Gravel & Crushed Rock Calculator
Convert the area and depth you need to cover into tons and yards of gravel, with a compaction allowance, the number of truckloads and a delivered-cost estimate based on USGS national prices.
Gravel & Crushed Rock Calculator — ConcreteNear.com
| Cubic yards (loose) | 2.72 yd³ |
| Area covered | 200 ft² |
| Truckloads | 1 |
| 0.5 ft³ bags (small jobs) | 147 |
Cost estimate U.S. average prices
| Crushed stone (¾ in) at the pit/quarry 3.8 ton × $16.78 | $63.81 |
| Delivery (1 load) 1.5 hr × $106.69 × 1.25 | $200.04 |
| Estimated total | $263.85 |
- Lay landscape fabric first to keep decorative rock out of the dirt.
| Inputs | |
| Material | Crushed stone (¾ in) (~1.4 t/yd³) |
| Length | 20 ft |
| Width | 10 ft |
| Depth | 4 in |
| Density override (0 = typical for the material) | 0 tons/yd³ |
| Compaction / settling allowance | 10% |
| Truck payload | 14 tons |
| Delivery round trip | 1.5 hr |
Planning estimate only — confirm with your supplier or contractor.
Prices used — edit any price to match your local quote
| Item | Unit price | Basis & source |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed stone / gravel at the quarry per ton | derived from source USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Stone (Crushed) — average unit value $18.50 per metric ton, 2025 estimate (2025 (published Feb 2026)) — $18.50 × 0.9072 = $16.78 per short ton. National average value at the quarry; delivery, screening and specialty stone cost more. | |
| Truck operating cost per hr | public source ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update, Table 9 — average marginal cost per hour, 2025 (fuel, truck payments, repairs, insurance, tires, tolls, driver wages and benefits) (2025 data, published Jul 2026) — For-hire fleet cost before overhead and profit. Local dump and lowboy rates are usually higher; use the overhead % to adjust. | |
| Hauler overhead & profit per % | starting estimate Starting estimate added on top of the ATRI operating cost. |
How to use this calculator
- Pick the material.
- Enter length, width and depth.
- Keep the compaction allowance for base materials; set it near 0 for decorative rock.
- Enter the truck payload and round-trip time for delivery cost.
Formulas
Loose yd³ = length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27 × (1 + compaction %)Tons = yd³ × density (tons per yd³; ~1.4 for crushed stone)Loads = tons ÷ truck payload, rounded up
Questions
How many tons of gravel do I need?
A 20 × 10 ft area 4 in deep is 2.47 yd³ loose; with a 10% compaction allowance and about 1.4 tons per yard, order about 3.8 tons.
How much does a yard of gravel weigh?
Typically about 1.3–1.5 tons (2,600–3,000 lb), depending on the stone and moisture. Ask your quarry for its number and enter it as an override.
How deep should a gravel driveway be?
Commonly 4–6 in of compacted base plus 2–3 in of surface stone, more on soft ground.
Sources & assumptions
Prices checked 2026-11-10. State pricing multiplies national figures by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (goods for materials, services for labor and services). RPPs compare general consumer price levels (U.S. = 100). They are not construction-specific; we use RPP Goods for materials and RPP Services: Other (excludes rents) for labor and services.
- Crushed stone / gravel at the quarry — USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Stone (Crushed) — average unit value $18.50 per metric ton, 2025 estimate (2025 (published Feb 2026)). $18.50 × 0.9072 = $16.78 per short ton. National average value at the quarry; delivery, screening and specialty stone cost more.
- Truck operating cost — ATRI, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update, Table 9 — average marginal cost per hour, 2025 (fuel, truck payments, repairs, insurance, tires, tolls, driver wages and benefits) (2025 data, published Jul 2026). For-hire fleet cost before overhead and profit. Local dump and lowboy rates are usually higher; use the overhead % to adjust.
Starting estimates No public price series was found for: Hauler overhead & profit. These defaults are editable placeholders — replace them with a local quote.
Results are planning estimates, not quotes or engineering advice. Codes, specifications and your supplier's numbers govern.
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