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 to $3 per square foot.
Gravel ranges in price depending on the type of gravel selected and the geographic location. Most
often, driveway gravel ranges from $15 to $75 per cubic yard, depending on the type used.
Keep in mind that many gravel driveways will use different materials for the base and top
layers, which can give you varying costs for material. 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 will vary based on the depth of the driveway, the 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.
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.
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. This is very common, as
the base layer usually has larger gravel to facilitate drainage, while the top layer has
smaller, more attractive gravel.
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, which means that surface gravel
will need to be added 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, as well as stray
pebbles finding their way onto the grassy lawn or in other unwanted places.
If you live in a climate that sees a lot of snow, keep in mind that even careful plowing can
move your gravel around. Each spring, you will need to rake back the piles of gravel from where
the plow has pushed them. Gravel can also break the pins in a snow blower, making it difficult
to keep your driveway clear.
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.