Most homeowners pay $2,523 to $7,292 to pave a driveway, and the national average is about $4,904 (Angi, 2026). Installed prices run $7–$15 per sq ft for asphalt, $8–$18 for concrete, $10–$30 for pavers and $1–$2 for gravel. A 20×20 two-car driveway costs roughly $2,800–$6,000 in asphalt or $3,200–$7,200 in concrete.
Prices updated September 2026.
So how much does it cost to pave a driveway like yours? It comes down to three things: the size in square feet, the material, and how much work the ground needs before anything is poured. Most cost guides stop at a per-square-foot range. This one turns those ranges into totals for common driveway sizes and breaks out base prep, tear-out and permits as their own lines.
Average cost to pave a driveway
Angi and HomeAdvisor both put the national average at $4,904. Most jobs land between $2,523 and $7,292, and HomeAdvisor’s full range runs from about $1,000 for a small, simple pad to $13,000 for a large or decorative driveway.
Labor is about half of the bill. Angi puts it at $5–$7 per sq ft on a typical job, which is why two quotes for the same material can be thousands apart.
One thing to know before comparing sources: Angi’s own table by size ($2,000–$2,800 for a 20×20 driveway) works out to only $5–$7 per sq ft. That sits below its $7–$15 range for asphalt and $8–$18 for concrete, so treat it as a basic-job floor. The totals below use the per-material rates, so you can see the spread between materials.
Cost per square foot by material (asphalt, concrete, pavers, chip seal)
| Material | Installed cost per sq ft | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel | $1–$2 | Lasts with regular regrading and top-ups |
| Chip seal (tar and chip) | $5–$10 | About 10 years |
| Asphalt | $7–$15 | 15–30 years (about 20 on average) |
| Concrete | $8–$18 | About 30 years, up to 40 with care |
| Pavers | $10–$30 | 30–50 years |
| Rubber | $10–$25 | 20+ years |
Asphalt is the most common paved choice on a budget. Recycled asphalt runs lower, at $6.20–$8.75 per sq ft, while stamped or colored asphalt costs $10–$17 (Angi).
Concrete costs a bit more up front but usually lasts longer. Finish, thickness and reinforcement move the price a lot; our concrete driveway price breakdown covers those line by line.
Pavers vary the most. Angi lists concrete pavers at $10–$18 per sq ft, brick at $12–$22, permeable pavers at $15–$25 and natural stone at $20–$35.
Cost by driveway size (1-car, 2-car, 3-car, long)
This grid multiplies each common size by the installed per-sq-ft ranges above. Find your size, then read across to compare materials.
| Driveway (sq ft) | Chip seal | Asphalt | Concrete | Pavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car, 10×20 (200) | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,400–$3,000 | $1,600–$3,600 | $2,000–$6,000 |
| 1-car wide, 12×24 (288) | $1,440–$2,880 | $2,020–$4,320 | $2,300–$5,180 | $2,880–$8,640 |
| 2-car, 20×20 (400) | $2,000–$4,000 | $2,800–$6,000 | $3,200–$7,200 | $4,000–$12,000 |
| 2-car, 24×24 (576) | $2,880–$5,760 | $4,030–$8,640 | $4,610–$10,370 | $5,760–$17,280 |
| Long, 12×50 (600) | $3,000–$6,000 | $4,200–$9,000 | $4,800–$10,800 | $6,000–$18,000 |
| 3-car, 24×36 (864) | $4,320–$8,640 | $6,050–$12,960 | $6,910–$15,550 | $8,640–$25,920 |
| Rural, 12×100 (1,200) | $6,000–$12,000 | $8,400–$18,000 | $9,600–$21,600 | $12,000–$36,000 |
Gravel is priced more by the job than by the foot. Angi puts a single-car gravel driveway (200–300 sq ft) at $250–$900, a double (400–600 sq ft) at $800–$2,200 and a long rural drive of about 2,000 sq ft at $3,500–$6,000 or more.
Have an odd shape or a flared entrance? Plug your exact dimensions into the asphalt driveway calculator or the concrete calculator to get tons or cubic yards.
