How Much Does It Cost to Pave a Driveway?

The national average cost to pave a driveway currently ranges from $5.45 to $15.10 per square foot. The concrete material and driveway size will affect this price, as well as whether or not installation is required for your project location in terms of the time frame it takes place over (i e: quickly vs slowly).

The more costly materials can cost as much as $31 per square foot, while cheaper ones are only priced competitively with each other, usually ranging from about $1.50 to $7.25 to install.

Driveway Paving Prices in Your Area

California$5,600 – $13,700
Pennsylvania$5,200 – $10,470
Florida$2,300 – $5,550
Arizona$2,970 – $6,542
Texas$3,100 – $6,100
Tennessee$4,100 – $5,230

A new driveway will not only make your entryway more attractive but will also add value to your home and make winters much more manageable. Whether you are looking to have a new driveway installed or repair seasonal damage, asphalt and concrete are two great choices for your new driveways. To learn more about the cost to pave a driveway, check out this helpful guide!

Benefits of Installing or Repairing a New Driveway

When the time comes to sell your house, nothing ruins the curb appeal like a shoddy driveway full of cracks and weeds. If you don’t take care of the entryway to your home, how bad does the inside look? When it comes to installing a new driveway or fixing any damage, there are several different materials to choose from.

Your new driveway can be made from gravel, flagstones, asphalt, and cement, each with its pros and cons. However, asphalt and cement are better for overall durability and snow removal, making them popular choices. To determine how much your new driveway will cost, you should know how many square feet it will need to cover.

To calculate the square footage of your driveway, you need to know the length and width that you plan on using and multiply them. For example, if your driveway’s area is fifteen feet by thirty feet, you would need to pay for 450 square feet. If you are installing a new driveway where one did not exists before, you will have to consult your local building code authority.

Many cities have rules about the width of the driveway and how far way it must be built from a street corner. Building codes can also determine what materials can be used, the slope of the driveway, and how it connects to the street. If you don’t follow your local building codes, you could end up having to remove your driveway, which will cost you even more money.

Which Is Cheaper, Concrete or Asphalt Driveway?

The cost of laying asphalt is about two to five dollars per square foot, meaning a 450 square foot driveway would cost you as much as $2,400. This is much cheaper than cement, which could cost as much as $5,590 to cover the same area.

Are 2 Inches of Asphalt Enough For A Driveway?

Asphalt driveways are some of the most common that you will see homeowners choose. Typically, two to three inches of asphalt is all that is needed for a residential driveway. The asphalt is laid over several inches of gravel and forms a three-inch layer.

What Is The Cost to Resurface an Asphalt Driveway?

One downside is that asphalt driveways need to be repaired every two to five years due to wear and tear. A contractor can remove the damaged top section and reapply a new coat for between one and three dollars per square foot, or $490 to $1,450 for a 450 square foot driveway. In general, expect to pay around $1.78 per square foot to resurface an asphalt driveway.

What Is The Cost to Reseal an Asphalt Driveway?

For a 500 foot driveway, you could be looking at between $90 and $135. For a 1,000 square foot driveway, concrete contractors typically charge between $250 and $290 for seal coating.

What Is the Cost to Pave a Driveway in Asphalt?

Asphalt driveways are some of the most common that you will see homeowners choose. Typically, the asphalt is laid over several inches of gravel and forms a three-inch layer. The cost of laying asphalt is about two to $5 per square foot, meaning a 450 square foot driveway would cost you as much as $2,350.

One downside is that asphalt driveways need to be repaired every two to five years due to wear and tear. A contractor can remove the damaged top section and reapply a new coat for between one and $3.04 per square foot.

Asphalt Paving Cost Per Square Foot

Driveway MaterialCost Per Square Foot
Asphalt$1.10 – $5.22
Gravel$0.530 – $1.03
Installation Cost$5.26 – $7.30

Asphalt Prices By Material

Cold Mix Concrete$11 – $60 per bag
Hot Mix Concrete$104 – $250 per ton
Recycled Concrete$10.75 – $24 per ton
Porous Concrete$9 – $16 per square foot

Consider the climate where you live before you decide to go with asphalt for your driveway. If you live somewhere with high summer temperatures, the asphalt can become sticky and melt. When winter comes and brings lower temperatures, the thermal cycle can cause damage to the asphalt.

