How Much Does Crushed Stone or Gravel Cost?

Gravel Prices

Gravel prices average $60 to $75 per yard or $1 to $3 per square foot for the gravel, delivery, and spreading. A 4×20 gravel walkway costs $250 installed, a 10×20 gravel patio or landscaping costs $450, and a gravel driveway costs $600 to $1,800 to install.

Gravel Prices Per Project

Project	Cubic Yards	Average Cost
Walkway or Flower Bed (4×20)	2.0	$100 – $300
Gravel Patio or Landscaping (10×20)	7.4	$250 – $700
1-Car Gravel Driveway (12×25)	11.1	$300 – $900
2-Car Gravel Driveway (24×24)	21.3	$600 – $1,800
Gravel Road (12×100)	29.6	$600 – $1,200

Gravel can also be used as a base for roads, ground cover, or landscaping material. Estimate 3.7 cubic yards of crushed stone per 100 square feet of coverage 12-inches deep (cubic foot).

Most gravel jobs use a 3-man crew plus a tractor for $46 per hour that spread 12 cubic yards (324 square feet) per hour. Gravel is available to buy from crushed stone suppliers, quarries, and local landscapers who sell, deliver, and install.

Table of Contents

1. Gravel Prices
2. Gravel Cost Calculator
• Per Ton
• Per Yard
• Per Square Foot
3. Gravel Delivery Cost
• Truck Load of Gravel Cost
4. Crushed Stone & Rock Prices
• Gravel
• Road Base
• Crush and Run
• Crushed Limestone
• Sand and Gravel
• Crushed Concrete & Asphalt
• Pea Gravel
• Stone Dust
• Caliche
• Crushed Granite
• More...
5. Gravel Installation Cost Estimator
• Spreading Gravel
• Landscaping Gravel
• Gravel Driveway
• Gravel Road
• Walkways & Patios
• Garage Floor or Crawl Space
6. Frequently Asked Questions
• Where To Buy Gravel?
• How Much Do I Need?
7. DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
8. Sand and Gravel Delivery Near Me

Gravel Cost Calculator

When calculating your gravel costs, use $60 per yard for the gravel, delivery, and spreading. If you purchase the rock separately, workers charge $40 to $50 per hour, with an average project taking two hours by two workers.

Enter the dimensions of your project in our gravel cost calculator below to find the number of cubic yards required and the estimated total cost for the gravel (without spreading or installation).

Gravel Cost Calculator

	Length of area in feet
	Width of area in feet
	Depth in inches (4" for landscaping; 12" for driveway or road)

Projects typically require a few layers a total of 12" to 18" deep. Drainage is an essential factor which could lead to significant problems in the future if improperly installed. Consider adding a landscape border or retaining wall to keep rocks in place.

Gravel Prices

Amount	Average Cost
Per Bag	$2 – $8
Per Ton	$10 – $50
Per Yard	$15 – $75
Per Square Foot (12" Depth)	$1 – $3

Gravel Prices Per Ton

Bulk crushed stone and gravel prices are $10 to $50 per ton on average. Road base costs $18 to $30 per ton, and plain pea gravel or limestone costs $28 to $45 per ton. Buying gravel in small quantities costs over $100 per ton. It takes 1.4 tons of stone per cubic yard.

Gravel Cost Per Yard

Bulk gravel costs $15 to $75 per yard on average. Crushed concrete, sand and gravel mix, and crushed shells are the cheapest stones at $15 per yard. Crusher run, pea gravel, steel slag, and river rock typically cost $50 per yard or more.

Gravel Cost Per Yard

National Average Cost	$60
Minimum Cost	$10
Maximum Cost	$200
Average Range	$15 to $75

Gravel Cost Per Square Foot

Gravel costs $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot on average when covering an area 12" deep (a cubic foot), depending on the type. Base gravel, crusher run, slate, shale, and crushed concrete are the cheapest at $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot, while colored and decorative gravel run $3 per square foot.

