9 materials · 12 calculators
Gravel, stone and base materials compared
Weight per yard, coverage per ton, published prices and typical use for every material we calculate, taken from the same sourced figures each calculator opens with.
Which gravel or stone do I need?
Start with the job. Materials that drain ( pea gravel, river rock, landscape rock, #57 stone, crushed stone) are clean or rounded stone with few fines: water runs through and they stay loose. Materials that compact (crusher run, road base, paver base, decomposed granite) carry fines that lock into a firm layer under a plate compactor or a roller. Then compare weight: the lightest preset here, #57 stone at 2,410 lb per yard, covers 89.63 ft² per ton at 3 inches; the heaviest, road base at 2,860 lb, covers 75.52 ft².
| Material | lb per yd³ | ft² per ton at 3 in | Published price $/ton | Published price $/yd³ | Behaviour | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea gravel | 2,700 | 80 | $57 median · 6 lists | $85 median · 6 lists | Drains | Paths, patios and play areas; CPSC calls for 9 in under play equipment |
| River rock | 2,650 | 81.51 | $70 median · 5 lists | $88 median · 4 lists | Drains | Beds and dry creek beds, spread about one stone deep |
| Landscape rock | 2,600 | 83.08 | $74 median · 4 lists | $75 median · 4 lists | Drains | Decorative beds; lava rock weighs 36–60% as much per yard |
| #57 stone | 2,410 | 89.63 | $47 median · 3 lists | $59.77 (1 list) | Drains | Drain rock and stormwater reservoirs, about 40% voids by volume |
| Crushed stone | 2,800 | 77.14 | $24.00–$49.50 (2 lists) | $72 median · 3 lists | Drains | Clean stone sized by AASHTO number for drainage and sub-base |
| Crusher run | 2,450 | 88.16 | $55 median · 4 lists | $54.22–$65.99 (2 lists) | Compacts | Driveway base and pipe bedding; fines bind it when compacted |
| Road base | 2,860 | 75.52 | $40 median · 4 lists | $99.99 (1 list) | Compacts | Compacted base under driveways and pads, in lifts of 6 in or less |
| Paver base | 2,700 | 80 | — | — | Compacts | Under pavers: ICPI gives 4 in for walks and 6 in for driveways |
| Decomposed granite | 2,500 | 86.4 | $43.00–$54.00 (2 lists) | $120 median · 4 lists | Compacts | Paths and patios, at least 3 in compacted for foot traffic |
Weights are each calculator’s preset: one supplier’s published figure for one product, loose. A price is a median only where 3 or more price lists back it; with fewer, the listed price or range is shown with its list count, and “—” means we have no list in that unit yet. The per-ton and per-yard columns come from different sets of suppliers, so do not compare one column with the other; convert with the product’s weight per yard first.
Prices recorded September 23–24, 2026; see gravel prices for each source.