Gravel Cost Calculator
Estimate the total cost of your gravel project — material, waste allowance, and delivery — for crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, or marble chips.
Measure straight across the widest point.
Adjust depth below if needed.
Covers spillage and compaction. 5–10% is normal.
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Bags or bulk delivery?
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Coverage & weight
Material profile
At the default $48 per ton, a 400 sq ft area at a 4 inch depth needs about 7.3 tons of gravel with waste, which runs roughly $352 in material plus $75 delivery — about $427 total. Bagged material only makes sense below roughly 10 cubic feet, or about 20 bags.
Estimated cost for common gravel project sizes
Costs below use the default $48/ton price and $75 flat delivery fee — swap in your own supplier’s quote for an exact number.
| Project | Depth | Tons | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small path, 20 × 3 ft | 2 in | 0.5 tons | $99 |
| Decorative bed, 12 × 8 ft | 2 in | 0.8 tons | $113 |
| Driveway base (site default), 40 × 10 ft | 4 in | 6.67 tons | $395 |
| Large driveway, 60 × 12 ft | 4 in | 12.0 tons | $651 |
| Backyard patio bed, 15 × 15 ft | 2 in | 1.88 tons | $165 |
| Large landscape bed, 30 × 20 ft | 2 in | 5.0 tons | $315 |
Gravel types, density and price-per-ton comparison
| Type | Weight per yd³ | Best for | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone / crusher run | 2,700 lb | Driveway & paver base | Moderate |
| Pea gravel | 2,700 lb | Paths, playgrounds, patios | Good |
| River rock | 2,700 lb | Borders, drainage beds | Good |
| Marble chips | 2,800 lb | Decorative landscaping | Good |
Figures are for dry material. Wet or freshly delivered material can weigh noticeably more.
How to calculate gravel you need
- Enter your project area, length and width in feet, or diameter for round or circular beds.
- Set depth and waste, 4 inches is standard for a driveway base, with 10% added for compaction loss.
- Choose a gravel type, crushed stone, pea gravel, river rock, or marble chips — prices vary by type.
- Enter price per ton and delivery fee, use your local supplier’s quote, or the defaults as a rough estimate.
- Compare the total cost, against bagged material pricing to see which option is cheaper for your quantity.
Worked example
Here’s the math for the site default: a 40 ft × 10 ft area at a 4 inch driveway-base depth, using crushed stone (2,700 lb/yd³) at $48 per ton, with 10% waste and a $75 delivery fee.
- Area40 ft × 10 ft = 400 sq ft
- Depth in feet4 in ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- Volume400 × 0.333 = 133.3 cu ft
- Cubic yards133.3 ÷ 27 = 4.94 yd³
- Tons (crushed stone, 2,700 lb/yd³)4.94 × 2,700 ÷ 2,000 = 6.67 tons
- Plus 10% waste6.67 × 1.10 = 7.33 tons
- Total cost7.33 × $48/ton = $352 material + $75 delivery = $427
Recommended depth by project
| Project | Recommended depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decorative bed/mulch alternative | 2 in | Enough to cover soil without excess cost |
| Walkway or garden path | 2 in | Matches most paver and edging heights |
| Standard driveway base | 4 in | Site default; supports vehicle weight over a compacted subgrade |
| Heavy-duty driveway/parking pad | 6 in | Extra depth for trucks, trailers, or frequent heavy loads |
| Drainage swale/French drain bed | 6–8 in | Deeper layer needed to move water effectively |
| Annual top-up/refresh | 1 in | Restores lost depth from erosion and displacement, minimizes ongoing cost |
Bags or bulk delivery?
A $4.75 bag covering 0.5 cu ft works out to about $9.50 per cubic foot, while bulk crushed stone at $48/ton (about $2.40 per cubic foot) is roughly 4 times cheaper before delivery. Once a job needs more than about 10 cubic feet — roughly 20 bags — bulk delivery is cheaper even after the flat $75 fee.
