Gravel driveway cost in Palm Bay, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,300 – $9,450
- Per sq ft
- $2.30 – $9.25
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #207
- 1 = most expensive
Palm Bay homeowners pay roughly $2,300 to $9,450 to install a gravel driveway at 1,000 sq ft, or $2.30 to $9.25 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Palm Bay is 8% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.50 an hour in the Palm Bay area, 5% below the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your gravel driveway cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Palm Bay, FL, standard level
$4,450 to $7,300
About $4.40 to $7.15 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,700 |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,450 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $4,450 | $7,300 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Palm Bay, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $3,000 | $4,800 | 51% |
| Labor | $1,150 | $2,800 | $4,400 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 2% |
| Total | $2,300 | $5,850 | $9,450 | 100% |
Why Palm Bay prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 50%. Weighted together, Palm Bay wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Palm Bay metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $3,000, compared with $3,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.0) and land at $0 to $200.
Palm Bay: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Palm Bay 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
$2,300 to $5,150
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,450 to $7,300
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,600 to $9,450
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,150 – $2,600 | $2,250 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,800 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,150 | $4,450 – $7,300 | $6,600 – $9,450 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,150 | $4,450 – $7,300 | $6,600 – $9,450 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,600 – $10,200 | $8,850 – $14,500 | $13,000 – $18,700 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Palm Bay is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.50 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.96 and $23.16 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 76.3 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 $23.62 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $27.95 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 25.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.16 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($17.96) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 2.0% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 245,170 jobs in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area. That makes it the 104th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.96 | $21.50 | $23.16 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $21.72 | $23.62 | $27.95 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Why two Palm Bay quotes can differ
Grading and edging
Grading runs $1-$3 per sq ft. Edging to keep the stone in is $5-$18 per linear foot.
Stone is sold by weight
Stone is priced by the ton, so every extra inch of depth or foot of width adds loads of delivery.
Permit
A driveway permit is typically $50-$200 where one is needed for a new curb cut or connection; plenty of rural counties require none.
When to schedule gravel driveway in Palm Bay
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Palm Bay (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Palm Bay (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Palm Bay gets about 56 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and September (8.0 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 2.4 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 102 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 | 73 | 49 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 75 | 52 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 79 | 55 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 83 | 60 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 65 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 71 | 7.6 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 6.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 72 | 8.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 85 | 67 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 79 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 75 | 52 | 2.5 | Workable |
Palm Bay against nearby metros and the rest of Florida
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Sebastian is the priciest of the group at $5,900. Lakeland is the cheapest at $5,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay, FLthis page | $2,300 – $9,450 | $5,850 | |
| Orlando, FL40 miles | $2,250 – $9,300 | $5,800 | −1% |
| Sebastian, FL40 miles | $2,300 – $9,500 | $5,900 | level |
| Lakeland, FL65 miles | $2,200 – $9,100 | $5,650 | −4% |
| Deltona, FL70 miles | $2,250 – $9,300 | $5,800 | −2% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL75 miles | $2,300 – $9,300 | $5,800 | −1% |
| Florida (statewide) | $2,300 – $9,500 | $5,900 | +1% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Palm Bay comes in at #207 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, Palm Bay is 1% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +6% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | level |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $2,250 – $9,300 | $5,800 | −1% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | −1% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $2,300 – $9,500 | $5,900 | +1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,850 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Palm Bay's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Palm Bay against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $2,550 – $10,400 | $6,450 | +10% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $2,950 – $11,900 | $7,450 | +27% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $2,500 – $10,300 | $6,400 | +9% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | −4% |
Add-ons priced for Palm Bay
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Palm Bay by the average of the local wage index (0.88) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.92. 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) | $460 – $1,650 |
Related projects, priced for Palm Bay
Because every project leans on different trades, Palm Bay's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −5% and concrete driveway −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,850 | −7% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,200 | −11% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,250 – $4,800 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,200 | −5% |
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 $4,450 to $7,300 for Palm Bay, FL is attached.
Detailed gravel driveway report for Palm Bay, FL, $9
The report lays out the gravel driveway numbers for Palm Bay, FL 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 Palm Bay: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Palm Bay?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,300 to $9,450 in the Palm Bay area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,450 to $7,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Palm Bay?
About $2.30 to $9.25 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $200 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $2.50 to $10.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Palm Bay or Orlando?
Orlando is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $5,800, which is 1% less than Palm Bay ($5,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Palm Bay?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $2,800 out of $5,850. Materials are 51% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Palm Bay?
$2,300 to $9,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Palm Bay?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $200 for fees in the Palm Bay area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Palm Bay expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Florida?
Palm Bay is 1% below the Florida statewide estimate ($5,900 at the midpoint). We cover 19 metros in Florida; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Palm Bay?
The BLS median is $21.50 an hour in the Palm Bay area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.96 to $23.16.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Palm Bay?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,300 to $5,150 and premium work $6,600 to $9,450. 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 Palm Bay?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and December 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 Palm Bay?
$460 to $1,650 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Palm Bay
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.