the quotes. Compare the total cost for the same type and amount of gravel.
- Ask About Weight: If prices are given by ton, ask how much a cubic yard of that material usually weighs. This helps you compare yard prices to ton prices fairly.
- Ask About Delivery Details: Ask about minimum order size for delivery and how quickly they can deliver.
By getting local gravel prices from a few places, you can find the best deal for your project. Remember to factor in the cost to deliver a yard of gravel or your total amount. The cheapest material price might not be the cheapest total price if delivery is very high.
How to Figure Out How Much Gravel You Need
Knowing the right amount is key to figuring out the cost. You don’t want to buy too much or too little.
Gravel is usually measured by the cubic yard for projects like driveways, paths, or ground cover.
Here’s how to figure out how many cubic yards you need:
- Measure Your Area: Get the length and width of the area you want to cover with gravel. Use feet for your measurements.
- Decide the Depth: How deep do you want the gravel layer to be? Common depths are 2, 3, or 4 inches. For driveways, you might need 6 inches or more. Use inches for your measurement.
- Convert Depth to Feet: Divide the depth in inches by 12. (Example: 3 inches / 12 = 0.25 feet)
- Calculate Volume in Cubic Feet: Multiply Length (feet) * Width (feet) * Depth (feet). This gives you cubic feet.
- Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards: Divide the cubic feet by 27 (because there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard).
Formula: (Length in feet * Width in feet * Depth in inches / 12) / 27 = Cubic Yards Needed
Example: You want to cover a path 50 feet long and 3 feet wide with gravel 3 inches deep.
- Length = 50 feet
- Width = 3 feet
- Depth = 3 inches
- Depth in feet = 3 / 12 = 0.25 feet
- Cubic feet = 50 * 3 * 0.25 = 37.5 cubic feet
- Cubic yards = 37.5 / 27 = 1.39 cubic yards
You would likely round up to 1.5 or 2 cubic yards to be safe and account for settling.
Quick Table for Estimating:
This table shows roughly how many square feet a cubic yard covers at different depths.
| Depth (inches) | Approx. Sq Ft Covered Per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft |
Note: These are estimates. The type of gravel and how you spread it can change this.
Knowing the exact amount helps you get accurate quotes and control your costs. It helps you understand the cost per cubic yard of gravel for your project size.
Delivery Options and How They Impact Cost
How you get the gravel affects the cost a lot.
-
Dump Truck Delivery: This is the most common way for bulk gravel. A large truck brings the gravel and tips it out.
- Pros: Can bring large amounts (many yards/tons). Usually the cheapest way to get bulk gravel.
- Cons: Needs a clear space to dump. Can’t place gravel in a exact spot, just a pile. Gravel delivery cost applies.
- Cost: Includes the material price plus the delivery fee based on distance and amount.
-
Bagged Gravel: You can buy gravel in small bags (often 0.5 cubic feet) from home stores.
- Pros: Easy to transport in a car or small truck. Good for small jobs. Easy to spread.
- Cons: Very expensive per cubic yard compared to bulk. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so you need 54 bags!
- Cost: A bag might cost $4-$8. 54 bags would cost $216 – $432 per cubic yard. This is much higher than bulk prices.
-
Picking Up Yourself: You can go to the gravel yard with your own truck or trailer.
- Pros: Avoids delivery cost. You pay only for the material (cost per cubic yard of gravel or ton).
- Cons: Requires a strong truck/trailer. You can only carry a small amount at a time (a half yard or a yard weighs over 1 ton). You have to load and unload it yourself.
- Cost: Material price only. But factor in your gas and time.
For most projects needing more than a few wheelbarrows full, dump truck delivery of bulk gravel is the most cost-effective option, even with the gravel delivery cost.
When comparing prices, make sure you are comparing the same thing – bulk price per cubic yard or per ton, plus the delivery cost. This gives you the true cost to deliver a yard of gravel or your full amount.
Negotiating Price?
