Gravel in Lakewood, WA

A typical tri-axle truckload in the Lakewood area holds about 10-12 cubic yards (roughly 14-17 tons, depending on material). Expect a delivered truckload to run about $400 to $1,000 depending on gravel type, local availability, and delivery distance; crushed road base is at the lower end and decorative river rock is at the higher end. For an exact price, enter your zip code on Hello Gravel or request a local quote.

Prices vary with material and region, but in West Washington a typical range is $35 to $85 per cubic yard delivered for common gravels. Local factors like seasonal demand, supplier stock, and material type change the final cost, so use Hello Gravel to get an up-to-date, location-specific quote.

One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. That covers about 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep, 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, and 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep, so choose depth based on the use and compaction you need.

For most Lakewood projects bulk delivery is the most cost-effective once you need more than a few cubic yards because price per ton is much lower and delivery is often included. Pickup with a trailer can be cheaper for very small jobs if you have the truck and time, and bagged gravel is the most expensive per cubic yard and best only for tiny landscape accents.

Crushed rock (crushed stone or crushed gravel) is generally the cheapest and best choice for driveways because it locks together when compacted and provides a stable surface. Pea gravel and river rock are usually more expensive, tend to shift under traffic, and are better for decorative areas or drainage features.

Costs depend on driveway width and depth; assuming a 20 ft long by 10 ft wide driveway at 4 inches deep, you need about 2.5 cubic yards of gravel. Material plus delivery for that size will often fall between $100 and $350, but full installation (grading, base prep, compaction) by a contractor typically ranges higher; request a local estimate for labor and site-specific work.

A working residential driveway normally needs a compacted base of 4 to 6 inches of crushed rock for structural support, with a 1 to 2 inch wearing layer on top for finish. Two inches alone is not enough for a driveway that will see vehicle traffic because it won’t compact or support loads properly.

A 7x14 dump trailer’s theoretical volume depends on side height; with 2-foot sides it could hold about 7 cubic yards by volume. In practice weight limits are the constraint for heavy materials like gravel, so most 7x14 trailers safely carry about 3 to 5 cubic yards of gravel depending on the trailer’s GVWR and local road weight limits.

A standard tri-axle dump truck usually delivers 10 to 12 cubic yards. At 4 inches deep, 10 cubic yards covers roughly 810 sq ft (for 12 cubic yards about 972 sq ft), so a single truck will cover a typical residential driveway comfortably depending on width and depth chosen.

Recycled crushed concrete and reclaimed aggregate are common, lower-cost alternatives that perform similarly to crushed gravel and are often available in the Puget Sound region. Other options like permeable pavers or chipseal can be competitive depending on long-term maintenance and drainage needs, so compare lifecycle costs and local contractor quotes before deciding.