Construction Aggregate Guide: Sizes, Tons per Cubic Yard, and Cost per Ton
Construction aggregate is crushed stone sold by sieve size for base, backfill, concrete, and drainage. Most sizes weigh 1.35 to 1.55 tons per cubic yard and cost $20 to $40 per ton. Crusher run and #57 stone are the two most ordered products on any job site.
Material Cost
$7 to $65 per ton
Typical Depth
4" – 6"
Recommended Types
9 gravel types
Calculate How Much Gravel You Need
Draw your project area on the map to get an instant material and cost estimate.
Plan your gravel project
Type your address, trace the area on a satellite photo, and see how many tons to order.
Loading the planner...
Start typing and pick your address from the list. The map jumps straight to your property.
Your satellite view shows up here
Enter an address in step 1. Then click around the edge of the spot you want to cover and the planner does the math.
Recommended Materials
Road base and sub-base material. Sizes #3 through #57 provide compaction and load-bearing capacity.
The most versatile construction aggregate. Used in concrete, pipe bedding, and backfill.
Widely used in Midwest and Southern construction. Crusher run is ideal for compacted base.
The standard road base material. Fines fill voids for maximum compaction and load-bearing capacity.
Specified where drainage behind structures is critical. Clean stone with no fines for pipe bedding and backfill.
Economical unprocessed fill for rural construction and site prep. Lower cost than crusher run but less consistent.
General-purpose mixed aggregate for site work, backfill, and temporary roads. Verify sizing with supplier before ordering.
Blended #57 stone and fines for compacted base layers. Better drainage than crusher run with similar stability.
Eco-friendly reclaimed pavement material. Hardens over time for durable access roads and parking areas.
Construction Aggregate Guide: Sizes, Tons per Cubic Yard, and Cost per Ton Cost Breakdown
| Material | Per Ton | Per Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone | $21 – $48 | $40 – $95 |
| #57 Gravel | $39 – $65 | $42 – $122 |
| Crushed Limestone | $39 – $44 | $25 – $50 |
| Crusher Run | $14 – $38 | $28 – $50 |
| Washed Gravel | $24 – $46 | $44 – $58 |
| Bank Run Gravel | $7 – $16 | $20 – $40 |
| Construction Gravel | $12 – $21 | $20 – $50 |
| #411 Gravel | $20 – $40 | $25 – $55 |
| Recycled Asphalt | $18 – $28 | $35 – $45 |
Prices vary by region, availability, and order size.
How Much Gravel Do I Need? (20 x 50 ft pad)
Quantities for a 1,000 sq ft pad at the recommended depth for each material, including compaction and a 10% waste allowance. Cubic yards = square feet x depth in inches / 324.
| Material | Depth | Cubic yards | Tons to order | Material cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed Stone Base Layer | 6 in | 18.5 | 30.3 to 34.7 | $636 to $1,666 |
| #57 Gravel Primary | 4 in | 12.3 | 19.8 to 22.7 | $772 to $1,476 |
| Crushed Limestone Alternative | 4 in | 12.3 | 19.4 to 22.4 | $757 to $986 |
| Crusher Run Primary | 6 in | 18.5 | 35.1 to 39.8 | $491 to $1,512 |
| Washed Gravel Alternative | 4 in | 12.3 | 18.3 to 21.0 | $439 to $966 |
| Bank Run Gravel Alternative | 6 in | 18.5 | 31.4 to 37.0 | $220 to $592 |
| Construction Gravel Alternative | 6 in | 18.5 | 31.4 to 37.0 | $377 to $777 |
| #411 Gravel Alternative | 4 in | 12.3 | 22.1 to 25.1 | $442 to $1,004 |
| Recycled Asphalt Alternative | 4 in | 12.3 | 29.3 to 32.6 | $527 to $913 |
Different size? Draw it on the planner above, or use the gravel calculator. Delivery adds $50 to $150 per load.
Construction aggregate — crushed stone, gravel, and sand — forms the foundation of modern building. It's the most mined material in the world and an essential component of roads, concrete, foundations, and site preparation.
For road base and sub-base, crushed stone in sizes #3 through #57 provides the compaction and load-bearing capacity needed to support traffic. Crusher run (a blend of crushed stone and stone dust) is the go-to material for creating a dense, stable base layer.
Concrete production relies on a precisely graded blend of coarse aggregate (#57 or #67 gravel), fine aggregate (sand), and cement. The angular shape of crushed stone creates stronger bonds than rounded gravel, making it the preferred choice for structural concrete.
Site preparation and backfill operations use various aggregate sizes. #2 and #3 stone fill large voids behind retaining walls and around foundations. #57 stone serves as pipe bedding for utilities. Clean crushed stone is specified where drainage behind structures is critical.
Published February 11, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Gravel for Driveway?
