A dump truck load of gravel typically costs $300-$1,200 delivered, with many standard residential loads landing near $600. The final price depends on tonnage, gravel type, delivery distance, access to the drop site, and whether spreading is included.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivered gravel load | $300 | $600 | $1,200 | About 10-20 tons; spreading may cost extra |
| Gravel material | $20 per ton | $35 per ton | $60 per ton | Common crushed stone; specialty stone costs more |
| Delivery | $75 | $175 | $350+ | Varies with distance, truck size, and access |
What a Standard 10- to 15-Ton Gravel Load Costs
For a typical driveway or landscaping order, a 10- to 15-ton load of crushed gravel costs about $350-$900 delivered. A practical national planning figure is roughly $600 for a standard load, assuming ordinary crushed stone, a nearby quarry, and a residential drop-off without spreading.
At $20-$60 per ton, material alone runs about $200-$900 for that quantity. Delivery is often quoted as a flat fee or included in the load price; confirm whether the quote includes fuel, minimum-load charges, and taxes. A 10-ton order may cover roughly 400-600 square feet at 3 inches deep, depending on stone density and the actual depth.
For a straightforward residential order, budget around $35-$60 per ton delivered, then verify the truck’s minimum charge. Assumptions: standard crushed gravel, ordinary access, and a supplier within a typical local delivery radius.
How Stone, Hauling, and Spreading Shape the Quote
Supplier estimates may combine material and trucking, so an itemized quote helps show where the money goes. The ranges below describe common U.S. residential pricing; local quarry rates and trucking minimums can shift them.
| Quote item | Typical rate | 10-ton example | What changes the charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed gravel material | $20-$60 per ton | $200-$600 | Stone type, grade, and quarry |
| Truck delivery | $75-$350 per load | $75-$350 | Distance, truck capacity, and fuel |
| Spreading or placement | $50-$150 per hour | $100-$450 | Operator time and equipment needs |
| Site prep or old gravel removal | $1-$4 per square foot | $200-$800 for 200 sq ft | Excavation depth and disposal |
Spreading is not always part of delivery. A driver may dump the load in one pile, while leveling it with a loader or skid steer adds an hourly equipment and operator fee.
Ask whether the quoted tonnage, delivery, and spreading are separate line items before comparing suppliers.
Truck Capacity and Gravel Type Change the Price Per Ton
Truck size affects both the delivered total and the unit price. A small 5- to 8-ton truckload may cost $200-$550, but its delivery fee is spread over fewer tons. A 10- to 15-ton load commonly costs $350-$900; a 16- to 20-ton load can reach $550-$1,200 or more, depending on the material and route.
Common road base and basic crushed stone tend to sit toward the lower end, around $20-$40 per ton before delivery. Washed gravel, decorative river rock, and specialty colors may cost $40-$100 or more per ton. For a driveway, ask for the aggregate size and whether the material is suitable for the intended base or top layer.
Quantity also depends on coverage. One ton generally covers about 80-100 square feet at 2 inches deep, or around 50-65 square feet at 3 inches, but stone density varies. Confirm both depth and truck weight; “one load” is not a standardized quantity.
Delivery Distance and Regional Rates Can Add Hundreds
Gravel prices are often lower near quarries and higher in dense cities, remote areas, or places with limited suppliers. As a rough comparison, rural orders close to a quarry may run 10%-20% below a metro-area quote, while long rural hauls or congested urban deliveries can cost 15%-35% more than a nearby standard delivery.
Some suppliers charge a set delivery fee within a service zone, then add a per-mile charge beyond it. A route 20-30 miles from the quarry may add $50-$200 or more, depending on truck rates and return distance. State and local taxes can also apply, and urban rules may limit truck access or delivery hours.
Compare the delivered price for the same tonnage and gravel specification, not just the quarry’s per-ton price.
Three Load Examples Show What Buyers May Pay
A small garden path might need 5 tons of basic crushed stone at $30 per ton, plus $125 delivery. The estimated total is $275 before tax, assuming the buyer spreads it by hand and the supplier accepts a partial load.
A 600-square-foot driveway resurfaced with 3 inches of gravel may require roughly 10-12 tons. At $35 per ton and $175 delivery, material and hauling total about $525-$595; spreading by a machine for 2-3 hours at $75-$125 per hour could bring the bill to about $675-$970.
A larger 1,000-square-foot area at 4 inches deep may take around 20-25 tons. At $40 per ton, material costs $800-$1,000; a $250-$400 delivery or multiple truck trips can bring the total to roughly $1,050-$1,400 before site preparation or spreading. These examples assume standard access and no excavation or disposal.
Access, Minimum Loads, and Placement Fees to Check
Delivery can become more expensive when the truck cannot reach the requested drop point. Narrow gates, soft ground, steep grades, low wires, and tight turning areas may require a smaller truck or a different unloading location. A supplier may also impose a minimum charge even when the order is below its smallest economical load.
Ask whether a truck can dump directly where the gravel is needed. If material must be moved afterward, wheelbarrow labor or rented equipment adds cost. Removal of old gravel, grading, and compaction are usually separate services; confirm whether disposal fees are included in any site-preparation quote.
Send the supplier measurements and photos of the access route to reduce surprises on delivery day.
Ways to Cut the Gravel Bill Without Ordering Short
Measure the area and choose a realistic finished depth before requesting quotes. For a driveway, a stable base may need more depth than a decorative path, so reducing depth indiscriminately can lead to another delivery. Ask the supplier to estimate tonnage from square footage, depth, and stone type, then compare that estimate with an online coverage calculation.
Get delivered quotes from at least three local suppliers using the same gravel grade and tonnage. Combining nearby projects or coordinating with a neighbor may help share truck charges if the supplier allows split drops. If hand spreading is practical, a dump-only delivery avoids equipment fees; for a large area, compare the hourly cost of spreading with the labor required to move a pile manually.
The clearest savings usually come from matching the load size to the project and avoiding unnecessary hauling or equipment add-ons.