Gravel Cost Per Ton — Typical US Prices
Plain gravel typically costs $15–$50 per ton and decorative stone $45–$150+ in published US ranges. Here is what drives the number, what delivery adds, and how to compare quotes correctly.
How much does gravel cost? Plain crushed gravel runs $15–$50 per ton delivered in typical US ranges, while decorative river rock and lava rock reach $45–$150+ per ton. A 10-ton driveway delivery of crusher run usually lands between $300 and $600 including the truck fee. All figures are regional estimates — get local quotes, then price your exact tonnage with the calculator.
Price table by material
These are typical published US ranges for bulk material — regional supply, stone color and haul distance move real quotes by 50% or more. Treat them as budgeting numbers, not prices; sources such as HomeGuide's national cost guides publish similar ranges that shift year to year.
| Material | Per ton (typical) | Per cubic yard | Per sq ft at typical depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone #57 | $15–$50 | $20–$70 | $0.30–$0.90 (4″ base use) |
| Crusher run / #411 | $25–$55 | $30–$65 | $0.40–$1.00 (4″) |
| Pea gravel | $25–$60 | $30–$70 | $0.60–$1.50 (2″) |
| Decomposed granite | $40–$70 | $45–$85 | $1.00–$3.00 (2″) |
| River rock | $45–$130 | $55–$160 | $1.00–$2.50 (2″) |
| Lava rock | $60–$150 | $45–$110 | $0.90–$2.20 (2″) |
Note the lava-rock quirk: it costs more per ton but often less per yard, because a yard of it weighs half as much (see how much a yard weighs). Always compare quotes in the same unit.
What drives the price
Four factors explain nearly every dollar on a gravel invoice: material, distance, load size and screening.
- Material and color — plain gray crushed stone is the cheapest thing a quarry makes; uniform decorative blends carry sorting premiums.
- Haul distance — freight is a big share of delivered price; a quarry 10 miles away can undercut one 50 miles away on identical stone by a third.
- Load size — per-ton rates fall with volume, but the delivery fee (commonly a flat $50–$150, sometimes more with long-distance or hard-access surcharges) makes small loads expensive per yard.
- Washing and screening — washed #57 costs a bit more than unscreened; crusher-run blends and #411 sit near plain #57.
Bagged gravel at home centers is the outlier: at typically $5–$10 per 0.5-cubic-foot bag, a bagged "yard" (54 bags) costs $270–$540 — several times bulk. Bags only make sense under roughly half a yard.
Delivery, spreading and the real total
Budget stone + truck + (optionally) spreading: a 10-ton crusher-run delivery is commonly $300–$600 delivered, and another $150–$500 if a skid steer spreads it. The calculator's cost field covers the material line only — add the truck fee as a flat item and any labor separately.
Ways buyers keep the total down: pick up with a trailer if the tonnage is small; order full delivery minimums rather than multiple short loads; and quote the same grade from two local suppliers in the same unit ($/ton or $/yd³ — convert with the density tables on this site). Grading and compaction equipment rental (plate compactor, typically $60–$120/day) is the DIYer's remaining cost.
Estimating your project's cost
Cost = tonnage × unit price, so the estimate is only as good as the tonnage. Use the gravel calculator with your material selected, add the 5–10% compaction allowance, then enter your supplier's delivered per-ton price to see the material total instantly.
Worked example: a 12 × 50 ft driveway at 4 inches of crusher run is about 12.4 tons (with allowance) — at $35/ton plus a $90 delivery fee, roughly $524 delivered. Project guides have full worked examples: driveways, patios, walkways and shed pads.
Last updated: October 2026. Prices are estimates that vary by region and supplier — confirm current local pricing before ordering.