Gravel Delivery Cost in 2026: $50 to $150 per Load (Plus Per-Mile Rates)

Gravel delivery costs $50 to $150 per truckload in 2026 when you are within 10 to 15 miles of the quarry or supply yard. Beyond that, expect $5 to $10 per mile each way. A 10-ton single-axle load of crushed stone delivered runs $250 to $600 total, and a 20-ton tandem load runs $400 to $1,000. Small orders under 3 tons pay the same trip fee, so delivery can cost more than the gravel itself.

The delivery fee covers the truck, the driver, and fuel for the round trip. It is priced per trip, so the cheapest delivery per ton is a full truck.

Gravel Delivery Cost by Truck Size

Many suppliers fold the delivery fee into a single "delivered" per-ton price. Ask for both numbers so you can compare. A quote of "$38 a ton delivered, 18-ton minimum" is a $684 load.

Delivery Cost Per Mile

Most suppliers include the first 10 to 15 miles. After that, the per-mile rate is $5 to $10 for a tandem truck. Some quarries quote a zone rate instead: $75 for zone 1, $110 for zone 2, and so on. A few charge by the hour for the truck ($90 to $140 per hour) when the trip is long or the site is slow to unload.

Because gravel is heavy and cheap, distance matters more than for almost any other building material. A $25 per ton stone becomes a $40 per ton stone after a 50-mile haul.

What Changes the Delivery Price

• Order size. The trip fee is fixed, so a 2-ton order pays $40 to $75 per ton for delivery while a 20-ton order pays $4 to $8 per ton.
• Minimum order. Many quarries will not send a truck for less than 5 tons. Landscape yards deliver 1 to 3 yard orders but charge a flat $75 to $150.
• Site access. A tandem dump truck needs 12 feet of width, 14 feet of overhead clearance, and room to raise the bed. Tight driveways, low branches, soft ground, or a spot the driver cannot turn around in can mean a smaller truck (more trips) or a "dump at the curb" and a wheelbarrow job for you.
• Spread versus dump. A plain dump in one pile is the base price. Tailgate spreading, where the driver drives forward while dumping, adds $25 to $75 and saves you hours of raking. Ask for it on driveways.
• Multiple drops. Two piles at the same address usually add $25 to $50. Two addresses are two deliveries.
• Timing. Same-day or Saturday delivery adds $50 to $100 when offered at all. Booking a week out during spring is normal.
• Fuel surcharges. Some suppliers add 5 to 15 percent when diesel spikes.

Worked Examples

Patio, 2 tons of pea gravel, 8 miles away. Material 2 x $25 to $50 = $50 to $100. Small-order delivery $75 to $125. Total $125 to $225. Two pickup trips would save the fee if you have the truck.

Driveway, 10 tons of crusher run, 12 miles away. Material 10 x $20 to $35 = $200 to $350. Single-axle delivery within the base zone $75 to $125. Total $275 to $475. Ask for tailgate spreading for another $50 and the driveway is mostly done when the truck leaves.

Long driveway, 40 tons of #57, 35 miles away. Two tandem loads. Material 40 x $20 to $35 = $800 to $1,400. Two deliveries at $100 base plus 20 extra miles at $6 = $220 each, $440 total. Total $1,240 to $1,840. A closer quarry with slightly pricier stone would likely beat this.

How to Pay Less for Delivery

• Order a full truck. If a tandem holds 18 tons and you need 12, price 18 tons anyway. The extra 6 tons often costs less than the difference in per-ton rate, and gravel keeps.
• Call the quarry, then a landscape yard, then a trucking company. Quarries have the cheapest material. Independent dump truck operators sometimes haul from the quarry for less than the quarry charges.
• Split a load with a neighbor and pay one fee.
• Prep the site. Clear the drop spot, mark it with stakes, and make sure the truck can get in and out. A driver who has to wait or come back charges for it.
• Take delivery in the off season if you can store the pile.
• For under a yard, buy bagged gravel or rent a dump trailer. The delivery fee on a tiny order is hard to justify.