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Gravel Delivery Cost

Gravel delivery costs $10 to $25 per ton, but may be included free with a 5-ton minimum order up to 5 miles. Add $10 per mile in delivery fees for every mile exceeding 5 miles. Rent a dump truck or pick-up for hauling crushed stone yourself for $75 per day to reduce costs.

Delivery does not include bagged gravel, spreading, pathway building, or driveway installation unless discussed beforehand. Most quarries and landscape suppliers will not deliver less than 10 cubic yards of gravel. Prices decrease significantly as you purchase larger quantities. Order at least 17.5 to 20 tons to get the cheapest delivery rates.

Truck Load of Gravel Cost

A truck load of gravel costs $1,350 or more with a 10-yard minimum, including delivery and spreading based on the rock type, amount, truck size (double or tri-axle), and travel distance. Most rock-fill jobs use a 3-man crew plus a tractor for $46 per hour that spread 12 cubic yards per hour.

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Crushed Stone & Rock Prices

Gravel sizes range from 0.1"-10" in diameter and between 0.5"-1.5" on average. Choose from either sharp crushed stone that's been mechanically broken up or water-worn river rock with smooth edges.

Generally, bigger gravel sizes cost more, and each size has a slightly different price. The crushed stone and rock prices below are roughly for gravel sizes up to 2" and include delivery. Discounts are typically offered for orders over 15 tons. Check out our quarry price list below.

Crushed Stone & Rock Prices

Rock Type	Per Foot	Per Ton	Per Yard
Pea Gravel	$1.00 – $3.19	$28 – $45	$29 – $86
White Gravel	$2.77 – $4.80	$52 – $184	$75 – $129
Black Gravel / Lava Rock	$3.55 – $10.56	$76 – $85	$96 – $140
Crushed Limestone	$1.48 – $2.00	$30 – $38	$35 – $54
Crusher Run Gravel	$0.50 – $2.00	$24 – $34	$51 – $54
Sand & Gravel (Class 5)	$0.50 – $1.50	$11 – $19	$15 – $25
Road Base Gravel	$1.00 – $1.50	$18 – $30	$25 – $33
Crushed Concrete	$0.59 – $2.79	$11 – $53	$16 – $75
SB2 Sub-base Gravel	$1.41 – $2.30	$27 – $31	$38 – $62
Crushed & Recycled Asphalt	$0.52 – $1.85	$10 – $27	$25 – $50
Aggregate & Drainage Rock	$1.00 – $3.00	$25 – $50	$30 – $70
Stone Dust or Screenings	$1.00 – $5.00	$30 – $145	$10 – $25
Caliche or Arizona Gravel	$1.17 – $6.62	$45 – $253	$31 – $178
Crushed or Decomposed Granite	$1.00 – $3.00	$25 – $50	$38 – $75
Crushed Marble	$0.80 – $1.50	$27 – $64	$35 – $80
Quartz Gravel	$3.00 – $10.00	$69 – $95	$100 – $150
Steel Slag Rock Gravel	$1.33 – $2.00	$25 – $39	$35 – $54
Blue Stone Gravel	$2.74 – $5.74	$52 – $109	$74 – $155
River Rock	$1.74 – $2.59	$33 – $49	$47 – $70
Crushed Shells Gravel	$0.53 – $4.44	$10 – $86	$14 – $120
Pebble Mix	$1.25 – $2.00	$80 – $100	$60 – $90
Shale	$1.00 – $3.00	$20 – $60	$28 – $85
Slate Chips	$0.61 – $1.26	$27 – $64	$35 – $80

Gravel

Gravel costs $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot, $40 per yard, or $30 per ton on average. White or black colored gravel such as ballast lime-rock, white limestone, or lava rock costs $120+ per ton, or $3 to $10 per cubic foot when ordered in small quantities.

Gravel is easy to maintain and install, doesn't crack, and works for various projects such as landscaping or driveways. One of the most affordable options is purchasing white quartz gravel in pea-gravel size. Gravel can move around in rainy conditions and can sink with poor installation.

