Key numbers
- Tons = length × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 × tons per yd³
- $16.78 per short ton: USGS 2025 average value of US crushed stone at the plant
- $13.15 per short ton: USGS 2025 average for construction sand and gravel
- 1 ton of gravel ≈ 0.71 yd³ at a typical 1.4 tons per yard
- Per yard price ≈ price per ton × 1.4 (use your supplier's density)
On this page
- How to use the Gravel Cost per Ton
- How much does a ton of gravel cost?
- What did gravel cost per ton from 2021 to 2025?
- How many tons do common projects need?
- Price per ton vs price per yard: how to convert
- How far does a ton of gravel go?
- What makes gravel cost more per ton?
- Common mistakes when pricing gravel by the ton
- Frequently asked questions
How to use the Gravel Cost per Ton
- 1Enter your numbersFill in length (ft), width (ft), depth (in), material, price per ton from your yard ($/ton), delivery fee ($) or extra for waste and compaction (%).
- 2Check the assumptionsTons = area × depth (in) ÷ 324 × density, plus your extra. Densities are typical loose planning values; use your supplier's tons per yard if they give one. Per-yard and per-ft² figures include the delivery fee.
- 3Read the resultsThe calculator shows estimated gravel cost, tons to order, volume, delivered price per yard / per ft² or same price per metric tonne, updated as you type.
- 4Use the resultRound up to what your supplier sells, and keep a little extra for waste.
Results update as you type. Back to the calculator ↑
How much does a ton of gravel cost?
The only price that matters is your local yard’s, but national data gives a floor. The US Geological Survey estimates that in 2025 the average value of crushed stone was $18.50 per metric ton and construction sand and gravel $14.50, measured at the quarry or pit. In US short tons that is $16.78 and $13.15. What you pay delivered to a driveway is higher, because trucking, yard handling and small-order pricing come on top.
Gravel cost = tons × price per ton + delivery fee
Tons = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 × tons per yd³
The 324 turns feet × feet × inches into cubic yards (12 in × 27 ft³). The tons per yard is the material’s loose density. This site uses 1.4 for mixed gravel and pea gravel, 1.35 for #57 crushed stone and river rock, and 1.6 for crusher run: typical planning values. Your supplier’s figure for its own stone is better.
Worked example: 12 × 50 ft gravel driveway, 4 in deep
- 12 × 50 × 4 ÷ 324 = 7.41 yd³; add 10% = 8.15 yd³
- × 1.4 tons per yard = 11.41 tons
- At your quote of, say, $P per ton: 11.41 × P, plus the delivery fee
- Enter P in the calculator to see the total, the delivered price per yard and per square foot
What did gravel cost per ton from 2021 to 2025?
USGS publishes the average unit value every year in its Mineral Commodity Summaries. These are plant-gate averages across all US producers and uses, from highway base to concrete aggregate:
| Year | Sand & gravel ($/metric t) | Sand & gravel ($/short ton) | Crushed stone ($/metric t) | Crushed stone ($/short ton) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $10.52 | $9.54 | $13.26 | $12.03 |
| 2022 | $11.35 | $10.30 | $14.31 | $12.98 |
| 2023 | $12.54 | $11.38 | $15.86 | $14.39 |
| 2024 (est.) | $13.90 | $12.61 | $17.50 | $15.88 |
| 2025 (est.) | $14.50 | $13.15 | $18.50 | $16.78 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, published February 2026. Short-ton values converted with NIST’s 1 short ton = 907.1847 kg. Crushed stone rose 40% in four years, from $13.26 to $18.50 per tonne; sand and gravel rose 38%. If a local quote from a few years ago is all you have, expect it to have climbed.
Note what these averages leave out: delivery, which is often the largest part of a small order, and decorative products such as river rock or colored landscape stone, which usually sell for more than base stone.
How many tons do common projects need?
Tons with 10% extra, at three typical densities. Multiply by your price per ton:
| Project and depth | Volume (yd³, +10%) | Gravel 1.4 t/yd³ (tons) | #57 stone 1.35 t/yd³ (tons) | Crusher run 1.6 t/yd³ (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft patio base, 4 in | 1.36 | 1.90 | 1.83 | 2.17 |
| 3 × 40 ft path, 3 in | 1.22 | 1.71 | 1.65 | 1.96 |
| 12 × 20 ft shed pad, 4 in | 3.26 | 4.56 | 4.40 | 5.21 |
| 10 × 50 ft driveway, 4 in | 6.79 | 9.51 | 9.17 | 10.86 |
| 12 × 50 ft driveway, 4 in | 8.15 | 11.41 | 11.00 | 13.04 |
| 12 × 100 ft driveway, 6 in | 24.44 | 34.22 | 33.00 | 39.11 |
For a full driveway budget, including base layers, grading and edging, use the gravel driveway cost estimator. To size the stone only, the gravel calculator handles circles and odd shapes.
Price per ton vs price per yard: how to convert
Yards sell stone by volume, quarries by weight. To compare, convert one into the other with the material’s density:
Price per yd³ = price per ton × tons per yd³
| Price per short ton | Gravel, 1.4 t/yd³ ($/yd³) | #57 stone, 1.35 t/yd³ ($/yd³) | Crusher run, 1.6 t/yd³ ($/yd³) | Same price per metric tonne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $28.00 | $27.00 | $32.00 | $22.05 |
| $30 | $42.00 | $40.50 | $48.00 | $33.07 |
| $40 | $56.00 | $54.00 | $64.00 | $44.09 |
| $50 | $70.00 | $67.50 | $80.00 | $55.12 |
| $60 | $84.00 | $81.00 | $96.00 | $66.14 |
The prices in the first column are just inputs for the conversion, not market quotes. A ton of denser material is less volume, so crusher run at the same price per ton costs more per yard than pea gravel.
