Gravel driveway cost in Kennewick, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $2,900 – $11,700
- Per sq ft
- $2.90 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $6,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #35
- 1 = most expensive
Kennewick homeowners pay roughly $2,900 to $11,700 to install a gravel driveway at 1,000 sq ft, or $2.90 to $11.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Kennewick is 15% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.32 an hour in the Kennewick area, 16% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Kennewick, WA, standard level
$5,500 to $9,050
About $5.45 to $8.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $4,050 |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $60 | $140 |
| Total | $5,500 | $9,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Kennewick, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $3,250 | $5,250 | 45% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $3,950 | $6,250 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $100 | $200 | 1% |
| Total | $2,900 | $7,300 | $11,700 | 100% |
Why Kennewick prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (50%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Kennewick the blended ratio comes out at 1.25.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kennewick metro is 105.0 (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 (100.1) and land at $0 to $200.
Pick a size, pick a tier: gravel driveway pricing in Kennewick
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kennewick 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
$2,900 to $6,400
Crusher-run spread and compacted on firm ground
Standard
$5,500 to $9,050
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) | $2,900 – $6,400 | $5,500 – $9,050 | $8,150 – $11,700 |
| 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) | $2,900 – $6,400 | $5,500 – $9,050 | $8,150 – $11,700 |
| long rural (2,000 sq ft) | $5,750 – $12,700 | $11,000 – $18,000 | $16,200 – $23,200 |
Related projects, priced for Kennewick
Because every project leans on different trades, Kennewick's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs +20% and sod installation +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,000 | +20% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,300 – $11,100 | +20% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,450 | +18% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,900 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
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 Kennewick is 1.25 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.32 an hour, 16% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.79 and $33.92 an hour. About 1,110 work in the metro. That is 85.7 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 $38.39 an hour, which is 33% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.53 and $48.81 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 35.5 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 ($33.92 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $530. At the 25th percentile ($21.79) it shrinks by about $310. The total moves by 7.2% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 129,490 jobs in the Kennewick-Richland area. That makes it the 169th 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% | $21.79 | $26.32 | $33.92 | $22.66 | 1.16 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 50% | $33.53 | $38.39 | $48.81 | $28.78 | 1.33 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Kennewick against nearby metros and the rest of Washington
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 $6,500 to $7,850 across Kennewick and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick, WAthis page | $2,900 – $11,700 | $7,300 | |
| Yakima, WA70 miles | $2,700 – $11,000 | $6,850 | −6% |
| Spokane, WA140 miles | $2,750 – $11,300 | $7,000 | −4% |
| Seattle, WA145 miles | $3,100 – $12,600 | $7,850 | +8% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID150 miles | $2,550 – $10,400 | $6,500 | −11% |
| Portland, OR165 miles | $2,850 – $11,700 | $7,250 | level |
| Washington (statewide) | $2,950 – $11,900 | $7,400 | +2% |
| United States | $2,500 – $10,200 | $6,350 | −13% |
Across 300 US metros, Kennewick comes in at #35 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, Kennewick is 2% below the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $3,100 – $12,600 | $7,850 | +8% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $2,750 – $11,300 | $7,000 | −4% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $3,100 – $12,600 | $7,850 | +8% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $2,700 – $11,000 | $6,850 | −6% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $2,850 – $11,600 | $7,250 | −1% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $3,050 – $12,400 | $7,700 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Kennewick's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kennewick against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | 129,860 jobs | $2,150 – $8,850 | $5,500 | −24% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $2,450 – $10,000 | $6,250 | −14% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $3,100 – $12,600 | $7,850 | +8% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $2,600 – $10,600 | $6,600 | −9% |
When to schedule gravel driveway in Kennewick
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Pasco Tri Cities Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and September through October are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Kennewick (6 of 12 months). January, February, November 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, 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 112 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Kennewick gets about 8 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (1.0 inches in January). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 55 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 | 41 | 28 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 49 | 28 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 59 | 33 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 38 | 0.7 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 46 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 53 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 93 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 56 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 81 | 48 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 38 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 32 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 41 | 27 | 1.0 | Cold |
Gravel driveway: what moves the price in Kennewick
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.
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.
Extras that change the Kennewick total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Kennewick by the average of the local wage index (1.25) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.15. 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 |
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 $9,050 for Kennewick, WA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Kennewick, WA: 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 Kennewick: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a gravel driveway in Kennewick?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $2,900 to $11,700 in the Kennewick area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,500 to $9,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for gravel driveway in Kennewick?
About $2.90 to $11.50 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 Kennewick or Yakima?
Yakima is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $6,850, which is 6% less than Kennewick ($7,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kennewick?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $3,950 out of $7,300. Materials are 45% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would 100 ft x 10 ft (1,000 sq ft) cost in Kennewick?
$2,900 to $11,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does gravel driveway need a permit in Kennewick?
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 Kennewick area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kennewick expensive for gravel driveway compared with the rest of Washington?
Kennewick is 2% below the Washington statewide estimate ($7,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Kennewick?
The BLS median is $26.32 an hour in the Kennewick area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.79 to $33.92.
+What do basic and premium gravel driveway work cost in Kennewick?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $2,900 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.
+When is the best time to install a gravel driveway in Kennewick?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through October. 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 Kennewick?
$570 to $2,050 for 1,000 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Gravel driveway near Kennewick
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.