A well-built gravel driveway uses three layers of progressively smaller stone:
Base Layer (4 inches)
Use #3 stone (1-2 inches) or #4 stone (1.5-3 inches). These large angular stones create a stable foundation and won't sink into soft soil. A geotextile fabric under this layer prevents the stone from migrating into the subgrade.
Middle Layer (4 inches)
#57 stone (3/4 to 1 inch) is the standard choice. It fills the gaps in the base layer, adds stability, and provides a transition to the finer top layer.
Top Layer (2-3 inches)
#8 gravel (3/8 to 1/2 inch) or crushed limestone creates a smooth driving surface. Some homeowners prefer #411 (a blend of #57 stone and stone dust) because the dust fills voids and compacts into a very firm surface.
What to Avoid
Avoid using pea gravel or river rock for driveways — their rounded shape means they never lock together and will constantly shift under tires, creating ruts.
Gravel vs Concrete: Which Is Better?
Gravel and concrete each have clear advantages depending on your priorities, budget, and project requirements.
Where Gravel Wins
A gravel driveway costs $1-$3 per square foot installed, while concrete runs $5-$10 per square foot. Gravel can be a DIY project; concrete requires professional installation. Gravel is permeable and handles drainage naturally; concrete requires slopes and drainage planning.
Where Concrete Wins
A properly installed concrete driveway lasts 25-30 years with minimal upkeep. Gravel driveways need periodic regrading, rut filling, and top-layer replenishment. Concrete provides a smooth, clean surface year-round; gravel can be dusty in summer and difficult to plow in winter.
Cold Climate Considerations
For driveways in cold climates, concrete can crack from freeze-thaw cycles and road salt damage. Gravel handles freezing and thawing without damage but is harder to snow-plow.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose gravel when budget is a priority, the driveway is long (rural properties), drainage is a concern, or you want a rustic aesthetic. Choose concrete for short suburban driveways, wheelchair accessibility, frequent snow removal, and a modern look.
Is Bank Run Gravel Good for a Driveway?
Good Underneath, Not on Top
Bank run makes an excellent driveway base. The wide gradation means small particles wedge between the large ones under compaction, so the layer locks up and spreads load well. It costs roughly a third of what processed stone costs, which is why rural driveways and farm lanes are built on it.
What it will not do is finish. Raw bank run has no wearing course, it tracks onto your shoes and tires, and it ruts under traffic. Cap it with 2 to 3 inches of crusher run or #57 once the base is compacted and crowned.
How to Build It
Spread in lifts and compact each one rather than dumping the full depth at once. On soft clay, lay geotextile fabric first so the stone does not punch down into the mud. Crown the surface slightly so water runs off instead of ponding.
What Is the Difference Between Bank Run and Crusher Run?
One Is Processed, One Is Not
Crusher run is crushed to a controlled top size with the stone dust deliberately retained so the material binds. It packs into a hard surface that sheds rain, which is why it is the standard driveway wearing course.
Bank run is dug out of a gravel bank or pit and sold essentially as-is. Nothing is crushed, nothing is washed, and nothing is graded to a spec. The blend is whatever the deposit holds, so it is looser, more variable, and considerably cheaper.
Which to Buy
Use crusher run for the surface. Use bank run underneath it, or anywhere bulk fill matters more than finish. On a driveway you often want both: bank run for the base, crusher run for the top 2 to 3 inches.
Does Bank Run Gravel Drain Well?
Partly, and Not Enough for a Drain
Water does move through the coarse fraction of bank run, but the material commonly carries 10 percent or more sand and fines, and those fines slow flow considerably. Bank run drains far better than clay and far worse than clean stone.
Never in a French Drain
The fines will choke the trench, which is the exact failure a drain exists to prevent. Use clean, washed stone with no fines: #57 or #4. The same applies behind retaining walls and around foundation drains.
There is a second reason to keep it out of wet locations. Where fines trap water in the section, a bank run layer can heave in freeze-thaw. Daylight the edge of the base wherever the site allows so water has somewhere to go.
Why Do Bank Run Gravel Prices Vary So Much?
Freight, Not Material
Bank run has the widest gap between gate price and delivered price of any common aggregate. Published 2026 list prices put it near $8.50 per ton FOB at the quarry, while delivered pricing commonly runs $15 to $30 per ton. Consumer guides quoting $25 to $40 are usually reporting delivered prices in markets with a long haul.
On a material this cheap, trucking is most of the bill. Delivery typically adds $50 to $150 per load within a normal radius, with per-mile charges beyond it.
What That Means for You
The pit's price per ton barely matters if you are far from it. Compare delivered quotes to your address, not gate prices. And confirm which product you are being quoted, since crushed bank run is a separate, higher-priced line item from plain bank run.
Need gravel for this project?
Find local gravel suppliers with delivery options near you.