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. They are US quarry prices converted per tonne for unit comparison, not local market rates in metric countries; see how we price.
| 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.