Gravel Driveway Haul Cost in Toronto & GTA: 2026 Guide

If you’re pricing out a gravel driveway, a parking pad, or stone for a French drain anywhere in the GTA, you’ve probably noticed the numbers are all over the place. One contractor quotes you $1,200 for a truckload, another quotes $2,400, and the supplier’s website lists $32 per yard. Who’s right? All of them, in their own way. We haul gravel every week across Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga, and this guide breaks down what you should actually be paying in 2026. Call us at 416-317-3090 if you want a straight number for your address.

How gravel haul is priced in the GTA

Gravel is sold three ways across Toronto and the surrounding cities: by the cubic yard, by the truckload, and by the tonne. Most residential jobs we run are quoted by the yard because that’s how homeowners think about it and that’s how pit suppliers price it at the gate. A cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep, or about 80 square feet at 4 inches deep, which is the depth we recommend for any driveway that’s going to see a half-ton truck or larger.

The price you pay has three parts: the material at the pit, the trucking from the pit to your site, and the spread or placement once it’s there. Pit prices in Ontario have held steady through early 2026 but trucking is up roughly 8 to 12 percent versus 2024 because diesel and driver wages keep climbing. That’s why a load that cost $850 two years ago is closer to $1,000 now. If you’ve been pricing this job for more than 18 months, expect a surprise.

2026 gravel haul pricing in Toronto and the GTA

Here are the ranges we’re seeing on real jobs across Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga in 2026. These are delivered and dumped, not just material at the pit.

• Granular A (3/4 crush, the standard road base): $42 to $62 per cubic yard delivered
• Granular B (3-inch clear, for deep base): $38 to $55 per cubic yard delivered
• 3/4 clear stone (for French drains, weeping tile): $58 to $85 per cubic yard delivered
• Pea gravel (decorative, pathways): $65 to $95 per cubic yard delivered
• River stone / 2-inch round: $75 to $110 per cubic yard delivered
• Tandem truckload (12 to 14 cubic yards): $750 to $1,300 delivered
• Tri-axle truckload (16 to 20 cubic yards): $1,050 to $1,650 delivered
• Short-haul minimum (under 5 yards): $450 to $650

For a standard residential gravel driveway in Markham or Vaughan, figure 25 to 40 cubic yards of material to do it properly: 4 inches of Granular B at the bottom, 3 inches of Granular A on top. That puts most full driveways in the $2,800 to $5,200 range delivered and spread. If you need excavation first because there’s grass, topsoil, or an old asphalt surface to remove, add $1,500 to $4,000 depending on what’s under there. Our full excavation cost breakdown is here.

What drives the price up

The number on your quote moves based on six things. We’ve seen the same driveway job priced $1,800 apart by two reputable contractors purely because one of them factored these in and the other didn’t.

• Distance from the pit: Most aggregate pits feeding the GTA sit north of Bolton, around Caledon, and east toward Uxbridge. A job in downtown Toronto pays $80 to $140 more per load in trucking than one in Vaughan or Richmond Hill simply because the truck takes 90 extra minutes round trip.
• Access width: If our tandem can pull up and dump in the driveway, great. If we need to wheelbarrow or use a mini-excavator to move material because the side yard is 36 inches wide, that’s a half day of labour, easy.
• Stone type: Clear stone costs more than crush. Decorative river rock costs more than clear stone. The pit price difference is real, and we don’t mark it up.
• Depth and area: A 60-foot driveway at 4 inches deep needs roughly 7 yards just for the top course. Double the length, double the material.
• Disposal of existing surface: Tearing out asphalt, broken concrete, or old gravel means tipping fees of $90 to $165 per tonne at GTA transfer stations in 2026.
• Time of year: Late spring and fall are peak. Suppliers and haulers both run premium pricing May through July. Mid-winter jobs sometimes run 10 percent cheaper but you trade that for frost issues.

Stone types and where they belong

Half the cost overruns we get called in to fix come from the wrong stone being used in the wrong place. Here’s the short version of what each one does.

Granular A is 3/4-inch crushed limestone with fines. It compacts hard, which is what you want for a driving surface or a paver base. It’s the default top course for any driveway in Toronto or Mississauga.

Granular B is 3-inch clear or with limited fines. It drains well and gives you a structural base that won’t pump in spring thaw. Use it as the bottom course on any driveway over a clay site, which is most of Vaughan and Markham.

3/4 clear stone is the only thing that belongs around a weeping tile or inside a French drain. No fines, no clay, just clean angular stone that lets water move through it. Don’t substitute river stone here, it bridges and clogs.

Pea gravel and river stone are decorative. They roll under tires, so they’re not great for primary driveways, but they look right for pathways, dog runs, and side yards in Richmond Hill new builds.

Hauling away old gravel and contaminated base material

Half of every gravel driveway job is what leaves the site, not what arrives. If we’re replacing a worn-out gravel drive in Mississauga or Toronto, the existing surface usually has to come off before the new base goes down. Old gravel that’s mixed with clay, organics, or oil-soaked top course can’t be reused. It compacts poorly, it pumps in spring, and it ruins the integrity of the new base.

