Gravel Calculators
Gravel Cost Calculator
Turn your project size into a dollar estimate using your supplier's actual rate. For quantities first, the free gravel calculator works out volume and tonnage in one pass. One tool for every job: a single layer for paths, patios, and beds, or switch to Driveway mode to price a compacted base and top layer separately.
A note on this estimate
Delivery, minimum-load fees, taxes and labor are not included in any figure on this page. Prices vary enormously by region and supplier, which is why the rate is always your input, never an assumed national average.
Last updated: 7 November 2026 · Report an error
How the cost estimate works
The tool computes your project's volume (length × width × depth), converts it to tons using the selected material's density, then multiplies by your price. The formula line in the result shows every step so you can check it:
Cost = Tons × Price per ton — or Cost = Yards × Price per yard, depending on which rate your supplier quoted. In Driveway mode both layers are computed independently — volume, density, and price each — and summed.
The three worked examples below each state their assumed prices out loud. They are illustrations of the arithmetic, not price quotes — gravel rates swing widely by region, season and supplier, so run the same examples with your own yard's rate before budgeting anything.
Three worked examples, assumptions stated
General gravel cost
A 20 × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep is 50 ft³ = 1.85 yd³ of loose gravel, which at gravel's density is 2.62 tons. At an assumed $45 per ton, the material costs 2.62 × $45 ≈ $118. This is the shape of most small orders: the tonnage is modest, which is exactly why delivery and minimum-load fees (below) so often rival the material cost itself on small jobs.
Driveway cost: a two-layer build
A 12 × 50 ft driveway (600 ft²), built the standard way. The base is 4 inches of crusher run: 200 ft³ = 7.41 yd³ ≈ 11.86 tons, at an assumed $40 per ton ≈ $474. The top is 3 inches of #57 stone: 150 ft³ = 5.56 yd³ ≈ 7.49 tons, at an assumed $45 per ton ≈ $337. Total material: about $811 for 19.35 tons across both layers. Pricing the layers separately matters — the top layer is the visible, more expensive stone, and yards quote it at a different rate. The calculator's Driveway mode does both layers in one pass; the dedicated driveway calculator sizes the layers themselves.
Pea gravel cost: bags vs bulk
A 3 × 40 ft walkway at 2½ inches deep needs 25 ft³ = 0.93 yd³ ≈ 1.37 tons of pea gravel — or, in bags, 50 of the standard 0.5 ft³ bags. At an assumed $5.50 a bag, the bagged route is $275. The same material in bulk at an assumed $55 per ton is 1.37 × $55 ≈ $75 — before delivery. Even adding a typical delivery fee, bulk wins at this size; bags win below roughly 15–20 bags, where delivery and minimums swamp the difference and a car boot does the hauling. The pea gravel calculator shows the bag count for any area.
Related tools & guides
Gravel Driveway Calculator
The quantity-focused two-layer tool — volumes without pricing.
Yards to Tons Gravel Calculator
Just the tonnage, without the pricing — with a yards-to-tons density table.
Gravel Calculator
The general tool with shapes, materials, grading codes, and cost.
Pea Gravel Calculator
Quantities and bag counts at pea gravel depths.
Gravel cost FAQ
How much does gravel cost?
It depends almost entirely on where you live and what you're buying — which is why this calculator has no built-in price. Ask a local quarry or landscape supply for their per-ton or per-yard rate, enter it above, and you'll get a real estimate instead of a misleading national average.
Should a driveway's base and top layers be priced separately?
Usually yes. The base layer (typically crusher run) and the top layer (typically a clean stone like #57) are often different products at different prices. Switch the calculator to Driveway mode to price each layer at its own rate and see the combined total.
Is it cheaper to buy gravel in bags or bulk?
Bulk is almost always cheaper per volume past roughly 20–30 bags (about half a cubic yard). The result shows your bag count — multiply it by the per-bag price and compare against the bulk estimate plus any delivery minimum.
Does the estimate include delivery?
No. The estimate covers material only, at the rate you enter. Delivery charges, fuel surcharges, and minimum-load fees are set per supplier — ask for the delivered price per ton and enter that if you want those included.
What costs does the estimate not include?
Delivery, site preparation and grading, edging, geotextile fabric, drainage work, and labor if you hire it out. For many projects those items together rival the material cost, so get full quotes before budgeting.
Why doesn't the calculator use a national average price?
Because gravel pricing swings wildly by region — sometimes doubling between two counties — a national average would produce misleading budgets. Your supplier's quoted rate is the only number worth calculating with.