Road Base Gravel Cost

Road base gravel costs $18 to $31 per ton, $25 to $62 per cubic yard, or $0.59 to $1.50 per square foot. Road base is also called rock base, road rock, road gravel, asphalt base (AB), aggregate base, and 3/4″ minus. Rock base installs over a geotextile fabric as the first layer providing a stable foundation.

Road base comes in a variety of sizes, is excellent for wet weather, and prevents dirt from mixing with the top layer of gravel, which stops mud beds from forming. Rock base is a durable mixture of crushed stones with sharp and angular edges that interlock well together when compacted.

Crush and Run Prices

Crush and run gravel costs $24 to $34 per ton, about $50 per cubic yard, or $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot, which is one of the cheapest materials. This mixture combines limestone, trap rock, granite, crushed rock, sand, and stone dust. It's also known as crusher run, quarry process, #411 gravel, road stone, or dense grade aggregate.

Crushed Limestone Cost

Crushed limestone costs $30 to $38 per ton, from $1.59 to $2.00 per square foot, or between $35 and $54 per yard. For smaller amounts, expect to spend $3 to $5 per bag or $125 per ton. Crushed limestone is customizable into different sizes and styles, and prices mainly depend on the quantity.

Limestone is most readily available in light to pale-grey shades, and sometimes in dark-grey colors. The cheapest crushed limestone is size #411, or quarry process that includes rocks from 0.75" to fine dust.

Sand and Gravel Prices

Class 5 gravel is crushed and graded sand and gravel mix, which costs $11 to $19 per ton, or about $15 to $25 per yard. Class 5 gravel mix has a max rock size of 1" and contains a dust binder which requires less maintenance, is less prone to erosion, and makes the material last longer.

Crushed Concrete Prices

Crushed concrete costs $11 to $53 per ton, around $16 to $75 per cubic yard, and $1 to $3 per cubic foot, with prices depending on the quantity. Leftover concrete and broken asphalt get crushed and recycled, which is a cheaper and more eco-friendly solution for gravel driveways. Recycled concrete aggregates last as long as natural stones.

Crushed & Recycled Asphalt Cost

Crushed and recycled asphalt millings cost $25 to $50 per cubic yard, $10 to $27 per ton, or $0.50 to $2 per square foot from quarries or landscape companies without delivery. With delivery in smaller quantities, crushed asphalt costs $72 per ton or up to $100 per cubic yard. Lower prices are available when you order at least 17.5 tons.

Pea Gravel Cost

Pea gravel costs $28 per ton when ordering at least 24 tons, or $45 per ton in smaller quantities. The bulk-rate converts to $29 to $40 per cubic yard if you pick it up yourself from a local quarry or $1 to $3 per cubic foot.

Pea gravel is 3/8" in size with a naturally smoothed texture. Pea gravel comes in a blend of several different earth tones like grey-blue, brown, pale-yellow, pink, reddish-brown, or amber hues. While it's attractive, it's not ideal for hot or arid climates because it retains more heat than other gravels.

Stone Dust or Screenings Cost

Stone dust costs $30 to $145 per ton, or between $10 to $25 per yard, depending on if it's delivered or picked up. The finished product can be used as a base material below patios and pavers, as a final base for horse barns, or for filling void spaces.

Caliche Rock Cost

Caliche rock costs $45 to $100 per ton and $30 to $80 per cubic yard. A Caliche driveway costs $1.17 to $6.62 per square foot. Caliche can mean higher-quality limestone and calcite rock, like decorative Arizona gravel.

Caliche is a natural stone that's grey or with pale salmon to pinkish-brown or reddish hues. Lower-quality caliche contains more sand and clay with less limestone or calcite.

Crushed Granite Prices

Decomposed or crushed granite costs $1 to $3 per square foot and is found in bags at local home improvement stores. For bulk crushed granite, prices range from $25 to $50 per ton and between $38 and $75 per yard.

