2023 Gravel Driveway Cost Guide

Choosing a gravel driveway has its advantages: it can add rustic charm to the front of any home, it's easy to do and maintain, and it's much cheaper than concrete or asphalt. Let's find out more details about how much it costs.

2023 Gravel Driveway Costs

Calculate local project costs by entering your zip code.

Custom Location

National Average Price $2,000
Typical Price Range $1,500 - $6,000
Typical Price Range (per square foot) $1 - $3

On this page:


How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost?

If you’re wondering how much a gravel driveway costs, you’ll be happy to know that it is the most affordable material used to create a driveway. Most pay around $2,000 for labor and materials for a 100-foot-long driveway that is 10 feet wide.

The price for a gravel driveway usually averages between $1 – $3 per square foot.[1]

long gravel driveway at a country home

Material Costs

Gravel ranges in price depending on the type of gravel selected and the geographic location. Most often gravel ranges from $30 to $50 per cubic yard.

Distance to the supplier is an important consideration as transportation and delivery costs will vary by distance.

The size of the driveway and the depth of the gravel will determine how much material is needed for the job. Use our gravel driveway calculator to calculate the amount of material needed for the project.

Labor Costs

Labor costs will vary based on the depth of the driveway, amount of preparation needed, and the complexity of the project. Labor typically runs $40 to $55 per hour for a driveway installation but varies by geographic region.

Equipment Costs

Installing a gravel driveway is no small task. The job requires heavy equipment and a machine to move substantial amounts of gravel from one end of the driveway to the other, and a tool that would efficiently grade and level it.

Factors to Consider

The main factors to consider when calculating how much a gravel driveway costs include the size of the proposed driveway, the price and quality of the gravel you choose, the thickness of the gravel layer, delivery cost, and labor costs.[2]

You can also reduce the overall cost by furnishing the hidden layers with cheaper or less aesthetically pleasing gravel while saving the best stuff for the top. However, there is the added chance that increased shifting will occur when you combine two different materials on top of each other in this manner, so it is best to use the same gravel for the entire thing.

The Long-Term Cost

There is another aspect of cost involved with a gravel driveway that you may not initially consider: long-term value. Gravel shifts over time, due to the pockets of space between each tiny pebble. If you’ve never had a gravel driveway before, the regular maintenance required might be a deciding factor.

Due to its shifting, you will occasionally have to ‘top-dress’. This means that the surface gravel will need to be added to or replenished with new gravel. Top-dressing should be done every few years, or when you notice it’s starting to lose its aesthetic appeal or effectiveness.[3]

Other possible problems caused by a gravel driveway include ruts or potholes, or stray pebbles finding their way onto the grassy lawn or in other unwanted places.

Regular maintenance completed by you, the homeowner, will help to sustain the longevity of the gravel, however. To keep such disarray to a minimum, rake the gravel approximately once a month. Doing so will help maintain your gravel driveway, and will save you money in the long run.

Finally, one more long-term factor that should be considered before you choose to create a gravel driveway is nature itself. Because gravel is a permeable driveway surface, weeds can creep up through the pebbles.

Keeping the area treated with weedkiller or pulling up weeds regularly is an added component that can create additional cost and effort, so bear this in mind before you come to a final decision.

Compare the cost of gravel to other driveway materials like asphalt or concrete.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.

References

  1. Jeff Beneke, Pros and Cons of a Gravel Driveway, The Spruce, https://www.thespruce.com/pros-and-cons-of-gravel-driveway-1398078
  2. Tigard Sand and Gravel, 4 Gravel Driveway Benefits, https://www.tigardsandandgravel.com/348-2/
  3. Wolf Paving, 3 Driveway Pros & Cons: Gravel Vs. Asphalt Paving, https://www.wolfpaving.com/blog/3-driveway-pros-cons-gravel-vs.-asphalt-paving