How to use the gravel cost calculator
- Measure the bed or paste in a cubic-yard figure from a supplier ticket. When yards are entered directly, the dimensions are ignored.
- Pick the material. Type rates come from the GoodGravel index of 522 landscape-supply yards (October 2026, pickup prices).
- Add a waste percentage (10% is a usual starting point for a compacted bed), an optional delivery fee, and spreading labor if you are not placing it yourself.
Truckload counts stay on the gravel calculator. This page prices the material; the weight it shows uses a single 1.4 tons-per-yard factor, not a per-type density.
What a yard of gravel costs
| Material | Typical $/yd | 25th–75th $/yd |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone | $50 | $32–$68 |
| Crusher run / road base | $47 | $39–$60 |
| #57 stone | $64 | $54–$90 |
| Pea gravel | $74 | $55–$97 |
| River rock | $105 | $66–$174 |
Type rates are a single-source exception: they come from the GoodGravel index, not a three-guide median. HomeGuide’s overall retail band is $15–$75 per cubic yard ($10–$50 per ton), with delivered-and-spread work at $55–$65 per yd and spreading labor about $12 per yd (one source, so the calculator uses $12 as the low, typical and high spreading rate). The USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 put the 2025 crushed-stone producer price at $18.50 per metric ton FOB plant — a quarry-gate floor, not a landscape-yard retail price. It is discussed here and in the FAQ, but it is not in the comparison table, because that table multiplies a per-yard price by yards.
A worked example: 20 × 10 ft at 4 inches
Volume = 20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 2.469 yd³. With 10% extra you order 2.716 yd³. Crushed stone at $50 per yd is $135.80 typical for the material ($86.91–$184.69 on the 25th–75th band). A $100 delivery fee would bring the typical total to $235.80, before spreading.
Sources & assumptions
How this calculator gets its numbers. Full method: our methodology.
- Type rates are a single-source exception: the GoodGravel Price Index median and 25th–75th percentile (Oct 2026, 522 landscape-supply businesses, pickup). They are not a three-guide median and are not blended with HomeGuide’s overall band or the USGS quarry-floor price.
- Tons per yard is 1.4 for every type (HomeGuide / MoDOT loose-aggregate rule of thumb).
- Spreading labor is $12/yd from HomeGuide only, used as the low, typical and high rate. Delivery is a user-entered lump.
- The USGS $18.50/metric ton figure is discussed in the article and FAQ but is not in the on-page comparison table, because that table multiplies a per-yard price by yards.
- Truckload counts stay on the gravel calculator.
Sources
- GoodGravel, Gravel Price Index. Updated Oct 31, 2026: crushed stone median $50/yd ($32–$68); crusher run, #57, pea gravel and river rock as used in the calculator. The index also publishes per-ton medians; those are not used on this page.
- HomeGuide, Gravel Prices. Dec 19, 2025: bulk $15–$75/yd, $10–$50/ton; 1 cu yd = 1.4–1.5 tons; delivered and spread $55–$65/yd; spreading labor about $12/yd. This page uses 1.4 tons per yd, the low end of that range and the same factor as MoDOT.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 — Stone (Crushed). Feb 2026: 2025e average unit value $18.50 per metric ton, FOB plant — a wholesale floor, not retail.
- Missouri Department of Transportation, Engineering Policy Guide 450, Estimate Factors (archived PDF). Gravel, crushed stone and chat estimated at 1.40 tons per cubic yard of loose aggregate.
Last reviewed . Product figures vary by brand; the label on what you buy wins.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a yard of crushed stone?
The GoodGravel October 2026 index median is $50 per cubic yard at landscape-supply yards, with a 25th–75th band of $32–$68. HomeGuide’s overall retail range is $15–$75 per yd.
Is the USGS $18.50 per metric ton what I will pay at a yard?
No. That is a 2025 producer price at the quarry gate. Retail yards add handling, small-load markups and, often, delivery, which is why the GoodGravel median sits much higher.
How do I convert yards to tons on this page?
Weight uses 1.4 tons per cubic yard, the HomeGuide and MoDOT loose-aggregate rule of thumb, for every type. For a detailed truckload count, use the gravel calculator.
Does delivered and spread cost more than pickup?
Yes. HomeGuide puts delivered-and-spread work at $55–$65 per cubic yard, and spreading labor alone at about $12 per yd. Turn on spreading and enter your delivery fee to see an all-in total.