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Asphalt, concrete, gravel — priced and compared

Driveway Source

Driveway Paving Cost Calculator

Driveway Size
Material

Installed cost, asphalt, 480 sq ft

~$4,440

Low~$2,400
Typical~$4,440
High~$6,240

Rate: ~$9.25 per sq ft typical ($5.00–$13.00)

Hot-mix asphalt needed: ~8.9 tons at 3 in compacted

What drives the range: local labor rates, base preparation and grading, thickness, access and driveway shape, and whether the contractor has a minimum charge.

Installed cost per square foot used by this calculator
ItemHomeGuideHomeAdvisorRange usedTypical used
Asphalt, new$5–$12$7–$13$5.00–$13.00~$9.25
Concrete, new$6–$15$8–$20$6.00–$20.00~$12.25
Gravel, new$4–$10$1.25–$4.00$1.25–$10.00~$4.81
Pavers, new$10–$30$10–$50 (up to $70)$10.00–$50.00~$25.00
Asphalt resurfacing$1–$3$3–$7$1.00–$7.00~$3.50
Asphalt sealcoating$1–$2Fixr: $0.88–$2.10$0.88–$2.10~$1.50
Old driveway removal$2–$6$1–$2$1.00–$6.00~$2.75

Range used = lowest low to highest high across the guides; typical = average of the guides' midpoints. Tonnage uses 142–148 lb/cu ft in-place (148 used), per the Asphalt Institute. Sources (accessed 2026-09-14): HomeGuide asphalt, HomeGuide concrete, HomeGuide gravel, HomeGuide pavers, HomeGuide resurfacing, HomeGuide sealing, HomeAdvisor asphalt, HomeAdvisor concrete, HomeAdvisor gravel, HomeAdvisor pavers, Fixr sealing, Asphalt Institute FAQ.

How It Works

The calculator multiplies your driveway area by an installed cost per square foot. Area is length times width (feet or meters; metric entries are converted to square feet), or you can type the area directly.

The per-square-foot rates are transcribed from two public cost guides, HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor, on 2026-09-14. For each material the low end is the lowest low the guides publish, the high end is the highest high, and the typical figure is the average of the two guides’ midpoints. The table under the calculator shows every number used. Neither guide publishes a regional multiplier, so there is no location input; the range itself is where local labor rates show up.

Ticking “remove an existing driveway” adds $1–$6 per square foot (HomeAdvisor $1–$2, HomeGuide $2–$6). Resurfacing and sealcoating go over the existing surface, so removal does not apply to them.

For new asphalt the tool also estimates hot-mix tonnage: area × compacted thickness × 148 lb per cubic foot ÷ 2,000. The Asphalt Institute puts in-place mix at 142–148 lb per cubic foot and uses 148 for estimating.

Worked Example

A 20 ft × 24 ft driveway is 480 sq ft. New asphalt runs $5–$13 per square foot across the two guides, with a typical rate of $9.25, so the installed cost is about $2,400 low, ~$4,440 typical and $6,240 high. At 3 in compacted thickness it needs 480 × 0.25 × 148 ÷ 2,000 ≈ 8.9 tons of hot mix.

FAQ

Why is the range so wide?

The guides disagree with each other and each spans a wide range on its own. Gravel, for example, is $1.25–$4 per square foot on HomeAdvisor and $4–$10 on HomeGuide. Local labor, base preparation and material grade explain most of the spread. Get three written quotes and compare them to the typical figure.

Does the estimate include grading, permits or drainage?

No. The rates are for a standard installation. HomeGuide lists grading at $3–$8 per square foot for concrete and permits at $50–$200; drainage work is priced separately. Add those if your site needs them.

How thick should an asphalt driveway be?

HomeGuide’s guide says most residential driveways need 2–3 in of asphalt, and 3–4 in for heavier vehicles. The default here is 3 in. Thicker paving costs more and needs more tonnage.

Are these prices for my area?

They are US national ranges. Neither source publishes a state or city table, so the tool has no regional factor. Treat the typical figure as a midpoint and expect high-cost metro areas to land nearer the high end.

Where do the cost figures come from?

Every rate in the table links to the page it was taken from, with the access date. When a guide updates its numbers the table will lag until we re-check it.

Sources