How Much Does a Gravel Driveway or Road Cost in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

A gravel driveway not only offers a cost-effective solution for easy access to your property but also adds a touch of rustic charm to your home. On average, gravel driveways cost $1,800, with most homeowners spending between $500 and $3,500. Factors like the type of gravel, driveway size, and site preparation significantly influence the overall cost, so planning your budget carefully is important.

Gravel Driveway Cost

On average, a gravel driveway costs about $1,800, with most projects ranging between $500 and $3,500 or $1.25 to $4.00 per square foot. The size and scope of your project play a significant role in determining the final cost.

Calculating Gravel Driveway Costs

You can use this gravel driveway calculator if you want to skip the math. Or, if you want to do it manually, see the instructions below.

Find the amount of material needed by multiplying the length times the width times the depth. Keep in mind that your driveway may need multiple layers of different types of gravel.

For example, you may have a 16-by-38-foot driveway that you want to top with 4 inches, or 1/3 foot, each of base gravel #3, crush and run, and marble chips. To calculate your material needs, you would multiply 16 x 38 x 0.33 for a total of 201 cubic feet of each material.

If you purchase materials in cubic yards, divide your total by 27 to find your amount of materials needed.

For a driveway that’s 608 square feet, gravel #3 would cost $395, crush and run would cost $240, and marble chips would cost $1,220. Add those three together to get $1,855.

Labor costs between $20 and $70 per hour. Assuming it only takes two hours at $45 per hour, that'll be an additional $90, for a total of $1,945. The cost might include delivery in the cost of the gravel, but if not, it can cost $5 per mile.

Gravel Driveway Cost Factors

Your gravel driveway prices will vary depending on these key factors. The biggest impact on your project is likely to be the length of the driveway, type of gravel you choose for the different layers, and any major clearing or grading needed on your property.

Size

A gravel driveway or road costs $1.25 to $4.00 per square foot. An average 2-car driveway is about 16 by 40 feet, or 640 square feet, putting your project at around $800 to $2,560.

If you need to lay down gravel for a private road, it could be as short as a tenth of a mile or even a mile long. For a short private road that’s a tenth of a mile long (about 530 feet) and 16 feet wide, you’re looking at a project that’s 8,480 square feet. That’ll cost between $10,600 and $33,920.

Type of Gravel

With so many gravel options available, the type you choose can significantly impact your overall cost. For instance, opting for budget-friendly crush and run gravel can help keep expenses low, while choosing premium materials like marble chips can quickly drive up the price. If you have a large area to cover, selecting the right type of gravel is essential to stay within your budget.

Land Clearing

Grading and leveling will cost between $1 and $2 per square foot. Unless your property is totally flat, you can expect to do some resloping work.

The cost to clear land ranges from $1,400 to $6,200, on average.

Drainage Considerations

The cost of a drainage system is $2,000 to $5,500. By installing a drainage system, you will ensure that your gravel driveway will last as long as possible.

Additional Tools & Materials

On average, concrete removal costs about $970, with a low end of $250 and a high end of $3,000.

Taxes & Permits

You may be required to apply for a permit to build your driveway, and you may also be required to pay taxes. These cost $500 to $2,000 per project. Check with your local city or county offices for more information.

Delivery

The company’s quote may or may not include delivery costs. Some places offer free delivery within a certain range (like free delivery if it’s within 10 miles). Also, you may need to order a minimum amount of gravel for delivery, which can be a cubic yard or even 20 tons. Generally speaking, you should expect to pay $5 per mile for delivery.

Labor

The labor costs for installing a gravel driveway can vary depending on the professionals involved and your location. Typically, you might hire excavators, grading contractors, and gravel suppliers.

Excavators charge about $40 to $150 per hour and are responsible for removing any existing driveway materials and clearing the site.

Grading contractors cost between $50 and $200 per hour and handle leveling and preparing the driveway base, ensuring proper drainage and stability.

Gravel suppliers and installers may charge $20 to $70 per hour to deliver and spread the gravel evenly across the prepared surface.