Excavation and base prep: the hidden line items
The surface is only the top few inches. What sits under it decides whether the driveway lasts, and it is also where quotes differ the most. Here is what each prep item costs on its own.
| Prep item | Typical cost | On a 20×20 (400 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Light site prep and grading | $1–$2 per sq ft | $400–$800 |
| Crushed-stone base, installed and compacted | $1–$3 per sq ft | $400–$1,200 |
| Excavation plus tree removal | $1,500–$5,100 per job | $1,500–$5,100 |
| Remove old asphalt | $1–$2 per sq ft | $400–$800 |
| Remove old concrete (incl. dumping) | $2–$6 per sq ft; $6+ with rebar | $800–$2,400+ |
| Drainage or culvert work | $1,500–$5,000 per job | $1,500–$5,000 |
Why grading quotes disagree so much
Sources list grading at anything from $0.40–$2 per sq ft (HomeGuide, for light leveling) to $3–$8 (HomeGuide’s driveway guide) or even $5–$10 (Angi’s asphalt guide). The low numbers describe smoothing a mostly flat pad. The high ones cover cutting and filling soil on a sloped or soft lot. Ask your contractor which one you are paying for.
How deep should the base be?
HomeGuide recommends 6–8 inches of compacted gravel under a standard asphalt driveway and 8–10 inches for heavier vehicles. Inch Calculator suggests about 4 inches on sandy soil and 8 inches on clay. For concrete in expansive Western soils, Concrete Network calls for 2–8 inches of crushed rock.
Is base prep already in your quote?
Sometimes. Angi lists site prep as an extra on top of the per-sq-ft price. Homewyse’s September 2026 concrete driveway estimate includes site prep but leaves out contractor overhead (13–22%) and permits. Before you compare two bids, make each one list base depth, grading and haul-off in writing.
Worked example: Replacing an old asphalt driveway with a new 24×24 (576 sq ft) two-car driveway, using the midpoint of each range. Asphalt: 576 sq ft × $11 = $6,336 + tear-out 576 × $1.50 = $864 + grading 576 × $1.50 = $864 + permit $125 = $8,189. Concrete: 576 × $13 = $7,488 + $864 + $864 + $125 = $9,341. The concrete option costs $1,152 more up front. Midpoints used: asphalt $7–$15, concrete $8–$18, removal $1–$2, grading $1–$2, permit $50–$200 (Angi, 2026).
Asphalt vs concrete: 20-year cost
Upfront price is only part of the story. Asphalt needs sealcoating every few years, concrete needs sealing too, and chip seal and gravel need regular redos. Here is what a 20×20 driveway costs over 20 years once upkeep is added.
| Material | Install (400 sq ft) | Upkeep assumption | 20-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | $800–$2,200 | $100–$400 a year | $2,800–$10,200 |
| Chip seal | $2,000–$4,000 | Redone once at about year 10, same price | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Asphalt | $2,800–$6,000 | Sealcoat every 4 years (4 times) at $1.25–$1.50/sq ft | $4,800–$8,400 |
| Concrete | $3,200–$7,200 | Pro sealing every 3 years (6 times) at $1–$2/sq ft | $5,600–$12,000 |
| Pavers | $4,000–$12,000 | Sealing every 4 years (4 times) at $1–$3/sq ft | $5,600–$16,800 |
20-year cost of a 20×20 (400 sq ft) driveway, install + upkeep
Gravel: $2,800 to $10,200
Chip seal: $4,000 to $8,000
Asphalt: $4,800 to $8,400
Concrete: $5,600 to $12,000
Pavers: $5,600 to $16,800
Scale: $0 to $18,000. Install price plus sealing, re-chipping or gravel upkeep over 20 years, using the assumptions in the table above. Sources: Angi and HomeAdvisor, 2026.
On 20-year cash alone, asphalt comes out slightly cheaper than concrete. But the finish line is not the same. At year 20, asphalt is at its average lifespan (Angi), while concrete still has roughly a decade left on a 30-year life.
Spread the midpoint install price over each material’s expected life and the picture flips: asphalt costs about $4,400 ÷ 20 years = $220 a year, concrete about $5,200 ÷ 30 years = $173 a year, and pavers about $8,000 ÷ 40 years = $200 a year. Chip seal is $3,000 ÷ 10 years = $300 a year.
Sealing can be the biggest swing. Doing concrete sealing yourself costs about $0.50–$0.75 per sq ft in materials (Concrete Network), about half the pro price or less.