How far does a ton of gravel go?
At 1.4 tons per yard, a ton is 0.71 yd³. Spread out, it covers:
| Material (tons per yd³) | Yd³ per ton | ft² per ton at 2 in | ft² per ton at 4 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel, mixed (1.4) | 0.71 | 116 | 58 |
| Pea gravel (1.4) | 0.71 | 116 | 58 |
| Crushed stone #57 (1.35) | 0.74 | 120 | 60 |
| River rock (1.35) | 0.74 | 120 | 60 |
| Landscape rock (1.3) | 0.77 | 125 | 62 |
| Crusher run / road base (1.6) | 0.63 | 101 | 51 |
In metric, one tonne of gravel at 1.4 short tons per yd³ (about 1,660 kg/m³) is roughly 0.6 m³: enough for 6 m² at 10 cm deep.
What makes gravel cost more per ton?
- Delivery. Usually a flat or distance-based fee per load. On a 2-ton order it can exceed the stone; on a full truck it is spread thin. Enter it in the calculator to see your delivered price per ton.
- Product. Washed, screened, decorative and colored stone cost more than crusher run or bank-run gravel. River rock and pea gravel are processed to size and shape.
- Haul distance from the quarry. Stone is heavy and cheap, so freight is a large share of the price.
- Order size. Bulk buyers pay less per ton than one-load customers.
- Compaction. Base stone compacts after rolling. Ohio DOT, for example, converts compacted crushed stone at 3,800 lb per yd³ (1.9 tons), well above loose figures. Order on the loose volume and add your extra.
Common mistakes when pricing gravel by the ton
- Comparing a per-ton quote with a per-yard quote without converting. Use the conversion table above.
- Using the USGS average as a delivered price. It is a plant-gate average and leaves out trucking.
- Forgetting the extra. Base stone spreads, settles and compacts; 10% is a common allowance, more on soft ground.
- Ordering metric tonnes vs short tons by mistake. A tonne is 10% heavier than a US ton. The calculator shows both.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much is a ton of gravel?
It depends on the stone, the quarry and delivery, so ask local yards. As a national reference, USGS estimates the 2025 average value of US crushed stone at $18.50 per metric ton ($16.78 per short ton) and construction sand and gravel at $14.50 ($13.15), measured at the plant before delivery and retail markup.
How many tons of gravel do I need for a 12 x 50 driveway?
At 4 in deep a 12 × 50 ft driveway needs 7.41 yd³, or 8.15 yd³ with 10% extra. At a typical 1.4 tons per yard that is 11.41 tons; for crusher run at 1.6 t/yd³ it is 13.04 tons. At 6 in deep, multiply by 1.5.
How much does a ton of gravel cover?
At a typical 1.4 tons per cubic yard, one ton covers about 116 ft² at 2 in deep, 77 ft² at 3 in and 58 ft² at 4 in. Divide 324 by the depth in inches and by the tons per yard to get square feet per ton.
Is gravel cheaper by the ton or by the yard?
Neither: the price is the same stone measured two ways. Convert with the density: at 1.4 tons per yard, $40 a ton equals $56 a yard. Compare quotes in one unit, and ask the yard for its tons per yard for that exact material.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards at a typical 1.4 tons per yard, or 0.63 yd³ for denser crusher run at 1.6 t/yd³. Wet, compacted or larger stone can differ, so use the yard's own figure when it gives one.
How much gravel do I need for a 10x10 area?
At 4 in deep a 10 × 10 ft area needs 1.23 yd³, or 1.36 yd³ with 10% extra. At 1.4 tons per yard that is 1.90 tons. At 2 in deep it needs half: 0.95 tons with the extra.
What is the price of gravel per metric tonne?
Multiply a US price per short ton by 1.1023. A quote of $40 per short ton equals $44.09 per tonne. USGS's 2025 averages are $18.50 per tonne for crushed stone and $14.50 per tonne for construction sand and gravel, at the plant.
Why is delivered gravel so much more than the USGS price?
USGS figures are the average value at the quarry, averaged over huge highway and concrete orders. A homeowner load adds trucking, yard handling and small-order pricing, and decorative stone costs more than base stone. Enter your delivery fee in the calculator to see the delivered price per ton and per yard.
4 Sources
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Stone (Crushed), salient statistics (average unit value $13.26–$18.50 per metric ton, 2021–2025e; 1.5 billion t worth $27 billion in 2025)
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Sand and Gravel (Construction), salient statistics (average unit value $10.52–$14.50 per metric ton, 2021–2025e; 870 million t worth $12.6 billion in 2025)
- NIST SP 811 Appendix B.9: 1 short ton = 907.1847 kg; 1 yd³ = 0.7645549 m³
- Ohio DOT CMS Item 617, Table 617.06-1: compacted crushed stone 3,800 lb/yd³ (pay-quantity conversion)
Last reviewed October 11, 2026 by M Bilal. Found an error? Tell us.