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The average cost of a gravel driveway is about $1.25 to $2 per square foot, including the cost of materials, equipment, and professional installation. For example, a 16-by-30-foot driveway costs about $1,500. Cost factors include the type of gravel, how thick the gravel is installed, the condition of the landscape, and labor costs. Overall costs will vary depending on where you live and how accessible the job site is.

Because gravel moves, it requires different maintenance than asphalt or concrete. Here are a few maintenance tips for your gravel driveway. Every few years (or as often as needed):

• Grade and level your driveway

• Rake to fill holes and ruts

• Compact any refilled potholes

• Remove weeds with herbicide or by hand

• Spray it with water to reduce the amount of dust kicked up

• Avoid using a snowplow during winter months

A gravel driveway should last for up to 100 years with proper upkeep, which is minimal. Maintaining a gravel driveway includes grading and adding fresh gravel to fill in potholes. Otherwise, a gravel driveway holds up well to all kinds of weather. Plowing in the winter can be challenging and the gravel can develop ruts or potholes that need to be repaired, but the cost and longevity of gravel compared to concrete, asphalt, and pavers makes gravel an economical option, especially for long and/or wide driveways.

A gravel driveway should be at least 4 to 6 inches deep, depending on the soil it’s installed on. Softer soil that doesn’t drain well should have a deeper gravel driveway. Deeper gravel will mean you spend more on materials and labor, but you’ll get a more stable driveway and avoid damage that needs to be filled or graded flat again.