Which driveway material fits you?
| If your priority is… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest upfront cost | Gravel | $1–$2 per sq ft, but $100–$400 a year in upkeep |
| Cheapest paved surface | Chip seal or asphalt | $5–$10 and $7–$15 per sq ft |
| Longest life per dollar | Concrete | About $173 a year over a 30-year life |
| Looks and easy spot repairs | Pavers | 30–50 year life; minor repairs $200–$500 |
| A long rural drive | Gravel, then pave later | 2,000 sq ft of gravel: $3,500–$6,000+ vs $14,000+ in asphalt |
DIY or pro? Gravel is the only surface most homeowners can realistically install themselves. Asphalt and concrete need a crew, compaction equipment and material delivered on a tight schedule. Since labor is about half the cost, a DIY gravel drive saves the most, while DIY paving rarely pencils out.
Permits, apron and curb cut
Permits usually cost $50–$200 (Angi). Many towns require one for a new driveway, a widened one or any work that touches the street.
Apron: the section between the street and your driveway averages $4,400, with most jobs between $1,300 and $7,800 (Angi, September 2026). Aprons usually run 15–18 feet long and 12–24 feet wide. If a culvert has to be replaced under the apron, Angi puts that at about $4,500.
Curb cut: cutting or lowering the curb for a new entrance is controlled by your city or county, and none of the major cost guides publish a reliable national price. Call your local public works or permit office before you get quotes, since they may set the width, material and who can do the work.
How to save on driveway paving
- Get at least three itemized quotes. Ask each to separate paving, base, grading, tear-out and permit so you can compare line by line.
- Ask about recycled asphalt. At $6.20–$8.75 per sq ft (Angi), it undercuts standard asphalt.
- Keep a sound gravel base. If your contractor confirms the existing base is stable, you may avoid paying for a full new one.
- Resurface instead of replacing when the base is solid. Overlays run $3–$7 per sq ft vs $8–$15 for full asphalt replacement (Angi).
- Size it right. Every 100 sq ft you skip saves $700–$1,500 in asphalt at Angi’s rates.
- Budget for sealing from day one. Asphalt sealing averages $575 a job (Angi) and protects your bigger investment.
Next step: Get tons, base gravel and a price range for your exact size with the asphalt driveway cost calculator, or compare all our home cost calculators.
Common questions
How much does it cost to pave a 2-car driveway?
A 20 x 20 foot (400 sq ft) two-car driveway costs about $2,800 to $6,000 in asphalt, $3,200 to $7,200 in concrete and $4,000 to $12,000 in pavers, based on Angi’s 2026 per-square-foot prices. Tear-out, heavy grading and permits are extra.
Is it cheaper to pave with asphalt or concrete?
Asphalt is cheaper up front at $7 to $15 per sq ft vs $8 to $18 for concrete. Over its expected life, though, concrete often works out cheaper per year because it lasts about 30 years vs about 20 for asphalt.
What is the cheapest way to pave a driveway?
Gravel is the cheapest surface at about $1 to $2 per sq ft, followed by chip seal at $5 to $10. Gravel needs $100 to $400 a year in upkeep, so its long-term cost can rival asphalt.
Can you pave over an existing gravel driveway?
Often yes, if the gravel is deep, compacted and drains well, it can serve as part of the base. A contractor should check it first; HomeGuide recommends 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel under a standard asphalt driveway.
Do I need a permit to pave my driveway?
Many towns require one, especially for a new or widened driveway, an apron or a curb cut. Permits usually cost $50 to $200. Check with your local building or public works office before work starts.
Sources
- Angi: Cost to pave a driveway, 2026
- HomeAdvisor: Driveway installation cost, 2026
- Angi: Asphalt driveway cost, 2026
- Angi: Paver driveway cost, 2026
- Angi: Gravel driveway cost, 2026
- Angi: Asphalt driveway sealing cost, 2026
- Angi: Concrete removal cost, 2026
- Angi: Driveway apron cost, 2026
- HomeGuide: Asphalt and base stone prices, 2025
- HomeGuide: Asphalt driveway cost and base depth, 2025
- HomeGuide: Concrete slab and grading cost, 2026
- Homewyse: Concrete driveway installation cost, 2026
- Concrete Network: Concrete driveway cost and sealing, 2026
- NerdWallet: Asphalt vs concrete driveway, 2025
- Inch Calculator: Asphalt thickness and base depth, 2025
More guides in Driveways & Concrete.