SB2 Gravel Prices

Sub-base SB2 gravel between 1 to 4 inches costs $38 per cubic yard, $1.41 per cubic foot, or $27 per ton when you buy from landscaping suppliers. SB2 gravel 3 to 4 inches, also called #3 Stone, costs $62 per cubic yard, $2.30 per cubic foot, or $31.43 per ton if you order 17.5 tons or more.

SB2 ranges from 1" to 4" pieces of crushed grey granite rock, it's heavier, harder, and forms less dust than limestone. Colors range from copper red, light pink, grey, off-white, or nearly black.

River Rock Cost

River rock costs $47 to $70 per cubic yard or $33 to $49 per ton depending on the size and if it's multi-colored. That cost converts to $1.74 to $2.59 per square foot with 12" in depth.

River rocks are small, rounded creek stones that are most commonly blue-grey, brown, red, and off-white. They are polished enough for bare feet to walk on and are excellent for backyard landscaping.

Steel Slag Rock Cost

Steel slag costs $25 to $39 per ton or $35 to $54 per yard, depending on the quantity ordered and size of stones. Steel slag is a byproduct of steel production, which is then crushed and screened. Steel slag is best used in drier climates. Steel slag comes in limited colors from light-grey to various shades of charcoal.

Crushed Marble Chips

Crushed marble chips cost $130 per cubic yard, $93 per ton, or $4.81 per cubic foot. White marble gravel is expensive, but it increases property value and is very attractive when used for gravel driveways or landscaping. Marble stays cool during the summer, although it does produce a glare.

Crushed Shells

Crushed shells cost $2 per square foot, $40 per cubic yard, or $50 per ton on average. Prices depend on the type of shells and location. Crushed clamshells are the cheapest in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, where it's $10 per ton, $14 per yard, or $0.53 per cubic foot for 1" size washed White Seashells.

Crushed oyster shells are off-white and gray, clamshells have lighter shades of yellow-white and pale-cream, and scallop shells have light-brown tones. Over time, all shells will become bleached-white.

Paving with seashells is better for the surrounding soil, deters weeds and pests, and it's eco-friendly. Shells make excellent pathways but aren't pleasant to exposed feet.

Shale Gravel Cost

Shale gravel costs $28 to $85 per cubic yard, $20 to $60 per ton, or $1 to $3 per cubic foot depending on the size of the rocks. Cheaper shale is the natural, untreated rock. The more-expensive shale gravel is “expanded shale,” kiln-heated to make it porous for better drainage.

Expanded shale is best for clay-based soils, especially in areas prone to flash flooding. Crushed shale comes in neutral grey colors and occasionally reddish-brown or charcoal shades. It’s mostly fossilized clay, which is strong but not quite as durable as granite or limestone.

Blue Stone Gravel

Crushed bluestone gravel rock costs $52 per ton or $74 per yard when picked up from a local quarry. Prices can double when you include delivery charges. Larger sizes of decorative-quality bluestone gravel cost up to $155 per cubic yard or $109 per ton when you purchase at least 5/8 of a cubic yard from a quarry.

Often referred to as "Piedra Azul Triturada," this type of limestone or sandstone comes in attractive shades of dark-blue to blue-gray. Blue stone also looks beautiful for the bottom layer of garden ponds, and its composition provides benefits for your soil.

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Gravel Installation Cost Estimator

Below are average cost estimates for gravel installation. Paving contractors typically quote a total price based on the project, instead of per yard or hour prices.

How Much Does Spreading Gravel Cost?

Spreading gravel costs $10 to $25 per cubic yard or $46 per hour depending on the job size, rock type, and crew efficiency. Large jobs with a 3-person crew and a tractor spread 12 cubic yards per hour. Smaller landscape projects spread 2 to 4 yards by hand for $22 per cubic yard.

Cost To Install Landscaping Gravel

Installing colored gravel or landscaping rock costs $50 to $90 per ton or $1 to $4 per square foot. A complete landscaping installation costs $3,000 to $16,000 depending on your yard size and choice of materials.

