Gravel driveway cost in Burlington, VT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,500 – $10,200
- Per sq ft
- $2.50 – $10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #125
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a gravel driveway in the Burlington area: $2,500 to $10,200 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 lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.01 an hour in the Burlington area, 6% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Burlington, VT, standard level
$4,800 to $7,900
About $4.75 to $7.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $4,800 | $7,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Burlington, VT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $3,000 | $4,850 | 47% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $3,250 | $5,150 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 2% |
| Total | $2,500 | $6,350 | $10,200 | 100% |
Why Burlington 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, Burlington wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 51% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Burlington is at 97.3 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 100.9: $0 to $200.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Burlington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Burlington. 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
$2,500 to $5,600
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$4,800 to $7,900
Excavated base plus top course, fabric, light grading
Premium
$7,150 to $10,200
Deep multi-layer build, edging, culvert or drainage
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single car (500 sq ft) | $1,250 – $2,850 | $2,450 – $4,000 | $3,650 – $5,200 |
| two car (1,000 sq ft) | $2,500 – $5,600 | $4,800 – $7,900 | $7,150 – $10,200 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,500 – $5,600 | $4,800 – $7,900 | $7,150 – $10,200 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $5,000 – $11,100 | $9,600 – $15,700 | $14,100 – $20,200 |
Why two Burlington quotes can differ
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.
Planning more than one job in Burlington?
Jobs that often go together with gravel driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Burlington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+7%) and asphalt driveway lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,400 | level |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,600 | +4% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,650 | +3% |
The best months for gravel driveway in Burlington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Burlington Intl 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 Burlington are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 145 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Burlington gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 88 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and October (4.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and August are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 29 | 13 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 14 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
Who does the work: Burlington 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 Burlington the blend is 1.03.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.01 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $28.38 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 38.3 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 $28.85 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $30.71 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 27.5 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 $300 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $70. That is a swing of roughly 1.1% to 4.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Burlington-South Burlington has 120,150 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 182nd 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% | $23.00 | $24.01 | $28.38 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $27.00 | $28.85 | $30.71 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Optional extras in Burlington
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for Burlington, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.03) 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) | $500 – $1,800 |
Burlington against nearby metros and the rest of Vermont
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Albany is the priciest of the group at $7,150. Portland is the cheapest at $6,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VTthis page | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | |
| Albany, NY140 miles | $2,800 – $11,400 | $7,150 | +12% |
| Manchester, NH140 miles | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −1% |
| Utica, NY140 miles | $2,550 – $10,400 | $6,500 | +2% |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −1% |
| Pittsfield, MA160 miles | $2,600 – $10,500 | $6,550 | +3% |
| Vermont (statewide) | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −1% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Burlington ranks #125 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Burlington is 1% above the Vermont figure.
Burlington is the only Vermont metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | 120,480 jobs | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,400 – $9,750 | $6,050 | −5% |
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $2,200 – $8,950 | $5,550 | −12% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −2% |
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 $4,800 to $7,900 for Burlington, VT is attached.
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Multi-page report for Burlington, VT: 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 Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Burlington?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,500 to $10,200 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,800 to $7,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Burlington?
About $2.50 to $10 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 Burlington or Albany?
Albany is 140 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $7,150, which is 12% more than Burlington ($6,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $3,250 out of $6,350. Materials are 47% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Burlington?
$2,500 to $10,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Burlington?
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 Burlington area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Vermont?
Burlington is 1% above the Vermont statewide estimate ($6,300 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $24.01 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.00 to $28.38.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Burlington?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $5,600 and premium work $7,150 to $10,200. 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 Burlington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and August 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 Burlington?
$500 to $1,800 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Burlington
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.