- Small project (under 10 cu ft / ~20 bags):bags are simpler and about the same total cost.
- Medium project (10–50 cu ft / 0.5–2 yd³):compare the actual bag count vs. bulk-plus-delivery total; bulk usually wins.
- Large project (2+ yd³):bulk delivery is always cheaper per ton and per cubic foot once you’re past a couple dozen bags.
Common mistakes
- Comparing bag price to bulk price directlybags are priced per 0.5 cu ft and bulk is priced per ton, so a direct price comparison is meaningless without converting to the same unit.
- Forgetting delivery feesa flat delivery charge can outweigh gravel savings on very small orders.
- Not adding waste to the cost estimatepricing exactly enough gravel usually leaves you short and paying for a second trip.
- Assuming all gravel types cost the same per tondecorative or polished materials like marble chips typically cost more than plain crushed stone or pea gravel.
- Ignoring minimum order quantitiesmany suppliers have a minimum tonnage for bulk delivery, which changes the real cost per ton for small jobs.
- Pricing only the material, not the laborthis cost estimate covers material and delivery only, not equipment or labor to spread and compact it.
What this calculator assumes
Adjust your result if your project differs from these.
- Price per ton and delivery fee are user-entered estimates; actual supplier pricing varies by region.
- Bag price assumes a standard 0.5 cu ft bag; confirm your supplier’s bag size before comparing.
- Cost estimate covers material and delivery only, not labor, equipment, or site prep.
- Waste percentage is added to the material cost before the price-per-ton multiplication.
- Calculation assumes one gravel type per project; mixed layers should be priced separately and added together.
- Delivery fee is treated as a flat rate; some suppliers charge by distance or by the load instead.
Common questions
How much does a ton of gravel cost?
Prices typically range from about $30 to $65 per ton depending on material and region; this calculator defaults to $48/ton as a starting estimate.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bulk or bags?
Bulk, almost always, once you need more than about 20 bags (roughly 10 cu ft). Bagged gravel runs close to 4 times more per cubic foot than bulk delivery.
Does gravel price include delivery?
Not usually — most suppliers quote a per-ton material price and add a separate flat delivery fee, which is why this calculator lists them separately.
How much gravel do I need to know before requesting a quote?
Your area in square feet, your target depth in inches, and your material choice — that’s enough for most suppliers to quote tonnage and delivery.
What's the cheapest type of gravel?
Crushed stone and pea gravel are typically the least expensive since they require less processing; polished materials like marble chips usually cost more per ton.
How much does it cost to gravel a driveway?
For the 400 sq ft, 4 inch default example, expect about $352 in material plus $75 delivery, or roughly $427 total before waste.
Do suppliers charge extra for same-day delivery?
Many do, or they may not be able to guarantee same-day delivery at all — scheduling a day or two ahead usually gets the standard delivery rate.
Is there a minimum order for gravel delivery?
Many suppliers set a minimum, often around 1–3 tons or a flat minimum charge, since dispatching a truck for a very small load isn’t cost-effective for them.
How can I reduce gravel costs?
Order exactly what you need (this calculator’s waste percentage helps avoid over-ordering), compare per-ton pricing between local suppliers, and combine bulk orders with neighbors if possible to spread delivery fees.
Does the type of gravel affect the price?
Yes — decorative or processed materials like marble chips or polished river rock generally cost more per ton than plain crushed stone or pea gravel.
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Project
| Shape | — |
| Dimensions | — |
| Depth | — |
| Area | — |
| Material | — |
| Waste allowance | — |
Volume & weight (incl. waste)
| Cubic yards | — |
| Cubic feet | — |
| Weight | — |
| Tons (rounded up) | — |
Shopping list
| Bulk order | — |
| Bagged alternative (0.5 cu ft) | — |
| Estimated cost | — |
Notes
Estimate generated by materialcalculate.com. Assumes uniform depth and standard dry material densities. Confirm quantities with your supplier before ordering.