Gravel Prices by State – July 2026 Update

Gravel is one of the cheapest construction materials by weight and one of the most expensive to move — which is exactly why its price is so location-dependent. A ton of crushed stone that costs $40 at the quarry can cost well over $100 delivered a county away. So a single national “gravel price per ton” only gets you in the ballpark; the real number depends on your state, your metro, and your distance from a working quarry.

This is our July 2026 update on gravel prices by state for 2026. The figures below are built on AceCalc's regional pricing dataset, refreshed quarterly and last baselined in Q2 2026. Treat them as solid planning estimates — then confirm with a local delivered quote before you order.

The National Picture: What Gravel Costs in 2026

Here's the mid-2026 baseline for the most common driveway and base gravels:

• #57 crushed stone (bulk):~$45/ton material-only, typically $35–50/ton at the quarry. This is the workhorse driveway top course and drainage stone.
• #57 / #67 drainage rock (bulk):~$45/ton — same grade, same price, used for French drains and dry wells.
• Delivered price: $75–255/ton depending on haul distance. Quarry proximity alone swings the material by $10–30/ton.
• Decorative gravels (pea gravel, river rock, decomposed granite): roughly 1.5–3× the price of plain crushed stone.

Aggregates are among the more stable materials year to year — unlike steel or lumber, gravel doesn't swing 20–40% on commodity cycles. The variability you'll feel is almost entirely geographic and logistical, not seasonal.

Gravel Prices by State (Material-Only, #57 Crushed Stone)

The table below estimates the per-ton material cost of bulk #57 crushed stone in 15 representative states, applying each state's regional cost adjustment to the national baseline. These are quarry/yard material prices — add delivery, which frequently rivals or exceeds the material itself.

The spread is real but modest at the material level — roughly $41/ton in Georgia to $59/ton in California. Where costs truly diverge is delivered price, once trucking, fuel, and local demand stack on top. For a full state-by-state hub with metro-level detail, see gravel prices by state.

Why Gravel Prices Vary So Much by Region

1. Distance From the Quarry (the Big One)

Trucking is the dominant variable. Gravel is heavy and low-value, so hauling it is expensive relative to the material itself. A long delivery can double the total cost, and quarry proximity alone moves the material price $10–30/ton. Two neighbors in the same state can pay very different delivered prices simply because one lives 40 minutes closer to a pit. This is why any per-ton number without a delivery quote is only half the story.

2. Regional Cost of Living

Labor, fuel, and operating costs track the local economy. As a rule of thumb, California and Northeast metros run 10–40% over the national average, while the Midwest and Southeast run 5–15% below it. That's why Massachusetts and New York sit near the top of the table and Georgia and North Carolina near the bottom.

3. Gravel Type and Grade

Plain crushed stone is the cheap baseline. Decorative and specialty gravels cost far more — pea gravel, river rock, and decomposed granite typically run 1.5–3× the price of #57. If you're choosing a material, our guide to gravel types for driveways breaks down what each grade costs and does.

4. Order Size and Delivery Minimums

Per-ton price usually drops as volume rises, and many suppliers set delivery minimums or flat trip fees. A partial load can carry a surcharge that makes small orders disproportionately expensive — another reason to size your order accurately and take one full delivery rather than two.

How to Get an Accurate Local Number

Use the state figures above to plan, then pin down your real cost like this:

• Call two or three local quarries or landscape-supply yards. Ask for the material price per ton and the delivered price to your ZIP — they're different numbers.
• Confirm the grade. Make sure everyone is quoting the same stone (#57, #411, pea gravel) so you're comparing apples to apples.
• Ask about delivery minimums and trip fees before you assume a small order is cheap.
• Check your state's pricing page for metro-level context — for example California, Texas, Florida, or New York.

Price Per Ton Means Nothing Without Tonnage

Here's the trap: a great per-ton price is useless if you order the wrong quantity. Gravel is sold by the ton, but your project is measured in area and depth — and the conversion depends on the stone's density and how much you lose to compaction. Order short and you pay a second delivery fee that wipes out any price savings.

Before you call for a quote, run your dimensions through the Gravel Calculator. It converts length, width, and depth into tons and cubic yards using the right density for your gravel type and a compaction-aware waste factor — so the tonnage you price is the tonnage you actually need. For drainage projects specifically, the Drainage Rock Calculator does the same for French drains and dry wells.

The Bottom Line

Budget around $45/ton for bulk crushed stone in 2026, adjust up for the West Coast and Northeast or down for the Midwest and Southeast, and — most importantly — get a delivered quote, because transport often costs as much as the rock. Then size the order precisely so you buy the right amount at that price the first time.

Start with your quantity: run the Gravel Calculator →

Pricing reflects AceCalc's regional pricing dataset, last baselined Q2 2026 and refreshed quarterly. Figures are indicative national/state estimates triangulated from public sources; local delivered quotes are the authority. Verify before ordering.

Written by Daniel McCarney — AceCalc