What Is the Cost to Install a Poured or Slab Concrete Driveway?

A poured concrete driveway involves four-inch slabs being installed over crushed stone, with rebar added for extra strength. You could even have stamped concrete installed, which lets you add a variety of colors, patterns, and textures to your driveway.

The cost of a regular poured concrete driveway is between three and $13 dollars per square foot. Stamped concrete costs between twelve and $18 per square foot, making it much more expensive.

While concrete costs more to install, it is far more durable than asphalt. If the surface becomes cracked or chipped, you can have the driveway repaired for between two and $8 per square foot.

Premade concrete pavers are the most expensive option at ten to $32 per square foot. However,  they offer you the most options for style and design. Pavers also provide you with a wide range of sizes and colors, even resembling natural stone if you wish.

Concrete pavers are also installed over a bed of crushed stone, but with the addition of a layer of bedding sand. One advantage of pavers over poured concrete is the ease of repair. Unlike slab concrete damaged sections can be easily removed and replaced without redoing the whole driveway.

Driveway Costs and Scams to Look Out For

The three main expenses that you will incur when having a new driveway installed are the installation, the cost of materials, and any maintenance. Your contractor will need to make sure the building site is prepared and ready for work to begin.

Several other factors can influence the cost to pave a driveway. If your home is from the 1970’s or earlier, your existing base might have to be removed due to changes in building code. If the driveway is being installed on a slope or in an odd shape, that could run up the costs as well.

If there are tree stumps or shrubs that are in the way, you will have to pay to have them removed before work can begin. If the base needs to be repaired or replaced, it will require a crew of laborers and heavy machinery to do the job. If your contractor finds any problems with drainage issues or has issues laying the driveway out, this will cost you more money.

You should also beware of a widespread scam that involves asphalt driveway repairs. This scam usually takes the form of a fake salesman offering to repave your driveway and absconding with your money.

There are several things to look out for, such as an insistence on being paid in cash. You will also be pressured to make a quick decision and will not be given a written estimate for the repair work.

Another giveaway is that the salesman will claim to have leftover material from another job so that they can give you a lower price. Any professional contractor knows how to calculate the materials needed for a job and rarely buys more than required.

A New Driveway Will Improve Your Home’s Value and Make Your Life Easier

The cost to pave a driveway is far less than the benefits your home will receive. By installing a new driveway, you will increase the value of your home and improve your curb appeal immensely.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO PAVE A DRIVEWAY NEAR YOU?

A beautiful driveway can make a house stand out among the rest in its neighborhood. We all know how important it is to have an eye-catching exterior, so why not enhance that with some paving? The cost of pavements varies depending on various factors but we’ll give you one hint: It’s not just about getting any old surface down there.

DURABILITY

Consider the cost when choosing which material to use for your driveway. You’ll want an option that is durable but also affordable so it doesn’t break the bank, and concrete seems like a great idea since you can get tons of colors/finishes with just one coat. However don’t overlook asphalt shingle roofs (which offer more durability), gravel paving stones, or pavers made from recycled materials in hot climates where temperatures may exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit throughout most months).

Paving a driveway is not cheap. You can expect to pay an average price of $2,560 – which includes materials and installation but does not include labor from reputable concrete companies that do the job well in order for you to have something worthwhile lasting years down the line.

DRIVEWAY SIZE

To find out how much it will cost to pave a driveway, you need first to decide what type of material and size is best for your needs. The location in which the job takes place can also affect pricing as well as labor rates per square foot or inch with some materials being more expensive than others based on their bulkiness.

Paving a driveway is one of the most important decisions you will make in regard to your home. The type and style that’s picked out for this project can have an impact on what materials are used, which may then lead to pricing differences depending upon preference or budget requirements. The material choice should match with exterior aesthetic preferences while still being durable enough so as not to produce any cracks during regular use.

