Gravel driveway cost in Georgia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,250 – $9,200
- Per sq ft
- $2.25 – $9
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $6,350
- Metros covered
- 10
Across Georgia, a gravel driveway costs about $2,250 to $9,200 for 1,000 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% below the US figure of $6,350. Construction laborers earn a median $18.74 an hour in Georgia (US: $22.66).
Inside Georgia, the metros we cover range from $5,350 (Dalton) to $5,900 (Atlanta) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Georgia (statewide), standard level
$4,350 to $7,100
About $4.30 to $7 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,800 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $130 |
| Total | $4,350 | $7,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Georgia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $3,050 | $4,950 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,550 | $4,050 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $95 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $2,250 | $5,750 | $9,200 | 100% |
Which Georgia city is cheapest for gravel driveway?
1 of the 10 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,750, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,000 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $2,300 – $9,500 | $5,900 | +3% |
| Warner Robins, GA | $2,200 – $9,100 | $5,650 | −1% |
| Augusta, GA | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | −2% |
| Gainesville, GA | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | −2% |
| Macon, GA | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | −2% |
| Savannah, GA | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,600 | −2% |
| Columbus, GA | $2,150 – $8,850 | $5,500 | −4% |
| Athens, GA | $2,150 – $8,800 | $5,500 | −4% |
| Albany, GA | $2,150 – $8,800 | $5,450 | −5% |
| Dalton, GA | $2,100 – $8,550 | $5,350 | −7% |
Other Georgia jobs that often go with gravel driveway
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Georgia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−3%) and concrete driveway lowest (−13%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,800 | −7% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,950 | −13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,900 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,800 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,950 | −9% |
How Georgia compares with nearby states
Georgia ranks 45 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for gravel driveway, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $9,200 and the cheapest Arkansas at $5,400, both for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint. Georgia sits at $5,750. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 170 miles away | $2,200 – $8,950 | $5,550 | −3% |
| South Carolina | 180 miles away | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +1% |
| Tennessee | 210 miles away | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | +4% |
| North Carolina | 270 miles away | $2,300 – $9,450 | $5,900 | +3% |
| Kentucky | 320 miles away | $2,400 – $9,800 | $6,100 | +7% |
Quality levels and sizes in Georgia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Georgia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,250 to $5,050
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,350 to $7,100
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,400 to $9,200
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,100 – $2,550 | $2,200 – $3,650 | $3,250 – $4,700 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,250 – $5,050 | $4,350 – $7,100 | $6,400 – $9,200 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,250 – $5,050 | $4,350 – $7,100 | $6,400 – $9,200 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,500 – $10,000 | $8,600 – $14,100 | $12,700 – $18,200 |
Gravel driveway: what moves the price in Georgia
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.
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 Georgia weather lets you install
Season matters for gravel driveway. For each Georgia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Gainesville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Georgia at 12 months; Albany has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 45 inches a year in Augusta to 55 inches in Dalton.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 34 | 90 | 48 | 11: August through June |
| Augusta | 40 | 94 | 45 | 9: September through May |
| Savannah | 40 | 92 | 48 | 9: September through May |
| Columbus | 38 | 93 | 49 | 9: September through May |
| Gainesville | 34 | 88 | 52 | 12: all year |
| Athens | 34 | 92 | 49 | 10: September through June |
| Macon | 36 | 94 | 47 | 9: September through May |
| Warner Robins | 36 | 91 | 52 | 10: September through June |
| Dalton | 32 | 91 | 55 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Albany | 39 | 93 | 47 | 9: September through May |
Wages behind the Georgia number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.81 for Georgia.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.74 an hour, 17% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.93 and $22.57 an hour. About 27,800 work in the state. That is 56.9 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 50%) the local median is $23.02 an hour, which is 20% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.03 and $27.38 an hour. BLS counts 15,700 of them working in the state, 32.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($22.57 an hour) would add about $270 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($16.93) would take off about $130. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,889,170 jobs across Georgia (May 2025), which is 3.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.93 | $18.74 | $22.57 | $22.66 | 0.83 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $20.03 | $23.02 | $27.38 | $28.78 | 0.80 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Extras that change the Georgia total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Georgia by the average of the local wage index (0.81) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 0.90. 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) | $450 – $1,600 |
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Gravel driveway in Georgia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Georgia?
$2,250 to $9,200 for 1,000 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Georgia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Georgia is cheapest for gravel driveway?
Dalton at about $5,350 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). The priciest is Atlanta at $5,900.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Georgia than the US average?
It is 10% cheaper: $5,750 against $6,350 for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Georgia?
About 45% ($2,550). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.81x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Georgia?
The BLS statewide median is $18.74 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.93 to $22.57.
+Where does Georgia rank for gravel driveway costs?
45th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,750 for 1,000 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Georgia?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,250 to $5,050 and premium work $6,400 to $9,200. Basic means: crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground. Premium means: deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage.
+Does the season matter for gravel driveway in Georgia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Georgia metros we cover, Gainesville has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add edging" add in Georgia?
$450 to $1,600 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway by city in Georgia
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.