How Much Does A Gravel Driveway Cost In 2024? (2024)

There are fewer factors when calculating driveway costs compared to, say, asphalt, concrete or pavers. Overall, you’ll pay between $1 and $3 per square foot for the price of gravel driveways. Including the cost of installation and additional site prep, average prices for the whole project range from $300 to $4,500.

Unlike more complex driveway installations, gravel driveways costs are quite predictable when you break them down.

Type of Gravel

While gravel prices often sell by ton or cubic foot, consider that materials will cost between $0.20 and $2.50 per square foot for driveway projects. While you can always find more expensive stones for a high-end look, the vast majority of gravel used for driveways accounts for between 20% and 75% of the price.

Labor

You’ll pay between $20 and $60, or an average of $40 per hour for installation. The length of the process will depend on the driveway size, but in general, it shouldn’t take more than two hours to dump and spread the gravel. Keep in mind that land preparation can significantly increase labor costs (more on that below).

Driveway Size

Driveways range anywhere from around 240 square feet (with an average material cost of $324) to 1,500 square feet (with an average material cost of $2,025), though this depends on how many cars you need to fit side by side. The length from your home to the road will also play a large role.

Depth

Contractors recommend gravel that driveways fall between four and 12 inches deep on average. The weight capacity, type of gravel and the compaction of the soil below will determine the proper depth. Gravel prices typically range between $25 and $100 per ton, so the price will vary depending on how many four-inch layers you need on your driveway.

Customize your gravel driveway by choosing from one of the many types of stone available. Some varieties work better in certain climates, while some are simply easier on bare feet. In either case, gravel prices will range based on availability.

Crusher Run

Crusher run, which goes by the nicknames crush-and-run or crusher fines, combines both medium and fine aggregate of popular gravels. You’ll pay an average of $0.40 per square foot. The easily compacted mixture can either act as the sub-base for your gravel driveway or as a more rustic style for the top layer.

Caliche

For just $0.45 per square foot, caliche is a sedimentary-derived gravel ideal for low-cost driveways. You’re more likely to find it in regions with high calcium and magnesium deposits, such as the arid southwest. In some instances, it can also work as a sub-base material.

Crushed Granite

Crushed granite is likely what you picture when someone says “gravel driveway.” Costing about $0.50 per square foot, crushed (or decomposed) granite combines large and fine pieces of granite to compact into a sturdy driveway surface.

Pea Gravel

Popular for its price, versatility and drainage skills, pea gravel costs about $0.80 per square foot. While it’s more likely to roll and lead to potholes, it’s a popular choice for both DIY and professional installations.

Crushed Shells

Whether you live by the sea or up in the mountains, crushed shells offer an eco-conscious option for about $0.50 per square foot. While the shells do not offer enough stability for steep driveways, they are ideal for flat areas that require good drainage.

Steel Slag

Leftover from the steel manufacturing process, steel slag is a durable gravel that costs an average of $1.30 per square foot. Since the product can expand, it should be stored outdoors for at least 18 months prior to use or solely used in arid regions.

River Rock

Costing around $1.50 per square foot, river rocks offer a natural—and eye-catching—option for gravel driveways. The rocks offer soft, stunning colors and promote both stability and drainage.

Crushed Limestone

Highly durable, attractive and apt at draining stormwater, crushed limestone costs an average of $2.00 per square foot. Limestone comes in a range of earthy hues, including gray, cream and white.

Crushed Marble

Marble makes an impact for its stylish appearance but costs about $2.00 per square foot and is often only used as a topper. While crushed marble is sturdy, it can migrate from the driveway and make the surface slippery when compacted and wet.

Bluestone Gravel

Costing up to $2.50 per square foot on average, bluestone is both stunning and stable. The attractive stone can also make the leap from your driveway to the garden for a streamlined landscape design.

As we touched on earlier, the size of your driveway is the largest factor in determining gravel costs. Most driveways range from 12 to 48 feet wide and 20 to 36 feet long. Width, of course, will account for the number of cars parked each day.

20-Foot Long Driveway Cost

Let’s take a look at the size of a standard-length driveway that falls around 20 feet. Depending on the width, this means we’re talking about a driveway between 240 and 960 square feet. An average of $2 per square foot including installation, here’s what to expect from the driveway gravel costs.

36-Foot Long Driveway Cost

How about long, winding driveways that weave around your house? Driveways that reach 36 feet will fall between 432 and 1,728 square feet.

Even if you’re starting with a blank slate, you or the contractors will need to prep the land to ensure your driveway remains intact. The following are potential additional costs to account for during this project:

Land Clearing and Preparation

Clearing land costs between $1,300 and $5,200, depending on what needs to be removed. And while the excavation process for gravel driveways is very minimal, you’ll need to make sure the soil is clear of grass and roots before starting.

Concrete Removal

Do you need to dig up an old concrete driveway? Concrete removal costs between $2 and $6 per square foot and should be handled by a professional.

Drainage

You have your pick of drainage systems for your yard, so be sure to speak with your contractor to check if it’s necessary for gravel. As a permeable surface, you’ll spend less on things like trench drains and culverts, but keep in mind that these options can add an average of $3,750 to the bottom line.

Installing a gravel driveway yourself is the most obvious way to cut costs, but it’s not always the best bet due to the tricky transport of the stones. Here are some additional tips to consider to lower the bottom line:

1. Shop around and speak with at least three gravel driveway installers before choosing.
2. Wait for a holiday and off-season sale for both delivery and materials prices.
3. Complete all land preparation yourself.
4. Rent a truck and pick up the stones yourself whenever possible.
5. Consider shortening or narrowing your driveway.
6. Don’t skimp on the base layer to keep the stones from sinking.
7. Choose stone varieties more commonly available in your area.

Gravel driveway installation is a doable DIY if you’re up for a labor-intensive afternoon. While it isn’t complicated, per se, you do need a way to transport and spread the rocks without risking injury. You can say an average of $40 an hour plus between $200 and $400 for delivery alone.

If you do not need to make significant changes to your landscape, opt for professional delivery but tackle distribution yourself to save money.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, we surveyed three contractors and retailers as well as 12 local and national cost databases. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.