Gravel Driveway Cost in 2026: $1 to $3 per Sq Ft for Materials, $2 to $5 Installed
A gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot for materials and $2 to $5 per square foot installed in 2026. A 12 x 40 ft single-car driveway runs $300 to $500 in gravel DIY, or $1,000 to $2,400 installed. A 24 x 40 ft two-car driveway runs $2,000 to $4,800 installed.
Cost per Ton
$20 to $45 per ton
Cost per Yard
$25 to $55 per cubic yard
Materials Compared
5 materials priced
Gravel Price Table by Type (2026)
Material only, sorted cheapest first. Truckload columns are tons x price per ton. Add $50 to $150 for delivery.
| Material | Per ton | Per yard | 10-ton load | 18-ton load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #57 Gravel | $20 to $35 | $25 to $45 | $200 to $350 | $360 to $630 |
| Crushed Limestone | $20 to $45 | $25 to $50 | $200 to $450 | $360 to $810 |
| Crushed Stone | $20 to $40 | $25 to $55 | $200 to $400 | $360 to $720 |
| Crusher Run | $20 to $35 | $25 to $45 | $200 to $350 | $360 to $630 |
| #8 Gravel | $22 to $40 | $28 to $50 | $220 to $400 | $396 to $720 |
Prices vary by region, quarry distance, and order size. Quarry-direct bulk orders run 10 to 30 percent under these ranges.
A gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot for materials and $2 to $5 per square foot installed in 2026. A 12 x 40 ft single-car driveway (480 sq ft) needs about 10 tons of gravel for a 4-inch layer and runs $300 to $500 in delivered material if you spread it yourself, or $1,000 to $2,400 with a contractor doing excavation, base, and grading. A two-car 24 x 40 ft driveway runs $2,000 to $4,800 installed. Long rural driveways cost $8 to $15 per linear foot at 12 feet wide.
Gravel is the cheapest driveway surface. Asphalt costs $7 to $13 per square foot and concrete $8 to $18, so a gravel driveway costs about a quarter of a paved one. The trade is maintenance: you will add a ton or two of fresh gravel every 2 to 3 years and rake out ruts after heavy rain.
Gravel Driveway Cost by Size
Prices below assume a 4-inch layer of crusher run or #57 stone at $20 to $35 per ton on top of existing firm ground, plus $75 to $150 delivery. The installed column adds excavation, a geotextile fabric, a compacted base, and grading by a contractor.
| Driveway size | Square feet | Tons at 4 in | Material delivered (DIY) | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 20 ft parking pad | 200 | 4 to 5 | $175 to $325 | $400 to $1,000 |
| 12 x 40 ft single car | 480 | 9 to 11 | $300 to $500 | $1,000 to $2,400 |
| 16 x 40 ft wide single | 640 | 12 to 15 | $375 to $650 | $1,300 to $3,200 |
| 24 x 40 ft two car | 960 | 18 to 22 | $500 to $900 | $2,000 to $4,800 |
| 12 x 100 ft | 1,200 | 23 to 27 | $600 to $1,100 | $2,400 to $6,000 |
| 12 x 300 ft rural | 3,600 | 68 to 80 | $1,700 to $3,100 | $7,200 to $18,000 |
A new driveway built from bare soil needs more than 4 inches. The standard build is 8 to 12 inches in three layers: 4 inches of #3 or #4 stone as a base, 3 to 4 inches of #57 in the middle, and 2 to 3 inches of #8, crusher run, or crushed limestone on top. That roughly doubles the tonnage in the table. Resurfacing an existing gravel driveway needs only 2 inches, so halve it.
Gravel Driveway Cost Per Square Foot
| Item | Cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Gravel only, 4 inches, delivered | $0.60 to $1.10 |
| Gravel only, full 8 to 12 inch build | $1.20 to $3.00 |
| Excavation and grading (contractor) | $0.50 to $2.00 |
| Geotextile fabric | $0.15 to $0.50 |
| Compaction and spreading labor | $0.50 to $1.50 |
| Edging (optional, steel or timber) | $2 to $8 per linear foot |
| Total installed | $2 to $5 |
Which Gravel for a Driveway and What It Costs
The price table on this page lists every driveway material with current per-ton and per-yard prices. Short version:
- Crusher run at $20 to $35 per ton is the best single-layer driveway gravel. The stone dust in the mix packs into a hard surface. Use it alone at 4 to 6 inches on firm ground.
- #57 gravel at $20 to $35 per ton drains well and is the standard middle layer. It stays loose on its own, so cap it with something finer.
- Crushed limestone at $20 to $45 per ton is the go-to top layer in the Midwest and South. It packs almost like pavement.
- #8 gravel at $22 to $40 per ton makes a smooth, quiet top surface.
- Recycled asphalt at $15 to $30 per ton is the cheapest driveway surface and hardens in the sun.
- Pea gravel looks good but rolls under tires. Skip it for driveways unless it sits in a grid.
What a Truckload Covers
A 10-ton single-axle load covers about 600 sq ft at 4 inches, or a 12 x 50 ft driveway. A 20-ton tandem load covers about 1,200 sq ft at 4 inches, or 12 x 100 ft. The delivery fee is $50 to $150 per load, so one big truck beats two small ones. Full details are in the dump truck load cost guide.
