Gravel Driveway Cost: Complete Planning and Installation Guide
A gravel driveway costs $1-3 per square foot installed — a fraction of asphalt or concrete.
Gravel is the most affordable driveway material: $1-3 per square foot for materials and installation, compared to $3-6 for asphalt and $6-15 for concrete. A standard 12×40-foot driveway (480 sq ft) costs $480-1,440 in gravel, versus $2,880-7,200 for concrete.
Material Calculation
Gravel driveways need three layers: base (4-6 inches of crushed stone), middle (2-3 inches of medium gravel), and top (2-3 inches of fine gravel or pea gravel). Total depth: 8-12 inches. One cubic yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. A 480 sq ft driveway needs approximately 12-15 cubic yards total across all layers.
Maintenance Reality
Gravel driveways need raking and releveling 1-2 times per year. Add 1-2 inches of top gravel every 2-3 years ($200-400). Weed control with landscape fabric under the gravel prevents growth. Edge restraints prevent gravel from spreading into the lawn. Total annual maintenance: $100-300 and a few hours of work.