Gravel driveway cost in Salt Lake City, UT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,500 – $10,100
- Per sq ft
- $2.50 – $9.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #135
- 1 = most expensive
Salt Lake City homeowners pay roughly $2,500 to $10,100 to install a gravel driveway at 1,000 sq ft, or $2.50 to $9.90 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Salt Lake City is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Salt Lake City, UT, standard level
$4,750 to $7,850
About $4.70 to $7.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $3,700 |
| Labor | $2,450 | $3,950 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $4,750 | $7,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Salt Lake City, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $3,000 | $4,800 | 47% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $3,200 | $5,100 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 2% |
| Total | $2,500 | $6,300 | $10,100 | 100% |
Why Salt Lake City prices look the way they do
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, Salt Lake City wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Salt Lake City metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $3,000, compared with $3,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.9) and land at $0 to $200.
Add-ons priced for Salt Lake City
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Salt Lake City by the average of the local wage index (1.02) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.99. 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) | $500 – $1,800 |
What nearby projects cost in Salt Lake City
Because every project leans on different trades, Salt Lake City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs +3% and French drain level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,500 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,350 | +1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,200 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
Specs and site conditions that change a Salt Lake City bid
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.
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Salt Lake City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Salt Lake City 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
$2,500 to $5,550
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,750 to $7,850
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$7,050 to $10,100
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,250 – $2,800 | $2,400 – $4,000 | $3,600 – $5,150 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,500 – $5,550 | $4,750 – $7,850 | $7,050 – $10,100 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,500 – $5,550 | $4,750 – $7,850 | $7,050 – $10,100 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $4,950 – $11,000 | $9,500 – $15,500 | $14,000 – $20,000 |
When to schedule gravel driveway in Salt Lake City
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Salt Lake City Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and September through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Salt Lake City (7 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); 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 112 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Salt Lake City gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and May (2.2 inches in April). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.9 and 1.1 inches. The station averages about 62 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 | 39 | 24 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 29 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 36 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 50 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 59 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 68 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 67 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 81 | 56 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 33 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 1.4 | Cold |
How Salt Lake City 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 $6,150 to $6,300 across Salt Lake City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UTthis page | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | |
| Provo, UT60 miles | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −1% |
| Ogden, UT70 miles | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,250 | −1% |
| Logan, UT110 miles | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,150 | −3% |
| Idaho Falls, ID210 miles | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | level |
| St. George, UT230 miles | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,150 | −3% |
| Utah (statewide) | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,250 | −1% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Salt Lake City comes in at #135 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, Salt Lake City is 1% above the Utah figure.
Other Utah metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −1% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,250 | −1% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,150 | −3% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $2,400 – $9,850 | $6,150 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Salt Lake City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Salt Lake City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $2,700 – $10,900 | $6,800 | +8% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $2,800 – $11,200 | $7,000 | +11% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $3,100 – $12,500 | $7,800 | +24% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $2,300 – $9,350 | $5,800 | −8% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Salt Lake City is 1.02 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.82 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $27.96 an hour. About 7,790 work in the metro. That is 94.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.69 an hour, which is 3% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $32.13 an hour. BLS counts 2,570 of them working in the area, 31.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $360. At the 25th percentile ($19.03) it shrinks by about $260. The total moves by 5.7% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 826,210 jobs in the Salt Lake City-Murray area. That makes it the 37th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $19.03 | $22.82 | $27.96 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $27.70 | $29.69 | $32.13 | $28.78 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Detailed gravel driveway report for Salt Lake City, UT, $9
Multi-page report for Salt Lake City, UT: 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 Salt Lake City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Salt Lake City?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,500 to $10,100 in the Salt Lake City area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,750 to $7,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Salt Lake City?
About $2.50 to $9.90 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 Salt Lake City or Provo?
Provo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $6,200, which is 1% less than Salt Lake City ($6,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Salt Lake City?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $3,200 out of $6,300. Materials are 47% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Salt Lake City?
$2,500 to $10,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Salt Lake City?
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 Salt Lake City area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Salt Lake City expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Utah?
Salt Lake City is 1% above the Utah statewide estimate ($6,250 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Salt Lake City?
The BLS median is $22.82 an hour in the Salt Lake City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.03 to $27.96.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Salt Lake City?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $5,550 and premium work $7,050 to $10,100. 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 Salt Lake City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. June and September 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 Salt Lake City?
$500 to $1,800 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Salt Lake City
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.