Worked Examples
Resurface a 12 x 40 ft driveway with 2 inches of crushed limestone. 480 sq ft x 2 in / 12 / 27 = 3 cubic yards. Times 1.4 = 4.2 tons, order 5 tons. Material $100 to $225, delivery $75 to $125. Total $175 to $350, one afternoon with a rake.
New 12 x 40 ft driveway on firm clay, single layer of crusher run at 4 inches. 5.9 cubic yards x 1.6 = 9.5 tons, order 10 tons. Material $200 to $350, delivery $75 to $150. Rent a plate compactor for $90. Total $365 to $590 DIY.
New 24 x 40 ft two-car driveway, full three-layer build. 960 sq ft. Base: 4 in of #4 stone = 11.9 cubic yards, about 17 tons. Middle: 3 in of #57 = 8.9 cubic yards, about 13 tons. Top: 2 in of #8 = 5.9 cubic yards, about 8.5 tons. Total about 39 tons, two tandem loads. Material $780 to $1,400, delivery $200 to $300, fabric $150 to $400. DIY total $1,100 to $2,100. Installed by a contractor with excavation and grading: $2,500 to $4,800.
Rural 12 x 300 ft driveway, 6 inches of crusher run. 3,600 sq ft x 6 / 12 / 27 = 66.7 cubic yards. Times 1.6 = 107 tons, five to six tandem loads. Material $2,100 to $3,700, delivery $500 to $900. Contractor with grading and culvert: $9,000 to $18,000.
What Changes the Price
- Soil under the driveway. Firm gravelly soil needs 4 inches. Soft clay or wet ground needs the full 8 to 12 inch build plus fabric, which triples the tonnage.
- Excavation. Cutting 6 to 10 inches of topsoil and hauling it away is $1 to $2 per square foot on its own.
- Distance to the quarry. Every 10 miles adds about $3 per ton. Read the gravel delivery cost guide.
- Drainage work. A culvert at the road runs $300 to $1,500 installed. A crowned surface and side ditches keep gravel from washing away and cost little if done during grading.
- Edging. Steel edging at $2 to $4 per foot or pressure-treated timbers at $3 to $8 per foot keep gravel in place. Optional on straight rural drives, worth it next to lawn.
- Stabilization grid. Plastic honeycomb grids add $1.50 to $3 per square foot and stop ruts on slopes and in soft soil.
Gravel Driveway Maintenance Cost
Plan on $100 to $300 every 2 to 3 years for a fresh 1 to 2 inch top-up on a standard driveway, plus an hour of raking after big storms. Regrading a rutted driveway with a box blade costs $150 to $400. Over 20 years a gravel driveway costs about half of asphalt including all maintenance.
Updated September 02, 2026
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Material Notes
Base layer of #3 or #4 stone runs $500–$800 for a standard driveway. Provides load-bearing stability.
Middle layer costs $400–$700. Fills gaps in the base and transitions to the top surface.
Finish layer costs $300–$600. Provides a smooth driving surface.
Popular alternative top layer in the Midwest. Compacts into a firm, almost concrete-like surface.
Single-layer option at $400–$700 for a standard driveway. Eliminates the need for a 3-layer system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
A gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot for materials and $2 to $5 per square foot installed in 2026. A 12 x 40 ft single-car driveway runs $300 to $500 in delivered gravel DIY or $1,000 to $2,400 installed. A 24 x 40 ft two-car driveway runs $2,000 to $4,800 installed.
How much gravel do I need for a driveway?
For a 4-inch layer, figure about 2 tons per 100 square feet. A 12 x 40 ft driveway needs about 10 tons. A full new build at 8 to 12 inches needs 2 to 3 times that, spread across three layers.
What is the cheapest gravel for a driveway?
Recycled asphalt at $15 to $30 per ton and crusher run at $20 to $35 per ton are the cheapest driveway surfaces. Both pack into a firm surface that resists ruts. Bank run gravel is cheaper still but stays loose.
How thick should gravel be on a driveway?
A resurfacing layer is 2 inches. A single layer on firm ground is 4 to 6 inches. A new driveway on soft soil should be 8 to 12 inches in three layers, each compacted before the next goes on.
How much does a 100 ft gravel driveway cost?
A 12 x 100 ft gravel driveway costs $600 to $1,100 in delivered gravel for a 4-inch layer, or $2,400 to $6,000 installed with excavation, fabric, base, and grading.
Is a gravel driveway cheaper than asphalt or concrete?
Yes. Gravel is $2 to $5 per square foot installed. Asphalt is $7 to $13 and concrete is $8 to $18. Gravel needs topping up every 2 to 3 years, but even with maintenance it costs about half as much over 20 years.
How long does a gravel driveway last?
A properly built gravel driveway with a compacted base lasts decades. The top layer thins as stone works into the base and gets pushed to the edges, so plan on adding 1 to 2 inches every 2 to 3 years.
Should I put fabric under a gravel driveway?
Yes on clay or soft soil. Geotextile fabric at $0.15 to $0.50 per square foot keeps the base stone from sinking into mud and can double the life of the driveway. On firm gravelly ground it is optional.
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