Gravel & Aggregate
Dump Truck Load of Gravel Cost (2026)
A dump truck load of gravel costs $300-$900 delivered in 2026 for 10-15 tons of common crushed stone. Costs by truck size and material, and when a full load beats small orders.
Gravel delivery is a fixed-cost business: the truck, the driver, and the diesel cost the supplier the same whether the bed carries 5 tons or 15. Once you see the pricing through that lens, most ordering decisions make themselves. Here are the 2026 numbers.
Cost by truck size
| Truck | Capacity (gravel) | Delivered cost, common stone |
|---|---|---|
| Single-axle | 5-7 tons (4-6 yd³) | $200-$450 |
| Tandem-axle | 13-15 tons (9-11 yd³) | $300-$900 |
| Tri-axle | 16-20+ tons (12-15 yd³) | $450-$1,150 |
| Truck + pup trailer | 20-25 tons | $600-$1,400 |
Material sets the spread: crusher run fills a tandem for $200-$450 in stone while river rock can put $1,000 of material in the same bed. Per-ton prices by material are in the gravel price guide.
Weight fills before volume
Dump trucks are limited by legal payload weight, not bed volume, when hauling stone. A tandem bed that holds 16 cubic yards of mulch maxes out near 10 cubic yards of gravel at 1.35 tons per yard. This is why suppliers quote stone in tons and why a "full" gravel truck looks half empty. The same physics applies to dirt; see dump-truck loads of dirt for soil numbers.
Coverage per tandem load (13 tons)
| Depth | Coverage | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in | ~950 ft² | Path or driveway topping |
| 3 in | ~650 ft² | Driveway surface course |
| 4 in | ~480 ft² | Slab base, one driveway layer |
| 6 in | ~320 ft² | Base course on new ground |
Convert your own dimensions to tons, with compaction and waste included, in the gravel calculator, then round toward a full truck.
Ordering tactics that save money
Fill the truck. If your project needs 11 tons and the tandem hauls 14, price the extra 3 tons; stockpiled surface stone for future topping often costs less than a second delivery next year.
One material per trip. Trucks cannot split the bed. A three-layer driveway means three deliveries; schedule them as each layer finishes compacting, not all at once.
Prepare the dump spot. Know where the pile goes, clear overhead wires, and lay plywood if the truck must touch a paved surface. Standby time waiting for you to decide is billable on many tickets.
Ask about backhaul rates. Some quarries discount deliveries they can schedule flexibly along existing routes; it never hurts to ask when your timeline is loose.
Delivered-load pricing compiled from 2026 supplier surveys and cost guides including HomeGuide. Local freight distance moves every number here; the delivered quote for your address is the only one that counts.
Sources & standards: quantities and factors in this guide follow the references documented in our methodology, including ACI 302/318 (concrete practice), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (excavation safety), ASTM aggregate designations, and the International Residential Code. Local codes, climate, and site conditions govern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a full dump truck load of gravel in 2026?
A tandem-axle load of 10-15 tons of common crushed stone costs $300-$900 delivered: $10-$50 per ton for material plus $50-$150 in delivery. Decorative stone in the same truck can reach $1,200+.
How many tons fit in a dump truck?
Single-axle trucks carry 5-7 tons of gravel, tandem-axle trucks 13-15 tons, and tri-axles up to 20+. Gravel is dense, so weight limits fill before the bed does: a tandem rated for 16 yards of mulch hauls only about 10 yards of stone.
How much area does a truckload of gravel cover?
A 13-ton tandem load covers roughly 950 square feet at 2 inches deep, 650 at 3 inches, or 480 at 4 inches for typical crushed stone.
Is it cheaper to order one big load or two small ones?
One big load, almost always. Delivery costs the same per trip regardless of load size, so two 5-ton deliveries pay the freight twice. Only split loads when the site cannot take a full truck or you need different materials.
Can a loaded dump truck drive on my driveway?
A loaded tandem weighs 25-35 tons and will rut soft ground, crack thin concrete, and crush shallow utilities or a septic field. Plan the dump spot at solid ground and move stone the last stretch with a tractor or wheelbarrow if in doubt.