Use gravel mulch for xeriscaping to create long-lasting pathways around your plants and trees. In damp climates, gravel also prevents fungi growth in your soil since it doesn’t trap in moisture like bark mulch.

Installing gravel as mulch in your garden is an easy DIY project. Dig out about 2" of soil, lay down a piece of geotextile fabric, then spread the gravel on top of the fabric. Be sure to keep a couple of inches of space between your gravel mulch and the roots of your larger plants.

Gravel Driveway

Installing a gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot depending on the type of gravel and installation quality. A 12'x25' single-car gravel driveway costs $300 to $900 to install 4" to 8" deep, and a double-car runs $600 to $1,800. Adding a 12' wide road a quarter-mile long costs $15,000 to $60,000.

When extending your existing driveway, material costs for sand, gravel, paver stones, and edging are $750 to $800 for building an addition of 5' x 20'. Start with a layer of sand about 4" thick, with 2" of pea gravel on top. Next, lay out large paving stones and fill in the gaps between the stones with the remaining pea gravel and tamp it down to make it level.

Residential Gravel Road

Installing a 12' residential gravel road costs $5 to $10 per linear foot depending on the size and depth, local weather conditions, and permit costs. For large rural properties, a gravel road costs $21,000 to $65,000 per mile to install.

Gravel Walkways & Paths

Gravel walkways or paths 4" deep cost $10 per linear feet with pea gravel, a crusher-run gravel base layer, landscape fabric beneath to block weeds, and edging. These estimates assume an average path width of 3 to 4 feet.

DIY materials to create your own gravel path cost $100 to $1,000 and can be installed in an afternoon. First, install a durable landscape edging. Either coarse sand, finely crushed limestone, granite, or crusher run all work well as a 2-inch base foundation. Water the finer crushed stones of your base layer and use a tamper tool to compact it down flat. Then, spread out the top layer of rocks at 2" thick to complete the path.

Set large paving stones in the gravel to create an eye-catching pattern and further stabilize river rock. Smaller stones work best since they compact together to form a level surface more easily.

You may not want a gravel walkway if:

• You'll have to shovel it often in snowy weather. You'll likely end up shoveling away some of the stones as well as the snow.
• Anyone in your household will be using a cane or walker. A walking aid can sink slightly in the gravel and may cause a fall.
• You prefer to walk barefoot outside.

Gravel Patio

Building a 10'x20' gravel patio with costs $200 to $500 for the wooden patio border wall with rebar, geotextile fabric below, and the gravel. Installing a gravel patio is an easy DIY project and cheaper than poured-concrete or brick patios.

A backyard patio that’s only for people needs a gravel layer 4" thick. Crushed limestone rocks remain stable, so they don’t need an additional base layer of crushed stone to keep them level. Smooth rocks like river rock shift slightly under your feet, so you’d need to spread out a 2" layer of base rock first. Then spread out a 2" layer of your river rock on top.

Gravel Play Areas

You can build a pea gravel play area for kids for $100 to $200. A gravel activity box is an excellent alternative to a sandbox that's less messy and inexpensive since it only needs around one cubic yard of loose pea gravel. For toddlers and young children, 4" of gravel is sufficient for digging and playing.

If you want to use smooth pea gravel to cover areas around slides or swing sets, then it will cost more because a 9" thick layer of gravel is needed to cushion any hard falls. Add a wooden frame or retaining wall around all gravel areas to keep the gravel from spreading all over your backyard.

Gravel Garage Floor

Gravel for a 20'x20' garage floor costs $200 to $800, or $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot. Total costs to install range from $400 to $2,000 depending on labor and the type of drainage system installed. A standard concrete slab costs $3,000 to $6,000 depending on the type of sub-soil and the gravel base used.