Labor rates can vary regionally due to differences in the cost of living and local market demand. In urban areas, you might see higher labor rates compared to rural regions. Factors such as the driveway's size, terrain complexity, and the need for extensive site preparation can increase labor time and costs.

Gravel Driveway Costs by Type

One of the major factors that will affect your project cost is the types of gravel you choose for your driveway. Most likely, you’ll have either two to three different types of gravel, and the top layer is likely to be the most expensive.

Rock Base

This is the first layer that goes on top of the landscaping fabric and costs $0.65 per square foot, $38 per cubic yard, or $46 for a ton. These rocks are 1 to 2 inches in diameter and irregularly shaped. When packed down, it creates a strong foundation.

Crush and Run

This material—also known as crusher run, quarry process, dense grade aggregate, or road stone—is the combination of crushed rock and dust created in the process. It is the most affordable type of gravel on this list and costs about $20 to $40 per ton. Some find crush and run to be less attractive than other types, and fewer variations are available.

Caliche

Caliche, a sedimentary rock, is made of hardened calcium carbonate. It's found mostly in arid climates, like states in the Southwest. It costs about $65 per cubic yard or between $40 and $150 per ton.

Shells

Crushed shell is an environmentally-friendly option for your driveway. Shell driveways are consistently stable because the shells break into smaller pieces and disperse as people drive or walk on them. It’s about $60 per cubic yard or around $55 per ton.

Rock Pebbles

Also known as river rocks, these are smooth rocks with many color variations. It’s a naturally stylish option that runs $1.50 per square foot, $45 to $80 per cubic yard, or $30 to $55 per ton.

Crushed Stone/Limestone

This is a higher-quality, highly customizable option. Marble chips fall in this category, and they’re desirable because of their white and sparkling appearance. You can expect it to cost up to $60 per cubic yard. Marble chips run $2 per square foot. You can expect to pay $60 per cubic yard or $52 per ton for crushed marble.

Steel Slag

Steel slag is a byproduct of making steel. To be used as construction aggregate material, it must be crushed and screened to meet gradation requirements. The aggregate material is angular in shape and rough to the touch. Drier climates work best because steel slag tends to expand in humid environments. It costs about $34 per ton or about $45 per cubic yard.

Average Gravel Installation Costs by Use

The great thing about gravel is that there are so many different ways to use it on your property. Here are some of the most common gravel projects you ought to consider.

Gravel Driveways

A gravel driveway is generally the least expensive with an average price tag of $1,500. Most homeowners spend between $2,250 and $5,900 to install a gravel driveway. While asphalt and concrete are widely favored, gravel is popular for long driveways, usually found in rural areas.

The size of the project, including the depth, will be the biggest cost factor. Professionals recommend they be a minimum of 4 inches deep. The terrain's flatness, or lack thereof, also will affect the price.

Needing to get rid of an existing driveway can also have a big impact on the cost. Prices vary greatly based on the region but removing an average concrete driveway can cost homeowners $1,000 to $4,000.

Residential Roads

Like a driveway, the size of the project has the largest impact on the cost of a residential road. For a residential road a tenth of a mile long, you can expect to pay $10,600 to $15,260—and that’s before covering location-specific building permit costs, which range from $500 to $2,000.

Additionally, the surface area would require a steamroller to adequately compact the materials. If you're going to have commercial vehicles or construction equipment traveling on the road, putting some extra money into it to ensure a strong, lasting build is a good idea.

Parking Lots or Pads

The average size for a parking spot or single parking pad is 18 by 9 feet. The price of gravel for one spot with a depth of 3 inches is about $60. A 1,000-square-foot parking lot with four spaces and room to pull in and back out costs about $370. A 1,512-square-foot parking lot with six spaces is about $560.

Walkways & Patios

Gravel works well and looks natural for walkways and patios. The national average price to put in a walkway or patio is about $3,700, with a low end of $800 and a high end of $10,000. Using gravel would fall on the cheaper end of the range.

