This gravel cost calculator focuses on cost per ton and total project price. Enter area and depth, set your local ton rate, and see cubic yards, tons, and estimated spend instantly.
Quick answer: gravel cost = cubic yards × tons per yard × price per ton. A 40 × 12 ft area at 6 in is 8.89 yd³; with 12% extra that is 9.96 yd³ × 1.4 = 13.94 tons, and at $52/ton the stone costs about $725 before delivery and tax.
Quarries and landscape yards price stone three ways: per ton (weighed at the scale), per cubic yard (measured by loader bucket), or per bag. To compare them you need one conversion — the stone's weight per cubic yard. This calculator works out volume first, converts to tons with the density for the stone type you pick, and multiplies by your price per ton. It opens with a 12% extra allowance and $52 per ton as placeholders; replace them with your supplier's numbers.
Using the default 40 × 12 ft area at 6 in with 12% extra (13.94 tons of crushed stone):
Uses the densities built into this calculator. The middle column shows what a $52-per-ton price equals per cubic yard — heavier stone costs more per yard at the same ton price.
| Stone type | Tons per yd³ | 10 yd³ load weighs | $52/ton equals per yd³ | Sq ft per ton at 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorative gravel | 1.25 | 12.5 tons | $65.00 | 86 |
| Pea gravel | 1.30 | 13.0 tons | $67.60 | 83 |
| River rock | 1.35 | 13.5 tons | $70.20 | 80 |
| Crushed stone / limestone | 1.40 | 14.0 tons | $72.80 | 77 |
| Drainage gravel | 1.45 | 14.5 tons | $75.40 | 75 |
Divide the price per cubic yard by the stone's weight in tons per cubic yard. For crushed stone at 1.4 tons per yard, $65 per yard equals about $46.43 per ton; going the other way, $52 per ton equals $72.80 per yard.
Neither is cheaper by itself — convert both quotes to the same unit using the stone's density, then add each supplier's delivery fee. Per-ton pricing is measured on a scale and is more precise, while per-yard pricing is measured by the loader bucket.
At 1.4 tons per cubic yard, 10 tons is about 7.14 cubic yards, which covers roughly 386 sq ft at 6 inches deep or 771 sq ft at 3 inches deep before any extra allowance.
No. The estimate is tons multiplied by your price per ton. Add the supplier's delivery fee, any fuel surcharge, and sales tax separately to get the full price.
Decorative stone is usually washed, screened to a narrow size, and often hauled from farther away, while crushed base stone is a high-volume product made close to where it is sold. Those extra steps raise the price per ton.
How we built this calculator: results use the standard volume, area, and coverage formulas shown on this page, with typical U.S. material densities, bag yields, and waste factors that you can override. Written and checked by the YardsCalculator editorial team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Last updated: May 26, 2026