Gravel For Crawl Space

A common mistake is trying to use gravel as a replacement for a moisture barrier on a crawl space floor. The gravel helps the water move into your crawl space faster, rather than keeping moisture out. Gravel can cause water damage to your footers and foundation. Instead, keep gravel in your drainage trenches only.

To fill in crawl space trenches for a drainage system along the inner perimeter of a 3000 SF foundation with drain rock, you’ll need about 20 cubic feet of gravel that costs $20.

Another option is installing a vapor barrier of 6 mil plastic for $600 to decrease moisture if your crawl space isn’t prone to flooding or collecting water. Then covering the entire crawl space with gravel costs $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.

Crushed Stone & Gravel Sizes

Crushed stone and gravel comes in a variety of sizes ranging from dust screenings, all the way up to 10 inches in diameter. Most gravel is sold by the bag, cubic yard, or ton.

Crushed Stone Size Chart

Sizes
Dust Screenings
¼"
⅜"
½"
¾"
1"
2"
3.5"
4"
10"

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where To Buy Gravel?

Gravel is available to buy from home improvement stores such as Home Depot, rock quarries, landscaping centers, crushed stone suppliers, online, or a local landscaper. Rock quarries sell the cheapest gravel — order at least 10 yards for free delivery, and at least 20 tons for the cheapest rates.

When buying gravel in bulk, ask about delivery and spreading costs. The gravel may be dumped in one pile or roughly spread along a planned driveway, depending on the terms negotiated.

How Much Gravel Do I Need?

A 4' x 20' walkway or flower bed needs 3 cubic yards of gravel, a 10' x 20' patio requires 7.4 yards, a 12' x 25' 1-car driveway needs 11.1 cubic yards, a 24' x 24' 2-car driveway needs 21.3 yards, and 29.6 yards for a 12' x 100' gravel road.

Gravel Needed Per Project

Project Size	Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards
4' x 20' Walkway or Flower Bed	80	2.0
10' x 20' Patio or Landscaping	200	7.4
12' x 25' Single-car Driveway	300	11.1
24' x 24' Double-car Driveway	576	21.3
12' x 100' Gravel Road	800	29.6

The table above assumes several layers of different-sized rocks at a total of 12-inches of depth. The overall depth required depends on the soil's condition.

Calculate the total volume of gravel you’ll need based on the size of your project. Multiply the length (in feet), times the width, times the depth, to calculate cubic feet. Then, divide that number by 27 to calculate cubic yards. There are approximately 1.4 tons of stone per cubic yard.

Length × Width × Depth = Cubic Feet

Cubic Feet ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards

Cubic Yards × 1.4 = Tons

How Much Does A Ton Of Gravel Cover?

When laying the recommended gravel-layer depth of 4", then a ton of pea gravel covers an area of 40 to 50 square feet. Spreading out 1-ton of gravel at 2" deep covers 80 to 100 square feet, while 6" deep covers 25 to 35 square feet or less if you use larger stones. The amount of area you can cover with gravel depends on the depth of your project and the gravel size.

1-Ton of Gravel Coverage

Depth	Square Feet Covered
2"	80 – 100
4"	40 – 50
6"	25 – 35
12"	12 – 18

How Much Does A Bag Of Gravel Cost?

A plain bag of pea gravel or crushed stone costs $2 to $6 per bag and covers 2 cubic feet or less depending on the type. Decorative or colored gravel costs $6 to $8 per bag. Bags of gravel are sold at most home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's.

Bag of Gravel Cost

Type	Cost Per Bag
Plain Pea Gravel	$2 – $6
Decorative or Colored Gravel	$6 – $8

How Many Tons of Gravel In A Dump Truck?

A 10-wheel dump truck carries 12 to 20 tons of gravel or around 8 to 10 yards depending on the rock size and type.

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DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Smaller landscape and walkway gravel projects can be done DIY for just the cost of the materials and a day of work. Consider hiring a professional for large or complex jobs such as a gravel driveway, which requires multiple layers of gravel and a drainage system. Another option is to purchase the materials yourself, then hire a landscaper for $45 per hour to install.

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