Gravel driveway cost in Amarillo, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,200 – $8,950
- Per sq ft
- $2.20 – $8.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #273
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a gravel driveway in Amarillo, plan on $2,200 to $8,950 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $2.20 to $8.75 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.35 an hour in the Amarillo area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Amarillo, TX, standard level
$4,200 to $6,900
About $4.15 to $6.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,200 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $130 |
| Total | $4,200 | $6,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Amarillo, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,900 | $4,700 | 52% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,550 | $4,050 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $2,200 | $5,550 | $8,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Amarillo number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $18.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Amarillo is 0.81 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Amarillo metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $2,900, compared with $3,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.8) and land at $0 to $180.
Climate in Amarillo: timing your gravel driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Amarillo (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through May and September through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Amarillo (6 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 108 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Amarillo gets about 20 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 17 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (2.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.3 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 72 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 | 52 | 25 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 28 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 65 | 35 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 43 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 62 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 66 | 2.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 65 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 58 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 61 | 34 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 26 | 0.7 | Cold |
Is Amarillo cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Santa Fe is the priciest of the group at $5,850. Lubbock is the cheapest at $5,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TXthis page | $2,200 – $8,950 | $5,550 | |
| Lubbock, TX125 miles | $2,150 – $8,750 | $5,450 | −2% |
| Midland, TX220 miles | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +5% |
| Santa Fe, NM230 miles | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +5% |
| Abilene, TX230 miles | $2,200 – $8,950 | $5,550 | level |
| Odessa, TX235 miles | $2,250 – $9,250 | $5,750 | +3% |
| Texas (statewide) | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +5% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Amarillo comes in at #273 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, Amarillo is 5% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,100 | +10% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | +7% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +5% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $2,200 – $9,000 | $5,600 | +1% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,100 – $8,650 | $5,400 | −3% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $2,050 – $8,350 | $5,200 | −7% |
Cities with a workforce like Amarillo's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amarillo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $2,850 – $11,500 | $7,150 | +29% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $2,850 – $11,400 | $7,150 | +28% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,050 | +27% |
| Midland, TX | 122,180 jobs | $2,300 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +5% |
Amarillo: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Amarillo 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
$2,200 to $4,900
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,200 to $6,900
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,250 to $8,950
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,100 – $2,500 | $2,150 – $3,500 | $3,150 – $4,550 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,200 – $4,900 | $4,200 – $6,900 | $6,250 – $8,950 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,200 – $4,900 | $4,200 – $6,900 | $6,250 – $8,950 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,350 – $9,700 | $8,350 – $13,700 | $12,400 – $17,700 |
Why two Amarillo 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.
Extras that change the Amarillo total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Amarillo by the average of the local wage index (0.81) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.88. 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) | $440 – $1,600 |
What nearby projects cost in Amarillo
Because every project leans on different trades, Amarillo's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −10% and concrete driveway −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,750 – $6,600 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −15% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,150 – $4,600 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,850 | −11% |
Amarillo 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 Amarillo is 0.81 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $18.35 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.77 and $21.85 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 78.3 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 $23.48 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.41 and $28.73 an hour. BLS counts 490 of them working in the area, 39.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.85 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $240. At the 25th percentile ($16.77) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 4.4% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 123,930 jobs in the Amarillo area. That makes it the 175th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $16.77 | $18.35 | $21.85 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $21.41 | $23.48 | $28.73 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
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Gravel driveway in Amarillo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Amarillo?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,200 to $8,950 in the Amarillo area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,200 to $6,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Amarillo?
About $2.20 to $8.75 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $180 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $2.50 to $10.
+Is gravel driveway cheaper in Amarillo or Lubbock?
Lubbock is 125 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $5,450, which is 2% less than Amarillo ($5,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amarillo?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $2,550 out of $5,550. Materials are 52% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Amarillo?
$2,200 to $8,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Amarillo?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $180 for fees in the Amarillo area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amarillo expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Texas?
Amarillo is 5% below the Texas statewide estimate ($5,800 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Amarillo?
The BLS median is $18.35 an hour in the Amarillo area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.77 to $21.85.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Amarillo?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,200 to $4,900 and premium work $6,250 to $8,950. 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 Amarillo?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September through November. March and November 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 Amarillo?
$440 to $1,600 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Amarillo
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.