Tonnage matters. A typical residential driveway holds 18 to 35 tonnes of existing base material when you strip it out. At 2026 GTA tipping rates of $90 to $165 per tonne for mixed aggregate, disposal alone runs $1,600 to $5,800 before you talk about hauling. Clean, separated concrete or asphalt millings disposes cheaper at $30 to $65 per tonne, so we separate on-site whenever the volume justifies it.

If your old driveway has any history of fuel spills, vehicle storage, or commercial use, Ontario Regulation 406/19 may require soil characterization before the material can leave the property. Sampling runs $400 to $1,400 and adds 5 to 10 days before haul-out. It’s frustrating, but it’s the rule, and the alternative (mystery soil at an unlicensed dump) carries personal liability for the property owner.

The cheap way to skip this step is to fold the old base into the new one. Sometimes that works, when the existing material is clean Granular B with no organics. Most of the time it doesn’t, and the result is a driveway that ruts and pumps within two winters. We’ll tell you straight on the site walk which case you’re in.

How OCM handles gravel hauls in the GTA

Every gravel job we run follows the same sequence: we measure your area, calculate the yardage with a 10 percent waste factor, confirm the stone type with you, and book the supplier. On haul day we either dump in place if access allows or spread with the mini-excavator and rake by hand if it’s tight.

We’re licensed, insured-compliant. Proof on our trust page. We service Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Aurora, Newmarket, Stouffville, and the rest of the GTA. If you’ve got a French drain project or a weeping tile repair, the stone work ties directly into our excavation services and site prep work.

Get a quote for your city in the GTA

We haul and spread gravel anywhere in the GTA. If you want a real number for your address, call 416-317-3090 or check our service area pages: Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga.

For related cost numbers, see our driveway excavation cost guide, the topsoil removal cost guide, and the basement waterproofing excavation cost guide.

Maintenance, lifespan, and the long game

A properly built gravel driveway in the GTA is not a one-time spend. It’s a system that needs attention every two to three years if you want it to last 10 to 15. Here’s the honest picture.

Year one is forgiving. The new Granular A surface knits together under tire compaction and rain, and ruts almost never appear in the first 12 months. Year two and three is where neglect shows up: low spots collect water, water washes fines out of the top course, and small ruts become potholes. A 4 to 6 yard top-up at $400 to $900 in Toronto or Vaughan resets the surface. Skip it and by year five you’re not topping up, you’re rebuilding.

Edging is the secret. A gravel drive without defined edges (treated lumber, steel edging, or a stone curb) spreads outward into the surrounding lawn and loses 2 to 4 inches of width per year. Over a decade, that adds up to a noticeably thinner drive and a lot of wasted gravel in the grass.

Plowing matters too. A plow blade that scrapes the gravel down to the base course in February removes the top inch of finished material every winter. Setting plow shoes 1 inch above the surface, or using a rubber-edged blade on gravel drives, preserves the wear course. Most Mississauga and Markham homeowners discover this the spring after their first heavy snow year.

FAQ

How many cubic yards of gravel do I need for a typical driveway in Toronto?

For a single-car driveway around 60 feet long by 10 feet wide at a 4-inch finished depth, you need about 7.5 cubic yards just for the top course. Add another 10 yards for a proper Granular B base. Most full driveways in Toronto end up using 18 to 30 yards total.

What’s the cheapest gravel for a driveway in the GTA?

Granular A at $42 to $62 per yard delivered is the cheapest material that actually holds up under vehicles. Anything cheaper, like reclaimed asphalt millings, exists but rarely lasts more than two winters in Vaughan or Markham before it potholes.

Do I need a permit to put in a gravel driveway in Toronto?

For replacing an existing driveway, usually no. For a new curb cut or widening, yes. You need a driveway permit from your municipality. Toronto, Mississauga, and Vaughan all charge $250 to $800 for the permit plus separate engineering review if you’re touching the boulevard.

How long does a gravel driveway last in the GTA climate?

A properly built gravel driveway with a Granular B base and Granular A top course lasts 8 to 12 years before it needs a top-up. Top-ups usually run $400 to $900 for a single-car drive in Toronto. Without a real base, expect to add gravel every 2 to 3 years.

Can you deliver gravel without spreading it?

Yes. Drop-only deliveries are common when homeowners want to spread the stone themselves. Cost ranges from $450 for a 5-yard minimum up to $1,650 for a full tri-axle load in Richmond Hill or Markham. We dump where you point.

What’s the right stone for a French drain?

3/4-inch clear stone, sometimes called washed clear or drainage stone. It costs $58 to $85 per yard delivered in 2026. Never use crush or anything with fines around a perforated pipe, because the fines clog the perforations within a year.

How much for a parking pad behind the house?

A 20-by-20-foot gravel parking pad in Mississauga or Vaughan typically runs $2,200 to $4,500 fully built. That’s site prep, geotextile fabric, 6 inches of Granular B, and 3 inches of Granular A. Add excavation if there’s sod to strip.

Do gravel prices change by season in the GTA?

Yes. Pit prices rise 5 to 8 percent May through July when commercial demand peaks. November through February you can sometimes save 8 to 10 percent if access isn’t frozen. The catch: frost makes spreading and compacting harder, so labour can offset the savings.