Gravel driveway cost in Little Rock, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,150 – $8,750
- Per sq ft
- $2.15 – $8.60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #290
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a gravel driveway in Little Rock, plan on $2,150 to $8,750 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $2.15 to $8.60 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 14% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.88 an hour in the Little Rock area, 21% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Little Rock, AR, standard level
$4,150 to $6,800
About $4.05 to $6.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,200 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $130 |
| Total | $4,150 | $6,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Little Rock, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $2,900 | $4,700 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $2,150 | $5,450 | $8,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Little Rock number
Labor is 45% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (50%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Little Rock the blended ratio comes out at 0.78.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Little Rock metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $2,900, compared with $3,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.4) and land at $0 to $180.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Little Rock
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Little Rock 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
$2,150 to $4,800
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,150 to $6,800
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,100 to $8,750
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,450 | $2,100 – $3,450 | $3,100 – $4,450 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,800 | $4,150 – $6,800 | $6,100 – $8,750 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,800 | $4,150 – $6,800 | $6,100 – $8,750 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,300 – $9,500 | $8,200 – $13,400 | $12,100 – $17,300 |
Little Rock against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Fayetteville is the priciest of the group at $5,650. Fort Smith is the cheapest at $5,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, ARthis page | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | |
| Jonesboro, AR120 miles | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | level |
| Fort Smith, AR125 miles | $2,100 – $8,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Fayetteville, AR135 miles | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | level |
| Monroe, LA145 miles | $2,100 – $8,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $2,150 – $8,700 | $5,400 | −1% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +16% |
Across 300 US metros, Little Rock comes in at #290 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $9,500; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $5,200 (midpoints, 1,000 sq ft). Statewide, Little Rock is 1% above the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | +3% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $2,100 – $8,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Little Rock's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Little Rock against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,250 – $9,200 | $5,750 | +5% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $2,850 – $11,500 | $7,200 | +32% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,550 – $10,400 | $6,450 | +18% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,350 – $9,600 | $6,000 | +10% |
Little Rock labor market for gravel driveway
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Little Rock is 0.78 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $17.88 an hour, 21% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.75 and $20.34 an hour. About 2,790 work in the metro. That is 77.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.25 an hour, which is 23% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $23.95 an hour. BLS counts 1,230 of them working in the area, 34.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($20.34 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($16.75) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 3.1% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 358,210 jobs in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area. That makes it the 72nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.23% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.75 | $17.88 | $20.34 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $19.43 | $22.25 | $23.95 | $28.78 | 0.77 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Little Rock
Because every project leans on different trades, Little Rock's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −8% and concrete driveway −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,750 – $6,550 | −11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | −16% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −8% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,550 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,850 | −11% |
Optional extras in Little Rock
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Little Rock by the average of the local wage index (0.78) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.86. 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 edging (approx. 1 ft per 10 sq ft) | $430 – $1,550 |
Why two Little Rock quotes can differ
Depth and layers
A proper driveway is a 4-inch base plus a 2-inch top course. Each extra inch of stone adds weight in tons and money.
Labor share
HomeGuide puts labor at about 50% of a gravel driveway's total cost, so a longer or harder-to-reach site moves the price more than the stone does.
Grading and edging
Grading runs $1-$3 per sq ft. Edging to keep the stone in is $5-$18 per linear foot.
Climate in Little Rock: timing your gravel driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Little Rock Ap Adams Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Little Rock (9 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 50 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Little Rock gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and December (5.6 inches in April). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 55 | 34 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 5.6 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 3.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 70 | 3.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 63 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 33 | 5.1 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed gravel driveway report for Little Rock, AR, $9
The report lays out the gravel driveway numbers for Little Rock, AR line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Gravel driveway in Little Rock: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Little Rock?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,150 to $8,750 in the Little Rock area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $6,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Little Rock?
About $2.15 to $8.60 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $180 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $2.50 to $10.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Little Rock or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $5,450, which is 0% more than Little Rock ($5,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Little Rock?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $2,450 out of $5,450. Materials are 53% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Little Rock?
$2,150 to $8,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Little Rock?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $180 for fees in the Little Rock area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Little Rock expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Little Rock is 1% above the Arkansas statewide estimate ($5,400 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Little Rock?
The BLS median is $17.88 an hour in the Little Rock area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.75 to $20.34.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Little Rock?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,150 to $4,800 and premium work $6,100 to $8,750. Basic means: crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground. Premium means: deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage.
+When is the best time to install a gravel driveway in Little Rock?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. June and September 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 edging" add in Little Rock?
$430 to $1,550 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Little Rock
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 Gravel Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- CalculateGravel: Gravel Driveway Cost in 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: Installed range spans a basic spread-and-compact job ($2.50/sq ft low, CalculateGravel) to a full build with excavation ($10/sq ft high, HomeGuide). Materials low end is DIY stone ($1.20/sq ft, CalculateGravel); high end is half of HomeGuide's $10 because it says labor is about 50% of the project.