Yard
What a gravel driveway actually costs, in one table
Most people only need one of these three jobs. Prices below are for the stone itself at typical US prices of $25 to $50 per ton. Your region and stone type move the price a lot, so treat these as planning numbers and get two local quotes.
| Job | Stone needed | Material cost |
|---|---|---|
| Top-up of an existing 10 x 50 ft driveway (3 in layer) | About 4.6 cubic yards, roughly 6.5 tons | About $160 to $325 |
| New 10 x 50 ft driveway (10 in, built in layers) | About 15.4 cubic yards, roughly 21.6 tons | About $540 to $1,080 |
| New 10 x 100 ft driveway (10 in, built in layers) | About 30.9 cubic yards, roughly 43 tons | About $1,080 to $2,160 |
Run your own driveway size through the gravel calculator to get your exact yards and tons before you ask for quotes. Suppliers take you more seriously, and charge you more honestly, when you already know your number.
Price per ton by stone type
Gravel is sold by the ton or by the cubic yard, and one cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.4 tons. Typical US price ranges per ton:
| Stone | Typical price per ton | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run / road base | $25 to $45 | Base layers and the top layer of a working driveway. Usually the cheapest, and it compacts hard. |
| Crushed stone (#57) | $28 to $50 | Middle layer and drainage. |
| Pea gravel | $25 to $45 | Paths and patios. Not for driveways, it rolls under tyres. |
| River rock | $40 to $80 | Decorative beds, not driving surfaces. |
| Recycled concrete | Often the lowest price locally | Base layers, where looks do not matter. |
The full weight and coverage figures for every stone are in the material weight chart.
Where the rest of the money goes
Stone is only part of the bill. Budget for these as well:
- Delivery. A tandem dump truck carries roughly 10 cubic yards (about 14 tons) per load. A new 10 x 50 ft driveway is about two loads. Many suppliers charge a flat delivery fee per load, and small orders often carry a short-load surcharge, which is why ordering full loads works out cheaper per ton. The bag vs bulk guide shows the maths.
- Geotextile fabric. A roll of driveway fabric under the base stops the stone slowly sinking into soft soil. Skipping it on clay soil is the most common false economy in gravel driveways.
- Edging. Steel, timber or stone edging keeps the top layer on the driveway instead of in the lawn.
- Excavation and grading. Free if you do it yourself with a rented skid steer, the biggest single labour cost if you hire it out. Crown the finished driveway slightly so water runs off to the sides.
How the layers split the cost
A new gravel driveway is not one thick pile of stone. It is three compacted layers, and each layer is a separate part of your order:
- Base layer, 4 to 6 inches of large stone such as #3. This is the biggest, cheapest part of the order.
- Middle layer, 3 to 4 inches of #57 stone, which locks the base together.
- Top layer, 2 to 3 inches of crusher run, compacted and crowned for drainage.
The gravel driveway layers guide walks through each layer, compaction and crowning in detail.
Gravel vs asphalt vs concrete: the honest comparison
Gravel has the lowest upfront cost of any driveway surface, usually by a wide margin. Asphalt and concrete cost far more per square foot installed, but need less routine care. Gravel needs a fresh top layer every few years (a 2 to 3 inch top-up, the cheapest job in the table above) and grading after heavy rain or snow ploughing. Over ten years a well built gravel driveway is still normally the cheapest option, as long as you are willing to do the small top-ups. If you are pricing the alternatives, the asphalt calculator gives you the tonnage for the same driveway size.
Five ways to keep the cost down
- Know your number before you call. Quotes vary less when the supplier knows you have already measured and calculated.
- Order full truckloads. Two full loads are cheaper per ton than three part loads, and avoid short-load fees.
- Use the cheap stone where nobody sees it. Crusher run or recycled concrete for the base, and spend on the top layer only.
- Do not skip the fabric on soft soil. Rebuilding a sunken driveway costs far more than the fabric ever will.
- Top up little and often. A 3 inch top-up every few years costs a few hundred dollars. Waiting until the base is exposed costs a rebuild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a gravel driveway cost per square foot?
For the stone alone, a new full-depth driveway (about 10 inches, built in layers) works out at roughly $1.10 to $2.20 per square foot at $25 to $50 per ton. A simple 3 inch top-up of an existing driveway is far less, around $0.30 to $0.65 per square foot of material. Delivery, fabric and edging are extra.
How much gravel do I need for a 100 ft driveway?
For a 10 ft wide, 100 ft long driveway, a 3 inch top-up takes about 9.3 cubic yards, roughly 13 tons. A brand new build at 10 inches deep takes about 30.9 cubic yards, roughly 43 tons. Check your own size in the gravel calculator.
What is the cheapest gravel for a driveway?
Crusher run (also sold as road base or dense-grade aggregate) and recycled concrete are usually the cheapest. They are produced locally in large volumes and compact into a hard, stable surface. Decorative stone such as river rock and pea gravel costs more and rolls under tyres.
How much is a truckload of gravel?
A tandem dump truckload is roughly 10 cubic yards, about 14 tons of gravel. At $25 to $50 per ton, that is about $350 to $700 of stone per load, plus the delivery fee if your supplier charges one.
Is a gravel driveway cheaper than asphalt?
Yes, upfront by a lot. Gravel needs no paving crew and the material is a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars for most home driveways. Asphalt costs much more to install but needs less routine care. Gravel needs a small top-up every few years instead.
How often does a gravel driveway need topping up?
Most driveways need a fresh 2 to 3 inch top layer every few years, depending on traffic, slope and snow ploughing. Check each spring: if the base stone is showing through or ruts are forming, it is time.