How much does backfill stone cost?

Delivered in Florida, #57 stone starts from $60.97/ton on a full truck (about 21 tons). For a small load, 2 tons from $473.90 delivered (#57 stone). Delivery is included, with no separate fee; the minimum order is 1 ton, and smaller loads cost more per ton. Calculate above, then enter your ZIP for your exact quote.

What is the best stone for retaining wall backfill?

Washed #57 limerock. #4 is better in heavy-flow situations. Avoid any stone with fines.

How wide should the drainage column be?

12 inches minimum. Wider for tall walls (>4 ft) or wet sites — up to 18 inches.

Do I need a drain pipe?

Yes — 4-inch perforated pipe at the base of the column, sloped at 1% to a daylight outlet. The column without a pipe traps water.

Do I need fabric around the stone?

Yes. Wrap with non-woven geotextile (4 oz/sq yd or heavier) to keep soil fines out of the drainage stone.

How high should the stone column go?

From the footing to within one course of finished grade, then cap with topsoil. Going to grade with stone lets surface water back into the column.

How many tons fit in a dump truck?

A full load is about 21 tons of stone or sand. Bigger orders go out in more than one load, and the calculator shows the truck count with your result. Delivery is in the price, so a full load is the cheapest per ton.

Do I need to be home for delivery?

Best if someone is there to show the driver the spot. Not required: ask for a photo of the drop. Dumped from the street or driveway. A backyard works if the entrance is wide enough. Off the public road, you take responsibility for any damage. It comes in one pile and isn’t spread. Delivery in 2–3 business days, on a weekday you choose.

Retaining wall gravel calculator · tons

Retaining Wall Backfill Calculator

How much stone behind your wall? Measure the wall length and the drainage zone width, then pick the wall height.

1 · Material

2 · Two quick choices: wall height, then size

2a · Pick a wall height

2b · Then measure your walls

Wall length × stone zone width in feet. Add as many walls as you need; we add them up.

Wall lengthftStone zone widthft

Recommended order

5 tons

of #57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1")

≈ 3.7 yd³ · covers 30 sq ft at 3 ft · 1 dump truck

30 sq ft × 36 in ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 3.33 yd³ × 1.35 t/yd³ = 4.5 tons. Plus 10% for compaction and spreading, rounded up to a whole ton.

3 · Get your delivered quote

One ton of #57 stone

≈ 0.74 yd³ (20 cu ft)
covers 7 sq ft at 3 ft
a yd³ weighs about 2,700 lb
a full truck is about 21 tons

Convert tons ↔ cubic yards →

About this material: #57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1") →

How much does a ton of backfill stone cover?

Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × wall height (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × the material’s density. The calculator then adds the buffer for compaction and spreading and rounds up. Tons use our catalog densities: #57 stone 1.35 t/yd³; #67 stone 1.35 t/yd³; #4 crushed stone 1.25 t/yd³.

Swipe the table sideways →

Material	Wall height	Used for	Coverage	Per 100 sq ft
#57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1")	2 ft	Low garden walls.	10 sq ft per ton	10 tons
#57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1")	3 ft	Most landscape walls. (typical)	7 sq ft per ton	15 tons
#57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1")	4 ft	Taller walls (have them engineered).	5 sq ft per ton	20 tons
#67 Crushed Stone (¾")	2 ft	Low garden walls.	10 sq ft per ton	10 tons
#67 Crushed Stone (¾")	3 ft	Most landscape walls. (typical)	7 sq ft per ton	15 tons
#67 Crushed Stone (¾")	4 ft	Taller walls (have them engineered).	5 sq ft per ton	20 tons
#4 Crushed Stone (1½" – 2½")	2 ft	Low garden walls.	11 sq ft per ton	9.26 tons
#4 Crushed Stone (1½" – 2½")	3 ft	Most landscape walls. (typical)	7 sq ft per ton	13.89 tons
#4 Crushed Stone (1½" – 2½")	4 ft	Taller walls (have them engineered).	5 sq ft per ton	18.52 tons

Before the buffer. Updated November 2026

How much backfill stone for common projects

Swipe the table sideways →

Project	Wall height	Area	Estimate
20 ft long × 3 ft tall wall	36″	20 sq ft	~3 tons #57
30 ft long × 4 ft tall wall	48″	30 sq ft	~6 tons #57
50 ft long × 4 ft tall wall	48″	50 sq ft	~10 tons #57
40 ft long × 6 ft tall wall	72″	40 sq ft	~12 tons #57
100 ft long × 3 ft tall wall	36″	100 sq ft	~13 tons #57

Before the buffer. Measure your own areas above for an order quantity.

Which backfill stone: #57, #67 or #4?

Delivered by dump truck. “From” prices are per ton on a full truck, delivery included; the second line is the smallest load.

#57 Crushed Stone (¾" – 1") →The all-round ½–1″ stone for driveways, pads and drainage.From $60.97/ton on a full truck2 tons from $473.90 delivered

#67 Crushed Stone (¾") →A slightly smaller ¾″ stone for driveways and pads.From $60.97/ton on a full truck2 tons from $473.90 delivered

#4 crushed stone on a construction entrance

#4 Crushed Stone (1½" – 2½") →Large 1½–2½″ stone for construction entrances and heavy pads.From $71.15/ton on a full truck2 tons from $497.44 delivered

Backfill stone mistakes to avoid

No drainage column at all

Soil packed directly against a retaining wall traps water and pushes the wall over within a few seasons. The stone column is not optional.

No fabric

Soil fines migrate into bare stone and clog the drainage. Wrap the stone with geotextile fabric.

No drain pipe

A stone column without an outlet pipe is a French drain with no drain. Add a 4-inch perforated pipe at the base, sloped to a daylight outlet.

Wrong stone

Crusher run or any stone with fines defeats the purpose. Use washed #57 or #4.

Stopping the column too low

The stone column should rise to within one course of grade and then be capped with topsoil. Stopping low traps surface water in the column.