DRIVEWAY SHAPE

The cost of paving a driveway can vary depending on its shape. A roundabout pattern requires more labor and materials compared to the standard rectangular format, but if you’re looking for an expensive finish or thick layerings this may be worth it; otherwise, stick with 3-4 inches in most cases. A lot goes into making sure that your home looks great – from landscaping around gardens & lawns all throughout springtime bulbs blooming until they finally rest winter’s snowflakes come fall–but one thing we know is constant: our driveways need maintenance just like any other part of the house!

Compare the cost to pave a driveway in Houston.

Compare the cost to pave a driveway in Philadelphia.

Compare the cost to pave a driveway in Phoenix.

 

On   /  Asphalt Paving, Concrete Contractors, Home Improvement Cost Calculator, Home Improvement Tips   /   13 Comments
13 Comments
  1. Sandy Chavis
    6:32 pm on August 16, 2021

    I need an estimate as soon as possible

  2. Thank you for the info. I need a good company to do my driveway. Anyone got any suggestons? I live in Springfield Tn.

  3. Tim T OBrien
    10:23 am on January 19, 2021

    Hi, and thanks for the information. We operate a company in Fort Lauderdale and love reading about other views and options within our industry. We live in a climate that just gets battered by the elements so learning about new tricks of the trade is always our goal. Thanks Again!

  4. Jimmy Evans
    12:25 pm on December 11, 2020

    Thank you so much for sharing a great post. Recently, I was planning to install my Driveway by a contractor. However, I was not much aware of the cost. Your post was beneficial and covered everything. Keep up the excellent work.

  5. It’s good to know that you should consider things that might get in the way of paving. My husband and I are wanting to get a driveway paved for our home in a couple of weeks, and we wanted to get an idea of what will affect the cost. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we find a paving contractor that can help us.

  6. Bob Newton
    11:15 am on August 12, 2020

    It’s cool that you mention that asphalt is a very affordable paving material for driveways. I want to get a driveway for my new house without spending a lot of money, so I’m considering having an asphalt one installed. I’m going to search for a good asphalt paving business in my area that can build a driveway for me.

  7. Franklin White
    4:28 pm on July 20, 2020

    Thanks for explaining how an asphalt driveway is much cheaper than a cement one when paying per square foot. I want to get a new driveway before my in-laws come into town next month. I think I’ll get an asphalt one because of how much cheaper they are.

  8. Kate Welling
    3:45 pm on June 17, 2020

    You said that a clean driveway helps with curb appeal. This is great to know because I want to sell my home. I will look for a paving contractor near me to help fix this.

  9. Kate miles
    12:24 pm on June 17, 2020

    I am wondering if the brickwork I have installed on both sides of my driveway can be left in place while re-doing the asphalt ? It is real brick, not pavers that surround the asphalt and was quite expensive to install.

  10. Derek McDoogle
    2:13 pm on April 13, 2020

    My neighbor’s driveway has a lot of cracks which creates a lot of puddles in his entrance. I like how you said that concrete is more durable than other materials such as asphalt. I will share this article with him so that he can think about contacting a concrete contractor to fix his driveway.

  11. Ann Arbor Paving
    1:37 pm on February 16, 2020

    Paving might be a cheaper option up front, but concrete lasts for much longer. There are so many reasons to get either one of the options… in my opinion it depends the most on where your house is located and how long your driveway is. Just a thought

  12. Faylinn
    1:04 pm on October 30, 2019

    I liked that you explained that you should consider the factors that will affect the cost of your concrete. I have a sister that needs help with finding a concrete contractor. I will make sure that she does research online.

  13. Trevor Hall
    9:13 am on October 1, 2019

    My wife and I really want to start renovating things around our home and property like the driveway so we can bring the home into the modern age. I never knew that there were so many city codes surrounding your driveway like how wide it can be among other things. I’ll talk to my contractor so we are on the same page and still comply with all the regulations that are in place.

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