A metric tonne of gravel costs about $20–$45 for everyday crushed stone, and one cubic meter — roughly 1.6 tonnes — runs about $30–$120 depending on the stone. A tonne covers around 12 m² at 50 mm depth. One tonne is 10% more stone than a US ton, which matters when comparing quotes.
Ton vs tonne: sort the units first
Gravel pricing comes in two "tons" and it pays to know which one a quote uses. The US (short) ton is 2,000 lb (907 kg) — the default at American quarries. The tonne (metric ton) is 1,000 kg (2,205 lb), used in the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada and most of the world. A tonne is about 10% more stone, so per-tonne prices sit slightly above per-ton prices for identical material: $25 per US ton equals about $27–$28 per tonne.
| Unit | Weight | Volume of standard gravel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 US short ton | 2,000 lb / 907 kg | ~0.57 m³ |
| 1 metric tonne | 1,000 kg / 2,205 lb | ~0.62 m³ |
| 1 cubic meter | ~1,600 kg | 1 m³ (a 1 m cube) |
The rest of this site works in US units — the gravel calculator measures in feet, yards and short tons — so this page is the metric companion: same densities, same method, metric results.
Gravel cost per tonne
Per-tonne prices by stone type, converted from typical 2026 quarry pricing (US dollars, material at the yard). Your local market may price noticeably higher — island and import-dependent regions especially — so treat these as planning figures and get a local quote.
| Gravel type | Price / tonne | Price / cubic meter |
|---|---|---|
| Crusher run (crush & run) | $22–$39 | $35–$60 |
| Crushed stone #57 | $28–$50 | $45–$80 |
| Crushed limestone | $28–$44 | $45–$70 |
| Pea gravel | $33–$66 | $55–$105 |
| River rock | $50–$143 | $80–$230 |
The per-cubic-meter column is simply the per-tonne price × ~1.6. Delivery works the same as in the US market: a flat fee per truck that dominates small orders — see gravel cost per ton for the full delivery economics, and crush and run costs for base-stone budgets.
How much gravel per square meter?
Metric gravel math is refreshingly direct: length × width × depth (all in meters) = cubic meters, then × ~1.6 for tonnes, then +10% for settling and gaps. Coverage at the four depths people actually spread:
| Depth | 1 tonne covers | 1 m³ covers | Typical project |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mm | ~25 m² | ~40 m² | Decorative beds, topping up |
| 50 mm | ~12 m² | ~20 m² | Paths, patios, seating |
| 75 mm | ~8 m² | ~13 m² | High-use paths, dog runs |
| 100 mm | ~6 m² | ~10 m² | Driveways, parking pads |
A worked example: a 5 × 8 m terrace at 50 mm needs 5 × 8 × 0.05 = 2 m³ ≈ 3.2 tonnes; with 10% allowance, order 3.5 tonnes. At $35/tonne for crusher run that is about $120 of stone. The depth rules of thumb (why driveways are 100 mm and paths 50 mm) are the same in any unit — see how much gravel do I need.
How much does a cubic meter of gravel weigh?
Loose gravel weighs about 1.5–1.7 tonnes per cubic meter (~1,600 kg is the standard planning figure), varying with stone size, angularity and moisture — the same physics as the 1.4-tons-per-yard rule in US units. Angular crushed stone packs toward the top of the range, rounded pea gravel toward the bottom, and rain can add a few percent. That weight is why a "small" 1 m³ delivery is still a serious axle load: it exceeds the payload of most pickup trucks, never mind a garden trailer.
Bulk bags, 25 kg bags and wheelbarrows
Outside the US, gravel moves in three retail formats, and knowing the conversions saves over-ordering:
- Jumbo/bulk bag: typically ~850 kg (just under a tonne), about 0.5 m³ — covers roughly 10 m² at 50 mm. One bulk bag ≈ 34 × 25 kg bags.
- 25 kg bag: about 15 litres each; 40 bags make a tonne. Bagged gravel typically costs 2–4× the bulk price per kilo.
- Loose tipped load: the quarry delivers by weighed tonnes — always the cheapest per kilo, and exactly what the delivery ticket says.
Moving it yourself: one cubic meter is about 12–14 heaped loads of an 80-litre wheelbarrow. Even a modest 2 m³ order is a full afternoon of barrowing — the strongest argument for having the truck tip the stone where you need it.
The short version
One tonne ≈ 0.62 m³ ≈ 12 m² at 50 mm, and costs about $20–$45 for everyday stone or $30–$120 per cubic meter. Multiply your area by depth in meters, ×1.6 for tonnes, +10%, and price it per tonne at your local yard. For the imperial versions of every number on this page, see how much is a ton of gravel and gravel cost per cubic yard.