Can you get a better price for gravel? Maybe.
- Bulk Orders: If you need a very large amount (many tons), you might be able to negotiate a better bulk gravel price per ton.
- Regular Customer: If you do a lot of landscaping or building, you might get a better rate by being a repeat customer.
- Ask for Discounts: It never hurts to ask if there are any deals or discounts.
- Compare Quotes: Use the quotes you get from different suppliers to see if one will match a lower price from another.
However, for small home projects, there is usually not much room to negotiate the price of a yard of gravel or the delivery fee. The prices are often set. Your best way to save money is to compare prices from several local gravel yards.
Environmental Factors and Cost
Sometimes, where the gravel comes from matters. Gravel taken from local pits is usually less expensive than gravel trucked in from far away.
Choosing local gravel reduces the travel distance. This lowers the gravel delivery cost and is better for the environment because trucks use fuel and cause pollution.
Some gravels might be recycled materials, like crushed concrete or asphalt. These can sometimes be cheaper than new stone. They are also an green choice. The price of crushed stone per yard made from recycled material might be lower.
When getting local gravel prices, ask if the material is sourced nearby.
Final Summing Up
How much does a yard of gravel cost? It is not a single price. It depends a lot on many things. The average gravel price is a wide range because:
- Types of gravel cost varies greatly, from $15 for basic crushed stone to over $100 for special rocks.
- The cost per cubic yard of gravel is often lower when you buy in bulk.
- The bulk gravel price per ton is usually the cheapest way to buy large amounts by weight.
- Gravel delivery cost adds a lot to the price, based mainly on distance. The cost to deliver a yard of gravel is part of this delivery fee.
- Local gravel prices are different everywhere based on supply and demand.
To get the best price for your project:
- Figure out how much you need in cubic yards.
- Choose the right type of gravel.
- Get quotes from several local suppliers, including material and delivery.
- Compare the total cost delivered.
- If comparing yard and ton prices, ask about the weight per yard.
Knowing these steps helps you plan your budget well and avoid surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
h4: What is a cubic yard of gravel?
A cubic yard is a measure of volume. It is the amount of space inside a box that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. It equals 27 cubic feet.
h4: How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
The weight changes based on the type of rock and if it is wet. But generally, one cubic yard of gravel weighs between 2400 pounds (1.2 tons) and 3000 pounds (1.5 tons).
h4: How much area does a cubic yard of gravel cover?
This depends on how deep you spread it. A cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at a depth of 3 inches. If you spread it thinner, it covers more area. If you spread it thicker, it covers less. Look at the table in the section “How to Figure Out How Much Gravel You Need” for more details.
h4: Can I buy gravel by the ton instead of the yard?
Yes, many suppliers sell by the ton, especially for larger orders. Remember that a ton is a measure of weight (2000 pounds), while a yard is a measure of space. A cubic yard is usually heavier than a ton. Compare the cost per cubic yard of gravel to how much does a ton of gravel cost for the same type of gravel.
h4: Is pea gravel more expensive than crushed stone?
Often, yes. Pea gravel cost per yard is usually a bit higher than the price of crushed stone per yard for basic crushed types. Pea gravel is often washed and screened more, which adds to the cost. Crushed stone used for bases is often the cheapest type.
h4: Can I pick up gravel myself to save on delivery cost?
Yes, if you have a strong enough truck or trailer. You pay only the material cost. However, you can usually only carry a small amount (maybe 0.5 to 1 yard or ton) safely. This works best for very small projects. For bigger jobs, the cost to deliver a yard of gravel or more in bulk is usually worth it.
h4: How do I know which type of gravel is best for my project?
Think about what you need the gravel to do.
* For drainage or mixing concrete, use clean crushed stone.
* For a driveway or path base that packs down, use crushed stone with fine bits (like gravel base).
* For a decorative path or playground, use pea gravel.
* For decorative beds or water features, use river rock.
Ask the gravel supplier for advice based on your project needs. They know the local materials well.