A 10×10 ft pad at 4 in compacted needs 1.23 cubic yards in place — order about 2.6 tons of crusher run (1.81 cu yd loose) including 10% extra and compaction.
“Cheapest” compares bulk delivered with 0.5 cu ft bags at the prices below.
Payload is on the Tire & Loading sticker in the driver's door jamb. Single-axle dump trucks carry about 5 tons; bigger orders come on a tandem (up to 18 tons).
Bulk prices are typical 2026 yard and national-guide prices (American Rock Supply, Mulch Pros, Roseville Rock Supply); bag prices are retail snapshots. Tap any price to use your yard's.
| Depth | Order (cu yd) | Tons | 0.5 cu ft bags | Bulk delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in compacted | 0.9 | 1.3 | 49 | $113 |
| 3 in compacted | 1.35 | 2 | 74 | $132 |
| 4 in compacted | 1.81 | 2.6 | 98 | $151 |
| 6 in compacted | 2.71 | 3.9 | 147 | $189 |
100 sq ft × 0.333 ft = 33.3 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 1.23 cu yd. × 1.33 for compaction × 1.10 extra = 1.81 cu yd, × 1.45 t/yd³ = 2.62 tons.
With bags at $5.98 and bulk at $29.00 per ton plus $75 delivery, bulk beats bags from about 0.39 tons. At 2.6 tons bulk is clearly the cheaper way to buy — bags only make sense if a truck can't reach the spot.
The full method, material data and tips are on the main gravel calculator page.