Gravel driveway cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,700 – $10,900
- Per sq ft
- $2.70 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #81
- 1 = most expensive
A gravel driveway in Amherst, MA usually costs $2,700 to $10,900 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $2.70 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $460 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.96 an hour in the Amherst area, 23% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Amherst, MA, standard level
$5,150 to $8,450
About $5.10 to $8.30 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $2,850 | $4,550 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $5,150 | $8,450 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $3,000 | $4,850 | 44% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $3,700 | $5,900 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 1% |
| Total | $2,700 | $6,800 | $10,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Amherst 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, Amherst wages are 1.18 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Amherst is at 97.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,100 nationally becomes $3,000 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.2: $0 to $200.
Planning more than one job in Amherst?
Jobs that often go together with gravel driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Amherst wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+18%) and concrete slab lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,800 | +5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,100 | +10% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,600 – $5,400 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,550 – $6,450 | +18% |
Is Amherst cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 1,000 sq ft range from $6,550 to $7,200 across Amherst and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $2,700 – $10,900 | $6,800 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $2,800 – $11,400 | $7,100 | +5% |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $2,600 – $10,500 | $6,550 | −4% |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $2,850 – $11,500 | $7,200 | +6% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,000 | +3% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,050 | +4% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $2,900 – $11,700 | $7,300 | +7% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Amherst ranks #81 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Amherst is 7% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $2,900 – $11,800 | $7,350 | +8% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $2,850 – $11,500 | $7,200 | +6% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $2,800 – $11,400 | $7,100 | +5% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,050 | +3% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $2,600 – $10,500 | $6,550 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $2,450 – $9,950 | $6,200 | −9% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | −14% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,150 | −10% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $2,750 – $11,200 | $7,000 | +3% |
What local crews earn in Amherst
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 Amherst the blend is 1.18.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.96 an hour, which is 23% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $36.52 an hour. BLS counts 280 of them working in the area, 42.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 50% of the weighting: a median of $32.13 an hour, 12% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $38.91 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 27.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $590 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $400. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 8.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Amherst Town-Northampton has 65,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 273rd 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% | $22.14 | $27.96 | $36.52 | $22.66 | 1.23 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $27.45 | $32.13 | $38.91 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Optional extras in Amherst
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.07 for Amherst, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.18) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add edging (approx. 1 ft per 10 sq ft) | $540 – $1,950 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Amherst
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Amherst. 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
$2,700 to $6,000
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$5,150 to $8,450
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$7,650 to $10,900
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,350 – $3,050 | $2,600 – $4,300 | $3,900 – $5,550 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,700 – $6,000 | $5,150 – $8,450 | $7,650 – $10,900 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,700 – $6,000 | $5,150 – $8,450 | $7,650 – $10,900 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $5,400 – $11,900 | $10,300 – $16,800 | $15,100 – $21,700 |
Amherst 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, Westfield Barnes Muni Ap (15 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 Amherst are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Amherst gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.7 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 35 | 16 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 17 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 35 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 55 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 39 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 30 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Dec | 40 | 22 | 3.6 | Cold |
Gravel driveway: what moves the price in Amherst
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.
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.
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 $5,150 to $8,450 for Amherst, MA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Amherst, MA: 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.
Gravel driveway in Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Amherst?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,700 to $10,900 in the Amherst area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,150 to $8,450. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Amherst?
About $2.70 to $10.50 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 Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $7,100, which is 5% more than Amherst ($6,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $6,800. Materials are 44% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Amherst?
$2,700 to $10,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Amherst?
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 Amherst area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 7% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($7,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Amherst?
The BLS median is $27.96 an hour in the Amherst area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $36.52.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Amherst?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,700 to $6,000 and premium work $7,650 to $10,900. 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 Amherst?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May and August 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 Amherst?
$540 to $1,950 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Amherst
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.