Cost Estimator
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Budgeting & Supplier Comparison

Gravel Cost Calculator

Estimate total project costs by entering your local supplier's price per ton and/or price per cubic yard. Compare quarry scale pricing against retail cubic yard rates to find the most cost-effective option.

How to Compare Ton vs. Cubic Yard Pricing

When gathering quotes for a landscape or driveway project, you will often receive competing bids structured differently: quarries quote by the ton, while retail landscape yards quote by the cubic yard scoop.

To compare these bids accurately, convert between them using stone density:

Price Comparison Math: Equivalent Yard Price = Price Per Ton × Density (tons/yd³)
Example: A quarry quotes $40/ton for driveway gravel (density = 1.42 tons/yd³).
Equivalent Yard Price = $40 × 1.42 = $56.80 per cubic yard.
If a landscape yard quotes $65 per cubic yard, the quarry is $8.20/yd³ cheaper.

Hidden Costs to Include in Your Project Budget

Material price is only one component of bulk stone installation. Be sure to account for:

  • Delivery / Drop Fees: As an illustrative example, hauling a 15-ton dump truck may cost $75 to $150 per trip within a 15-mile radius. In rural areas with longer hauls, delivery may exceed $200 per load.
  • Split-Load & Short-Load Fees: Most haulers have a minimum charge (often 5 tons). Ordering smaller quantities on a heavy dump truck may incur a short-load fee.
  • Heavy Woven Geotextile Fabric: A 12 ft × 100 ft roll of 4oz to 6oz contractor fabric may cost approximately $100 to $180, helping extend the life of your driveway.
  • Spreading & Compaction Equipment: Hand shoveling 15 tons of gravel takes substantial labor. Renting a compact track loader (Bobcat) or a reversible plate compactor may add an illustrative $200 to $350 per day.

Example pricing only. Actual prices vary significantly by location, supplier, material, quantity, delivery distance, equipment and market conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gravel Pricing

For standard gravel (which weighs about 1.35 to 1.4 tons per yard), an illustrative quarry price of $40 per ton equates to roughly $54 to $56 per cubic yard. Quarries selling by the ton are often 20% to 40% cheaper than retail landscape supply yards selling by the yard, provided you order at least 5 to 10 tons to offset delivery fees.

As an illustrative example, a standard 10-to-15 ton tandem dump truck delivery of driveway gravel may cost between $350 and $700 total, which includes an illustrative $250 to $500 for the material plus a $75 to $150 delivery fee. Example pricing only. Actual prices vary significantly by location, supplier, material, quantity, delivery distance, equipment and market conditions.

As an illustrative comparison, a 50-lb bag of gravel may cost $4.50 to $6.00 at a retail store. Because it takes 54 bags to make approximately one cubic yard (2,700 lbs), buying by the bag may equate to $240 to $320 per cubic yard, compared to bulk delivered stone. Example pricing only. Actual prices vary significantly by location, supplier, material, quantity, delivery distance, equipment and market conditions.

Related Calculators for Project Budgeting