A walkway of 4 by 12 feet with a depth of 3 inches will cost about $30. This project requires 12 cubic feet of gravel or six 0.5-cubic feet bags. The bags cost $5 each. For walkways, you won't need to go as deep because the weight of people walking on them won't have the same impact as vehicle traffic. Grading usually isn't needed in these smaller projects, but you should still use a weed-blocking geotextile fabric.

A patio of 16 by 18 feet with a depth of 4 inches will run about $340. This job requires 3.91 cubic yards of gravel. If you buy in bulk, you can get rock pebbles for $86 per cubic yard. If you're planning on using gravel for a patio, pea gravel will provide the best drainage.

Homeowners should also consider what they'll be using their patio for. If you plan on entertaining, keep in mind that gravel isn't the most comfortable thing for bare feet to walk on, and it makes moving furniture a bit difficult.

Crawl Space or Garage Foundations

The cost of gravel in a crawl space of a 2,000-square-foot home is about $900. You should have a vapor barrier underneath the aggregate, decreasing moisture and soil gas. The price of 2,000 square feet of 12 mil vapor barrier is about $600.

The price of gravel for 20 by 20 feet of garage foundation is about $180.

Proper drainage is key in using gravel in a crawl space or a garage foundation. There are a few different types of drainage systems. Installing it yourself will typically cost between $230 and $1,000.

Landscaping

Decorative gravel—which costs anywhere from $50 to $90 per ton—is becoming a popular choice in landscape design. A homeowner typically pays between $1,350 and $5,700 in landscaping installation costs.

Xeriscaping uses materials that need little water to survive. You’ll most often find xeriscaping in drier, desert-like climates in the Southwest, but it's a great alternative for any homeowner.

Commercial Roads & Spaces

There are several variables in constructing a commercial roadway or space, regardless of the type of material used. A few considerations include the project’s size, location, and terrain.

Building a new, two-lane roadway in a rural area can cost about $2 to 3 million per mile. Using gravel will be cheaper, but it's important to keep in mind what kind of vehicles will be utilizing the roadway to determine how strong it will need to be.

Permitting for a large commercial project will likely take some time, depending on the size of the municipality.

Building a new roadway in an urban area will be more expensive. Better options than gravel exist for high-traffic roadways common in urban areas.

Asphalt vs. Gravel vs. Concrete Driveways: Which Is Cheaper?

Gravel driveways cost less than asphalt or concrete driveways. The average price of paving with asphalt is $5,000 or about $7 to $13 per square foot. While repairs are easy, asphalt softens in the heat, is only available in black, and lasts about 20 years. Concrete driveways cost an average of $3,000 or about $6 per square foot.

On the other hand, the average cost of a gravel driveway is $1,500 or $1.25 to $1.80 per square foot. They're also easy to repair, available in multiple colors, and last about 100 years when properly cared for. However, this kind of drive is not best suited for states where it snows.

Pros and Cons of Gravel

Gravel driveways offer numerous advantages, especially when it comes to affordability compared to asphalt or concrete options. They add rustic charm and provide excellent drainage. However, regular maintenance is essential to keep your gravel driveway in top condition.

Pros:

• Quick and easy installation and maintenance

• Available in multiple types and colors

• Doesn't crack or sink

• Pairs well with different styles of house

Cons:

• Moves in rain and snow

• Dusty

• Requires regular maintenance

• Prone to ruts or sinkholes if improperly installed

DIY Gravel Installation vs. Hiring a Pro

While installing a gravel driveway might seem straightforward, it involves more than just spreading gravel. Proper grading, drainage, and layering are crucial for a durable driveway. If you're a seasoned DIYer up for the challenge, you might save on labor costs, but be prepared for the work involved. Labor costs range from $20 to $70 per hour, and hiring a professional ensures your gravel driveway is installed correctly and stands the test of time. If you're looking to save a bit, you can source the materials yourself and have a pro handle the installation.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.