How Much Does a Gravel Driveway Cost?

If you've ever driven up a grand estate's crunchy gravel driveway and thought, "I want that satisfying sound every time I come home," you're in luck, and your bank account is about to breathe a sigh of relief. The gravel driveway cost is significantly lower than other paving options, making it an attractive choice for homeowners who want both functionality and charm without breaking the bank.

This May Also Interest You: Is a Concrete or Asphalt Driveway Cheaper?

While concrete and asphalt driveways may offer that smooth, modern look, gravel provides rustic appeal and excellent drainage at a fraction of the cost.

How Much Does Gravel Cost on Average?

Understanding the price of gravel starts with knowing that different types of gravel come with varying price tags. The cost of a load of gravel depends heavily on which types of gravel you choose for your stone driveway.

Here are the current costs per gravel type:

• Crushed stone (#57). $120 to $255 (CAD 166 to CAD 353) per ton delivered

• Pea gravel. $160 to $260 (CAD 222 to CAD 360) per ton delivered

• River rock. $184 to $314 (CAD 255 to CAD 435) per ton delivered

• Crusher run/road base gravel. $24 to $34 (CAD 34 to CAD 48) per ton, making it one of the most affordable road base gravel options

• Crushed limestone. $30 to $38 (CAD 42 to CAD 53) per ton for this popular limestone driveway material

• Steel slag. $25 to $39 (CAD 35 to CAD 54) per ton

• Caliche. $45 to $100 (CAD 63 to CAD 139) per ton for this sedimentary rock option

How Much Crushed Stone Is Needed for a Gravel Driveway?

Your gravel calculations for a driveway depend on several factors. The depth of your driveway rock layer is crucial. In most cases, the ideal gravel driveway depth is a minimum of 4 inches.

For a properly constructed crushed stone driveway, experts recommend installing gravel driveways at a depth of 6 to 15 inches, depending on vehicle weight, gravel type and underlying soil conditions.

Here's what you need to know about gravel sizes:

For a landscape, patio or walkway that's around 2 inches deep, a ton of gravel will cover around 100 square feet.

If you're building a driveway, which should be a minimum of 12 inches deep, you'd need about 6 tons of gravel to cover the same area.

For the most durable driveway, install a 6- to 8-inch layer of large crushed stones as a sub-base. Then, place smaller rocks in 4-inch layers on top.

How Much Does a 100-Foot Gravel Driveway Cost?

The cost for new driveway installation varies based on size and complexity. For a 100-foot gravel driveway, you're looking at specific costs for materials and labor.

• Material costs for a 100-foot driveway. A 100-foot-long driveway that's 10 feet wide and 3 inches deep typically requires about 13 tons of gravel, with 3/4-inch crushed stone (ASTM #57) being the most common choice for driveways. Expect to pay $150 to $220 (CAD 208 to CAD 305) per ton delivered, which would make your material costs from $1,950 to $2,860 (CAD 2,698 to CAD 3,957).

• Labor costs. Labor costs for gravel driveway installation are between $20 and $70 (CAD 28 to CAD 97) an hour, with professional installation generally running $4 to $8 (CAD 5.53 to CAD 11) per square foot, depending on local labor rates, terrain and site conditions.

• Total cost. Expect to spend around $4,000 to $6,000 (CAD 5,534 to CAD 8,301) for a professionally installed 100-foot gravel driveway, but this can be significantly less with DIY labor.

For those considering a DIY driveway approach, a DIY gravel driveway costs $150 to $300 (CAD 208 to CAD 416) for tools, $200 to $1,500 (CAD 277 to CAD 2,076) for gravel and $200 to $400 (CAD 277 to CAD 554) per day for equipment rental.

Several additional factors can impact your final gravel driveway cost. Site preparation is often one of the largest variables. If your property needs significant grading, excavation or clearing, expect to pay $700 to $2,500 (CAD 968 to CAD 3,457) for these services. Tree removal can add $150 to $2,000 or more (CAD 208 to CAD 2,766), depending on size and complexity.

Geographic location also plays a role in pricing. Areas with higher costs of living typically see higher labor rates, while regions closer to quarries may have lower material costs due to reduced transportation expenses. If you're outside the supplier's standard delivery zone, delivery fees could be tacked on, which will add to the final cost.

More Related Articles:

• How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost?

• Dreaming of a Heated Driveway? Here’s What You Need to Know Before Installing One

• This Winter, Plow Your Own Driveway. Use This Guide to Get Started

• How to Resurface Your Asphalt or Blacktop Driveway

• Weeds, Whacked! 5 Ways to Kill Weeds in Your Driveway or Sidewalk

Is a Gravel Driveway Cheaper Than Concrete?

The short answer is yes — significantly cheaper. When comparing gravel driveway cost to concrete, the savings are substantial.

• Gravel driveways. $1.25 to $3 (CAD 1.73 to CAD 4.15) per square foot, including the cost of equipment and professional installation

• Concrete driveways, $5 to $18 (CAD 6.92 to CAD 25) per square foot

• Asphalt driveways. $3 to $20 (CAD 4.15 to CAD 28) per square foot

In most cases, a gravel driveway will cost much less than a concrete driveway. A gravel driveway is one of the least expensive driveway types and typically less than half the cost of a paved driveway.

Gravel maintenance involves regrading and adding material, typically every 1 to 3 years. The cost is relatively low, averaging $0.25 to $1 (CAD 0.35 to CAD 1.38) per square foot for replenishment. In contrast, concrete repair can be more complex and expensive when damage occurs. Gravel driveways are also more permeable, allowing water to drain through and reducing runoff, which can be beneficial for driveway installation in areas with drainage concerns.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.