Gravel prices average $65 per cubic yard, although it can cost as little as $20 or as much as $100 depending on gravel type.
Gravel prices are $65 per cubic yard on average or about $1 to $3 per square foot, including materials, delivery, and installation. However, you could end up paying anywhere from $20 to $100 per cubic yard, depending on the type of gravel you choose, labor, and more.
You have endless options, whether you’re going for a neutral, earthy look with brown gravel or opting for warm tones to match your sunflowers. Find gravel prices below based on the type of rock you choose and whether you plan to handle this project yourself or hire a pro.
From xeriscaping to adding a water feature, gravel can elevate your landscape. However, your gravel installation project cost heavily depends on the type of gravel, the size of the site, and the rates for labor.
Larger sites will cost more, but there are significant savings when purchasing in bulk. Here are the main factors that affect gravel prices.
Gravel prices vary significantly based on the type. Crusher run, one of the least-expensive options, goes for $0.40 to $2 per square foot.
Lava rock, on the other hand, can cost as much as $11 per square foot. Below is a breakdown of the average cost of gravel for the most common types.
| Gravel Type | Average Gravel Prices (per Foot) | Average Gravel Prices (by Cubic Yard) |
|---|---|---|
| Rock base | $0.65–$1.50 | $18–$38 |
| Caliche | $0.45–$6.50 | $20–$250 |
| Crushed granite | $1–$3 | $25–$50 |
| Crushed limestone | $1.50–$2 | $30–$115 |
| Crush and run (crusher run) | $0.40–$2 | $20–$25 |
| Lava rock (black gravel) | $3.50–$11 | $75–$85 |
| Pea gravel | $1–$3.15 | $15–$75 |
| Quartz gravel | $3–$10 | $70–$100 |
| Rock pebbles or river rocks | $1.75–$2.60 | $33–$49 |
| Shale | $1–$3 | $20–$60 |
| Shells | $0.60–$4.50 | $40–$86 |
| Steel slag | $1.30–$2 | $25–$40 |
Larger projects can see significant price breaks. For example, pea gravel costs $1 to $3.15 per square foot, while a ton of pea gravel (which covers roughly 100 square feet) only costs between $10 and $50. That’s a savings of around $0.50 to $0.90 a square foot when you buy in bulk.
The average price for a 16-by-28-foot gravel driveway is $1,500, while a 16-by-18-foot gravel patio costs around $1,100. A small 4-by-30-foot walkway will cost around $375 to have installed.
| Amount of Pea Gravel | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| One ton | $10–$50 |
| One truckload | $250–$500 |
| One cubic yard | $15–$75 |
| One bag | $4–$6 |
Gravel delivery companies in your area may not charge you extra fees for delivery as long as you buy a minimum amount of gravel and are located within their free delivery zone. The free delivery zone is a 5-mile radius from the company’s location, but it varies. If you’re outside the delivery zone, expect to pay $10 per additional mile.
The minimum delivery amount can range between 5 tons and one truckload. There aren’t any maximum delivery amounts as long as the supplier has the gravel on hand. You’ll need to provide easy access to the area and a 12-foot road-width clearance for the truck to easily navigate in and out of the property.
Additionally, these delivery costs only account for the transportation of gravel to your property. If you need help installing the gravel, you’ll need to pay extra for that service.
Note that most gravel delivery companies don’t offer installation. If you decide you don’t want to deal with any of the details of ordering or installing gravel, then your best bet is to hire a landscaper to handle it for you. They’ll do everything from helping you choose the right gravel type and working with the supplier to installing it in your yard.
Professionals will charge around $30 to $50 per hour to lay and spread out gravel. This means you’ll pay about $30 to $50 for one professional to install a walkway, which will take under an hour. On the other hand, installing a gravel driveway will cost around $120 to $200 if it takes two workers two hours to complete.
If your site isn’t graded or cleared, you may see additional costs to clear the land and level it out before laying the gravel.
Depending on the slope or amount of divots on the site, you might also need to budget extra to cover the cost to level the land, which goes for around $400 for a small patio area. Contact a few pros for a quote and hire a grading contractor to get the job done.
If you want to forgo the labor costs at $30 per hour, you can opt out of professional installation and handle everything yourself. However, while installing gravel doesn’t require a special skill set, it still requires tough physical labor.
Also, if you’re not equipped with the supplies, it might even cost you more to do the DIY: Large projects call for supplies such as landscaping fabric, a wheelbarrow, hoe, and shovel, plus the cost of renting a compactor.
It could cost upwards of $250 or more to DIY gravel installation, which often won’t beat the investment of hiring a local gravel driveway company or landscaping company near you.
Aside from buying in bulk, you might be able to save a little extra on your project if you nix the cost of professional installation without totally committing to the DIY labor. If you know the right way to ask, you can spread gravel yourself without the back-breaking labor of lugging it around (or the cost of the wheelbarrow if you don’t already have one).
Here’s what to do: Ask your gravel delivery driver if they can spread the material for you by moving their dump truck steadily forward as they dump the gravel. Giving the driver a cash tip for this service is good practice. Not all drivers will do this, and it may not always be possible, but it’s always worth asking.
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Gravel’s biggest pro is its cost-effectiveness. For example, a gravel road or driveway is much more affordable than its asphalt counterpart. Gravel is also much less expensive than the cost of pouring a concrete slab if you’re building a patio or similar structure.
However, regarding comfort and convenience, gravel is far less foot-friendly than smoother substances like concrete or asphalt. It’s also more of a challenge to drive on and may kick up dust, resulting in the inevitable need for extra car washes. Lastly, there’s a chance it might move with rain or snow.
This will depend on the depth of the structure. For a landscape, patio, or walkway that’s around 2 inches deep, a ton of gravel will cover around 100 square feet or about 0.6 cubic yards. However, if you’re building a driveway, which should be a minimum of 12 inches deep, you’d need about 6 tons of gravel to cover the same area.
Keeping your gravel driveway beautiful—or any gravel structure for that matter—does call for regular maintenance. You may occasionally need to add more gravel to low areas if you notice any pooling after rainfall. Gravel might also become excessively dusty over time. You can compact it with a mechanical compactor, which you can rent for around $80 to $85 per day.
To minimize maintenance requirements for your gravel, it’s important to ensure your land is properly graded before installing the gravel. It’s also helpful to lay landscaping fabric beforehand to keep it in place.
If you’re laying gravel for a driveway, it’s best to stick with gravel that’s between 0.25 inches to 1 inch in diameter. Larger stones will be difficult or potentially damaging to drive on, while smaller ones might slip or sink. Stones should not be too big, flat, or round to ensure the best traction and walkability.
