Gravel driveway cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,850 – $11,500
- Per sq ft
- $2.85 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #47
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a gravel driveway in the Worcester area: $2,850 to $11,500 for 1,000 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.52 an hour in the Worcester area, 30% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$5,450 to $8,950
About $5.40 to $8.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $3,100 | $5,050 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $5,450 | $8,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $3,000 | $4,850 | 42% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $4,100 | $6,500 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $210 | 1% |
| Total | $2,850 | $7,200 | $11,500 | 100% |
Where the Worcester price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.52 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Worcester is 1.30 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 57% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Worcester 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 102.5: $0 to $210.
How Worcester compares
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 $6,300 to $7,350 across Worcester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $2,850 – $11,500 | $7,200 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $2,700 – $10,900 | $6,800 | −5% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $2,800 – $11,400 | $7,100 | −1% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −12% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $2,900 – $11,800 | $7,350 | +2% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,000 | −2% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $2,900 – $11,700 | $7,300 | +2% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Worcester ranks #47 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Worcester is 2% 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 | +2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $2,800 – $11,400 | $7,100 | −1% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,050 | −2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $2,700 – $10,900 | $6,800 | −5% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $2,600 – $10,500 | $6,550 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | −24% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,350 – $9,600 | $6,000 | −17% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,250 – $9,200 | $5,750 | −20% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $2,300 – $9,500 | $5,900 | −18% |
Cost by quality level and size in Worcester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Worcester. 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
$2,850 to $6,300
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$5,450 to $8,950
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$8,050 to $11,500
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,400 – $3,200 | $2,750 – $4,550 | $4,100 – $5,850 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,850 – $6,300 | $5,450 – $8,950 | $8,050 – $11,500 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,850 – $6,300 | $5,450 – $8,950 | $8,050 – $11,500 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $5,700 – $12,600 | $10,800 – $17,700 | $16,000 – $22,900 |
The best months for gravel driveway in Worcester
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Worcester Rgnl Ap (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 Worcester are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 130 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Worcester gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 73 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 32 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 26 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 61 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 4.3 | Cold |
Optional extras in Worcester
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.13 for Worcester, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.30) 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) | $570 – $2,050 |
Who does the work: Worcester trade wages
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 Worcester the blend is 1.30.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $43.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,650 of them working in the area, 47.2 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 $37.05 an hour, 29% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.12 and $54.24 an hour. About 1,230 work in the metro. That is 35.2 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 $960 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $440. That is a swing of roughly 6.1% to 13.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Worcester has 349,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 73rd 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% | $23.23 | $29.52 | $43.40 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $29.12 | $37.05 | $54.24 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Worcester
Jobs that often go together with gravel driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Worcester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+16%) and concrete slab lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,050 | +8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,050 – $10,500 | +13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,550 | +7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,300 | +15% |
Why two Worcester quotes can differ
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.
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 $5,450 to $8,950 for Worcester, MA is attached.
Detailed gravel driveway report for Worcester, MA, $9
Multi-page report for Worcester, 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 Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Worcester?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,850 to $11,500 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,450 to $8,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Worcester?
About $2.85 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $210 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $2.50 to $10.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $6,800, which is 5% less than Worcester ($7,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $4,100 out of $7,200. Materials are 42% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$2,850 to $11,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Worcester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $210 for fees in the Worcester area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 2% 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 Worcester?
The BLS median is $29.52 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.23 to $43.40.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Worcester?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $6,300 and premium work $8,050 to $11,500. 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 Worcester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July 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 Worcester?
$570 to $2,050 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Worcester
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.