Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total gravel project cost
$522
Tons of gravel needed
8.64
Cubic yards needed
6.17
Gravel material cost
$432
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One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter area to cover (sq ft).
- 2Enter depth (inches).
- 3Enter gravel rate ($/ton).
- 4Enter density (tons/yd³).
- 5Enter delivery fee ($).
- 6Enter spreading labor (0 if diy) ($/ton).
- 7Read your total gravel project cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Gravel is sold by the ton at most quarries and landscape suppliers, but homeowners plan projects in cubic yards or square footage, so the first challenge is converting correctly — a cubic yard of typical crushed gravel weighs roughly 1.4-1.5 tons depending on stone size and moisture. This calculator takes your area and desired depth, converts to tons needed, applies a per-ton material rate, adds a flat delivery fee (which usually doesn't scale much with load size within a normal truckload), and an optional spreading labor charge if you're not doing it yourself. 2026 US national averages run about $40-$65 per ton delivered for crushed stone or gravel, with delivery fees of $50-$150 depending on distance from the quarry, and spreading labor around $50-$80 per hour or $10-$15 per ton if hired out. Prices vary by stone type (crushed limestone vs. pea gravel vs. river rock), color, and how far your site is from a quarry, so treat these as planning defaults rather than a bid.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Area to cover: 500 sq ft
- Depth: 4 inches
- Gravel rate: 50 $/ton
- Density: 1.4 tons/yd³
- Delivery fee: 90 $
- Spreading labor (0 if DIY): 0 $/ton
Results
- Total gravel project cost: $522
- Tons of gravel needed: 8.64
- Cubic yards needed: 6.17
- Gravel material cost: $432
What each field means
Inputs
- Area to cover (sq ft)
- The area to cover used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 500 sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 10–20000 sq ft.
- Depth (inches)
- The depth used in the calculation, measured in inches. Starts at 4 inches so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–24 inches.
- Gravel rate ($/ton)
- The gravel rate used in the calculation, measured in $/ton. Starts at 50 $/ton so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 20–150 $/ton.
- Density (tons/yd³)
- The density used in the calculation, measured in tons/yd³. Starts at 1.4 tons/yd³ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1.1–1.8 tons/yd³.
- Delivery fee ($)
- The delivery fee used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 90 $ so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–400 $.
- Spreading labor (0 if DIY) ($/ton)
- The spreading labor (0 if diy) used in the calculation, measured in $/ton. Starts at 0 $/ton so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–30 $/ton.
Results
- Total gravel project cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Tons of gravel needed
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cubic yards needed
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Gravel material cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How many tons of gravel do I need per cubic yard?
About 1.4-1.5 tons per cubic yard for typical crushed stone, though lighter materials like pea gravel run closer to 1.3 tons/yd³ and denser stones like trap rock can exceed 1.5 tons/yd³. Ask your supplier for the exact density of the product you're buying.
Why is the delivery fee flat regardless of how much I order?
A dump truck trip costs the supplier roughly the same in driver time and fuel whether it's carrying 5 tons or 15 tons, so most quarries charge a flat delivery fee up to a full truckload rather than scaling it per ton — meaning larger orders get a better effective delivery rate per ton.
What depth of gravel should I use for a driveway vs. a path?
A base layer for a driveway typically needs 4-6 inches of larger crushed stone plus a top-dressing layer, while a simple garden path or drainage bed usually only needs 2-3 inches. Deeper isn't always better — over-deep gravel beds can feel unstable underfoot without proper compaction.
Is it cheaper to pick up gravel myself instead of paying for delivery?
For small jobs under about 1-2 tons, renting or borrowing a pickup truck and hauling it yourself can save the $50-$150 delivery fee, but most trucks can only safely carry 1-2 tons per trip, so it stops being worth the time for larger driveway or drainage projects.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Gravel Delivery Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-delivery-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-delivery-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gravel Delivery Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Gravel Delivery Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gravel-delivery-cost) (2026).