Gravel driveway cost in College Station, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,150 – $8,850
- Per sq ft
- $2.15 – $8.65
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #281
- 1 = most expensive
A gravel driveway in College Station, TX usually costs $2,150 to $8,850 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $2.15 to $8.65 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $850 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.88 an hour in the College Station area, 21% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in College Station, TX, standard level
$4,150 to $6,850
About $4.10 to $6.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,200 | $3,600 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $130 |
| Total | $4,150 | $6,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in College Station, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,900 | $4,700 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,500 | $4,000 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $90 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $2,150 | $5,500 | $8,850 | 100% |
Where the College Station 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 $17.88 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for College Station is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. College Station is at 93.8 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 91.0: $0 to $180.
College Station against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than College Station. Tyler is the lowest at about $5,500 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TXthis page | $2,150 – $8,850 | $5,500 | |
| Waco, TX75 miles | $2,150 – $8,850 | $5,500 | level |
| Austin, TX75 miles | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +6% |
| Killeen, TX85 miles | $2,150 – $8,850 | $5,500 | level |
| Houston, TX95 miles | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | +8% |
| Tyler, TX135 miles | $2,150 – $8,800 | $5,500 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +6% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, College Station ranks #281 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, College Station is 5% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,100 | +11% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | +8% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +6% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $2,200 – $9,000 | $5,600 | +2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,100 – $8,650 | $5,400 | −2% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $2,050 – $8,350 | $5,200 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is College Station against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $2,750 – $11,000 | $6,900 | +25% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $2,700 – $11,000 | $6,850 | +24% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $2,800 – $11,300 | $7,000 | +28% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | +6% |
Extras that change the College Station total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for College Station, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.80) 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 |
College Station 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, College Stn (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 College Station are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
College Station gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.9 inches in October). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 117 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 | 62 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 45 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 58 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 75 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 82 | 60 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.7 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a College Station bid
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.
Grading and edging
Grading runs $1-$3 per sq ft. Edging to keep the stone in is $5-$18 per linear foot.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in College Station
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to College Station. 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
$2,150 to $4,850
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,150 to $6,850
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$6,150 to $8,850
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,100 – $2,450 | $2,100 – $3,500 | $3,150 – $4,500 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,850 | $4,150 – $6,850 | $6,150 – $8,850 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,850 | $4,150 – $6,850 | $6,150 – $8,850 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,300 – $9,600 | $8,300 – $13,600 | $12,200 – $17,500 |
What local crews earn in College Station
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 College Station the blend is 0.80.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $17.88 an hour, which is 21% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.43 and $20.78 an hour. BLS counts 770 of them working in the area, 57.4 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 $23.07 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $27.69 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 44.0 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 $200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $100. That is a swing of roughly 1.8% to 3.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
College Station-Bryan has 134,040 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 164th 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% | $16.43 | $17.88 | $20.78 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $21.42 | $23.07 | $27.69 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in College Station
Jobs that often go together with gravel driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same College Station wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−10%) and concrete driveway lowest (−18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,700 – $6,500 | −12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,550 | −18% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,950 | −10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,550 | −13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,550 – $4,650 | −14% |
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 $4,150 to $6,850 for College Station, TX is attached.
Detailed gravel driveway report for College Station, TX, $9
The report lays out the gravel driveway numbers for College Station, TX line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 College Station: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in College Station?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,150 to $8,850 in the College Station area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $6,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in College Station?
About $2.15 to $8.65 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 College Station or Waco?
Waco is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $5,500, which is 0% more than College Station ($5,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in College Station?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $2,500 out of $5,500. Materials are 53% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in College Station?
$2,150 to $8,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in College Station?
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 College Station area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is College Station expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Texas?
College Station 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 College Station?
The BLS median is $17.88 an hour in the College Station area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.43 to $20.78.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in College Station?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,150 to $4,850 and premium work $6,150 to $8,850. 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 College Station?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and April 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 College Station?
$430 to $1,550 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near College Station
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.