Gravel in Alexandria, VA

Delivered prices vary by material, type, and supplier. In the Washington-Arlington metro area including Alexandria, expect a typical range of about $50 to $90 per cubic yard for common gravel and crushed stone, with specialty or colored gravels costing more; for an exact delivered price enter your zip code at checkout or request a quote.

Assuming a single-car driveway 10 ft wide by 20 ft long (200 sq ft) and a practical compacted depth of about 6 inches (0.5 ft) you would need roughly 3.7 cubic yards, so round to 4 cubic yards. At typical delivered prices of $50 to $90 per cubic yard, material and delivery would run about $200 to $360, not including any spreading or site preparation fees.

Using the same 10 ft width and 6-inch total depth: a 50 ft driveway (500 sq ft) needs about 9.3 cubic yards (round to 9.5–10), and a 100 ft driveway (1,000 sq ft) needs about 18.5 cubic yards (round to 19). At $50 to $90 per cubic yard delivered, expect material and delivery in the ballpark of $500 to $900 for the 50 ft job and $950 to $1,710 for the 100 ft job; get a zip-code quote for precise pricing and minimum-order considerations.

One cubic yard covers roughly 324 divided by the depth in inches: about 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, and 54 sq ft at 6 inches. For Alexandria and the Washington metro climate, plan for a compacted structural base of 4 to 6 inches of crushed stone plus a 2 to 3 inch top wearing layer, so total installed depth is often 6 to 9 inches for a durable residential driveway.

No, 2 inches is generally only a light surface dressing and is not sufficient for a driveway that carries vehicles. In Alexandria you should have a compacted base (typically 4 to 6 inches) with an additional 2 to 3 inches of surface gravel to resist rutting and freeze-thaw movement.

Local suppliers in the Alexandria area can quote by the cubic yard or by ton and often deliver full dump-truck loads for larger orders; price per yard is usually lowest when you order a full truckload because hauling costs are spread over more material. For short, narrow-access jobs or small repairs, yard-by-yard or bagged options are available but are more expensive per unit; check your property access and minimum order requirements before choosing.

A full-size pickup bed can often hold roughly 0.5 to 1 cubic yard of gravel by volume, but the weight (about 1.2 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard) can exceed many trucks' payload ratings. Pickup is practical only for very small jobs and when you have a heavy-duty truck and appropriate permits; for most Alexandria homeowners and anything above 1 to 2 cubic yards, professional dump-truck delivery is safer and more cost-effective.

Best practice in Alexandria is to remove soft topsoil and organic material to reach a stable subgrade, install a geotextile fabric for separation and weed control where needed, then place and compact a 4 to 6 inch crushed-stone base before adding the finish gravel. Simply topping dirt will lead to settling, weeds, and rutting over time, especially on clay soils common in the region.

One cubic yard is approximately 54 50-lb bags of gravel. Buying bulk by the cubic yard is almost always cheaper for anything beyond very small projects; bags are convenient for touch-ups or where truck access is impossible but cost significantly more per cubic yard.

Sharp sand is not typically used as the structural base for driveways; a crushed-stone base or structured 70/30 mixes (stone with fines) may be specified depending on the application. Many local suppliers in the Washington metro area can supply different mixes and base materials, and some partners or local contractors will install them, but Hello Gravel primarily handles sourcing and delivery—installation is arranged separately and should be confirmed with the supplier or a contractor.

Alexandria has older neighborhoods and tight lot access in parts of the city, so confirm truck access, overhead wires, and parking restrictions before scheduling delivery; some streets may require permits for on-street offloading. When ordering, add access notes at checkout and contact customer service so we can match the right truck size and carrier to your property.