Gravel driveway cost in Alexandria, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,100 – $8,700
- Per sq ft
- $2.10 – $8.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #292
- 1 = most expensive
A gravel driveway in Alexandria, LA usually costs $2,100 to $8,700 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $2.10 to $8.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $950 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.76 an hour in the Alexandria area, 22% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Alexandria, LA, standard level
$4,100 to $6,700
About $4.05 to $6.60 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,200 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $2,950 |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 |
| Total | $4,100 | $6,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Alexandria, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $2,900 | $4,700 | 54% |
| Labor | $990 | $2,400 | $3,800 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $85 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $2,100 | $5,400 | $8,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Alexandria number
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, Alexandria wages are 0.76 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Alexandria is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,100 nationally becomes $2,900 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.7: $0 to $170.
What nearby projects cost in Alexandria
Jobs that often go together with gravel driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Alexandria wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (−11%) and concrete driveway lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,750 – $6,550 | −11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,800 | −15% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,900 | −12% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,750 | −13% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Alexandria bid
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.
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.
Alexandria against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $5,800. Monroe is the cheapest at $5,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LAthis page | $2,100 – $8,700 | $5,400 | |
| Lafayette, LA95 miles | $2,200 – $9,000 | $5,600 | +4% |
| Lake Charles, LA95 miles | $2,300 – $9,300 | $5,800 | +7% |
| Monroe, LA95 miles | $2,100 – $8,700 | $5,400 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA100 miles | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +8% |
| Shreveport, LA105 miles | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,600 | +4% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,650 | +4% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +18% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Alexandria ranks #292 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Alexandria is 4% below the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +8% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +8% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $2,200 – $9,000 | $5,600 | +4% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,200 – $9,050 | $5,600 | +4% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $2,300 – $9,300 | $5,800 | +7% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,200 – $9,000 | $5,600 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Alexandria against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +17% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,100 | +13% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | +1% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $2,650 – $10,800 | $6,700 | +24% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Alexandria
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Alexandria. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from single car (500 sq ft) to long rural (2,000 sq ft).
Basic
$2,100 to $4,750
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,100 to $6,700
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,050 to $8,700
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,400 | $2,050 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,400 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,100 – $4,750 | $4,100 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,700 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,100 – $4,750 | $4,100 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,700 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,250 – $9,400 | $8,100 – $13,300 | $12,000 – $17,200 |
Alexandria weather and the gravel driveway calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Alexandria (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Alexandria are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Alexandria gets about 61 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (6.1 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 4.6 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 93 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 39 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 63 | 42 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 55 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 68 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 57 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 68 | 46 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 40 | 6.0 | Workable |
Add-ons priced for Alexandria
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.85 for Alexandria, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.76) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add edging (approx. 1 ft per 10 sq ft) | $430 – $1,550 |
What local crews earn in Alexandria
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Alexandria the blend is 0.76.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $17.76 an hour, which is 22% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.53 and $21.18 an hour. BLS counts 610 of them working in the area, 101.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.43 an hour, 26% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $17.11 and $25.07 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 43.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $240 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 2.9% to 4.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Alexandria has 60,000 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 288th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $15.53 | $17.76 | $21.18 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $17.11 | $21.43 | $25.07 | $28.78 | 0.74 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
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Detailed gravel driveway report for Alexandria, LA, $9
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Gravel driveway in Alexandria: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Alexandria?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,100 to $8,700 in the Alexandria area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,100 to $6,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Alexandria?
About $2.10 to $8.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $2.50 to $10.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Alexandria or Lafayette?
Lafayette is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $5,600, which is 4% more than Alexandria ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Alexandria?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $2,400 out of $5,400. Materials are 54% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Alexandria?
$2,100 to $8,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Alexandria?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $170 for fees in the Alexandria area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Alexandria expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Alexandria is 4% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($5,650 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Alexandria?
The BLS median is $17.76 an hour in the Alexandria area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.53 to $21.18.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Alexandria?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,100 to $4,750 and premium work $6,050 to $8,700. 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 Alexandria?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May 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 Alexandria?
$430 to $1,550 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Alexandria
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.