Concrete driveway cost in Gainesville, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,150 – $7,800
- Per sq ft
- $5.20 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #263
- 1 = most expensive
Gainesville homeowners pay roughly $3,150 to $7,800 to pour a concrete driveway at 600 sq ft, or $5.20 to $12.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Gainesville is 15% lower. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $22.02 an hour in the Gainesville area, 20% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Gainesville, GA, standard level
$4,550 to $6,400
About $7.45 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,250 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $150 |
| Total | $4,550 | $6,400 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Gainesville, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,800 | $2,300 | 33% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $3,550 | $5,300 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,500 | $7,800 | 100% |
Where the Gainesville price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: cement masons and concrete finishers at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 10%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Gainesville wages are 0.80 times the national level. Labor makes up about 65% of the midpoint estimate (69% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Gainesville metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $1,800, compared with $1,900 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.8) and land at $50 to $190.
Planning more than one job in Gainesville?
Because every project leans on different trades, Gainesville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs −9% and concrete patio −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,700 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,900 – $7,050 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,500 | −12% |
Gainesville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Gainesville wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,150 to $5,000
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$4,550 to $6,400
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$5,950 to $7,800
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,650 | $2,450 – $3,250 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $2,550 – $4,050 | $3,650 – $5,150 | $4,800 – $6,300 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $3,150 – $5,000 | $4,550 – $6,400 | $5,950 – $7,800 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $4,700 – $7,450 | $6,800 – $9,550 | $8,850 – $11,600 |
Concrete driveway: what moves the price in Gainesville
Finish
Decorative driveways run $10-$25 per sq ft installed: colors and borders at $10-$15, stamped patterns at $15-$20, and high-end finishes at $20-$25+ (HomeGuide).
Permits and the apron
A driveway permit is typically $50-$200 and is often required for new work. The apron where the driveway meets the street can need a separate right-of-way permit.
Thickness
HomeGuide prices a standard 4-inch driveway at $6-$15/sq ft and a 6-inch one, recommended for heavy vehicles, at $8-$20/sq ft.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Gainesville is 0.80 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.02 an hour, which is 20% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $23.40 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 4.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $18.40 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.16 and $22.24 an hour. About 600 work in the metro. That is 57.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.24 an hour, which is 19% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $26.20 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 28.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.24 an hour, which is 24% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.85 and $26.44 an hour. BLS counts 180 of them working in the area, 17.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($18.02) it shrinks by about $320. The total moves by 2.0% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 103,870 jobs in the Gainesville area. That makes it the 198th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $18.02 | $22.02 | $23.40 | $27.41 | 0.80 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.16 | $18.40 | $22.24 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $19.92 | $23.24 | $26.20 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $18.85 | $22.24 | $26.44 | $29.12 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Optional extras in Gainesville
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Gainesville by the average of the local wage index (0.80) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.88. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $530 – $1,600 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,050 – $3,200 |
When to schedule concrete driveway in Gainesville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Gainesville Gilmer Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Gainesville (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Gainesville gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, March and August (5.0 inches in January). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 35 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 34 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 55 | 36 | 4.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 63 | 43 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 50 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 58 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 66 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 70 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 87 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 52 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 42 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 36 | 4.7 | Cold |
Gainesville against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 600 sq ft range from $5,300 to $5,850 across Gainesville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, GAthis page | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | |
| Athens, GA45 miles | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Atlanta, GA50 miles | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +5% |
| Dalton, GA70 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −3% |
| Greenville, SC85 miles | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +7% |
| Macon, GA100 miles | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | −2% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,600 | +2% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | +17% |
Across 300 US metros, Gainesville comes in at #263 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $10,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $4,950 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, Gainesville is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +2% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | level |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −4% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Gainesville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Gainesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $3,900 – $9,950 | $6,950 | +26% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $3,600 – $9,100 | $6,350 | +16% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $4,200 – $11,000 | $7,600 | +39% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $3,250 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +4% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $4,550 to $6,400 for Gainesville, GA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Gainesville, GA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Concrete driveway in Gainesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Gainesville?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,150 to $7,800 in the Gainesville area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,550 to $6,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in Gainesville?
About $5.20 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in Gainesville or Athens?
Athens is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,400, which is 1% less than Gainesville ($5,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Gainesville?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $3,550 out of $5,500. Materials are 33% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in Gainesville?
$3,150 to $7,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete driveway need a permit in Gainesville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $190 for fees in the Gainesville area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Gainesville expensive for concrete driveway compared with the rest of Georgia?
Gainesville is 2% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($5,600 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Gainesville?
The BLS median is $22.02 an hour in the Gainesville area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.02 to $23.40.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in Gainesville?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $5,000 and premium work $5,950 to $7,800. Basic means: plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site. Premium means: 6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete driveway in Gainesville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add rebar reinforcement" add in Gainesville?
$530 to $1,600 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway near Gainesville
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's sample 600 sq ft, 4-inch driveway line ($1,400-$2,400 in materials) divided by 600 sq ft.