Gravel driveway cost in Portland, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,850 – $11,700
- Per sq ft
- $2.85 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #40
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a gravel driveway in Portland, plan on $2,850 to $11,700 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $2.85 to $11.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 14% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.08 an hour in the Portland area, 15% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Portland, OR, standard level
$5,500 to $9,000
About $5.45 to $8.85 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $4,050 |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,800 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $150 |
| Total | $5,500 | $9,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Portland, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $3,250 | $5,250 | 45% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $3,900 | $6,200 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $110 | $210 | 1% |
| Total | $2,850 | $7,250 | $11,700 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
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, Portland wages are 1.24 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Portland metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $3,250, compared with $3,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.4) and land at $0 to $210.
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Oregon
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 $6,650 to $7,850 across Portland and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ORthis page | $2,850 – $11,700 | $7,250 | |
| Salem, OR50 miles | $2,800 – $11,500 | $7,150 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA95 miles | $3,100 – $12,600 | $7,850 | +8% |
| Yakima, WA100 miles | $2,700 – $11,000 | $6,850 | −5% |
| Eugene, OR115 miles | $2,650 – $10,700 | $6,650 | −8% |
| Bend, OR125 miles | $2,700 – $11,100 | $6,900 | −5% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $2,750 – $11,200 | $7,000 | −4% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | −13% |
Across 300 US metros, Portland comes in at #40 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, Portland is 4% above the Oregon figure.
Other Oregon metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $2,800 – $11,500 | $7,150 | −2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $2,650 – $10,700 | $6,650 | −8% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $2,700 – $11,100 | $6,900 | −5% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Portland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | −20% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,400 | −12% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $3,000 – $12,000 | $7,500 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,550 – $14,300 | $8,950 | +23% |
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Portland 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
$2,850 to $6,400
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$5,500 to $9,000
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$8,150 to $11,700
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,450 – $3,250 | $2,800 – $4,600 | $4,150 – $5,950 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,850 – $6,400 | $5,500 – $9,000 | $8,150 – $11,700 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,850 – $6,400 | $5,500 – $9,000 | $8,150 – $11,700 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $5,750 – $12,700 | $10,900 – $17,900 | $16,100 – $23,100 |
Climate in Portland: timing your gravel driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Portland Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Portland: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Portland gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in December). The station averages about 15 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 | 48 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 37 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 40 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 44 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 54 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 54 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 47 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 41 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 36 | 5.8 | Workable |
Optional extras in Portland
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Portland by the average of the local wage index (1.24) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.14. 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) | $570 – $2,050 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Portland bid
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.
Related projects, priced for Portland
Because every project leans on different trades, Portland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +19% and sod installation +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,450 – $8,500 | +14% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,300 – $11,000 | +19% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,650 | +11% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,900 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
Portland labor market for gravel driveway
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 Portland is 1.24 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.08 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.45 and $31.65 an hour. About 7,950 work in the metro. That is 65.8 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 $38.00 an hour, which is 32% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $31.37 and $50.10 an hour. BLS counts 3,040 of them working in the area, 25.2 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 ($31.65 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $390. At the 25th percentile ($21.45) it shrinks by about $320. The total moves by 5.3% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,208,410 jobs in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area. That makes it the 25th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.78% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.45 | $26.08 | $31.65 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $31.37 | $38.00 | $50.10 | $28.78 | 1.32 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
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 $5,500 to $9,000 for Portland, OR is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Portland, OR: 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 Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Portland?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,850 to $11,700 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,500 to $9,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Portland?
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 Portland or Salem?
Salem is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $7,150, which is 2% less than Portland ($7,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $3,900 out of $7,250. Materials are 45% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$2,850 to $11,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Oregon?
Portland is 4% above the Oregon statewide estimate ($7,000 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $26.08 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.45 to $31.65.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Portland?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $6,400 and premium work $8,150 to $11,700. Basic means: crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground. Premium means: deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage.
+Is there a bad season to install a gravel driveway in Portland?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add edging" add in Portland?
$570 to $2,050 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Portland
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.