A concrete driveway costs $8 to $20 per square foot installed, and the average project runs about $6,400 (Angi, 2026). A 20×20 two-car driveway typically costs $3,200–$6,000 with a standard finish. Stamped or stained finishes push the price to $12–$20 per sq ft, and tearing out an old driveway adds $2–$6 per sq ft.
Prices updated September 2026.
This concrete driveway cost guide goes line by line: the concrete itself, slab thickness, reinforcement, finish upgrades and tear-out. That way you can check each part of a quote instead of trusting one lump sum. Still deciding between concrete, asphalt and pavers? Start with our driveway paving cost guide, which compares every material by size.
Concrete driveway cost per square foot
Most published ranges fall between $6 and $20 per sq ft. The spread is mostly about finish and what the price includes.
| Source (date) | Price per sq ft | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (Apr 2026) | $8–$20; plain gray $6–$8 | Installed; labor is about half |
| Homewyse (Sep 2026) | $9.86–$12.11 | Site prep, forms, reinforcement, pour and finish; no contractor overhead (add 13–22%) or permits |
| Concrete Network (Jan 2026) | Plain $5–$8; basic $8–$14; mid-range $14–$21; high-end $21+ | Installed, by finish level |
| HomeGuide (Jun 2025) | $6–$10 standard; $10–$25+ decorative | Installed, by finish level |
A plain, broom-finished driveway from a local contractor usually lands in the $8–$12 range. Figures under $8 are for bare-bones plain slabs, and anything over about $15 usually includes a decorative finish.
What the concrete itself costs
Ready-mix is a smaller slice of the bill than most people expect. Angi’s September 2026 figure is $110–$150 per cubic yard (about $130 on average), plus about $20 per yard for delivery. HomeGuide lists $119–$147 including delivery, while Concrete Network reports a higher $160–$195 in its city-by-city survey. Local plant prices vary, so call one for your area.
One cubic yard covers about 81 sq ft at 4 inches thick (HomeGuide). That puts the concrete at roughly $1.36–$2.41 per sq ft. The rest of the price is labor, base work, forms, reinforcement, finishing and overhead.
Watch for short-load fees. Suppliers add $40–$60 per yard (Angi) or about $53 per yard (HomeGuide) when you order less than a full truck of about 10 yards. As the table below shows, most one- and two-car driveways fall under that.
Total cost by driveway size
| Driveway (sq ft) | Concrete needed, 4 in / 5 in | Standard finish | Stamped finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car, 10×20 (200) | 2.5 / 3.1 cu yd | $1,600–$3,000 | $2,400–$3,600 |
| 1-car wide, 12×24 (288) | 3.6 / 4.4 cu yd | $2,300–$4,300 | $3,460–$5,180 |
| 2-car, 20×20 (400) | 4.9 / 6.2 cu yd | $3,200–$6,000 | $4,800–$7,200 |
| 2-car, 24×24 (576) | 7.1 / 8.9 cu yd | $4,600–$8,600 | $6,910–$10,370 |
| Long, 12×50 (600) | 7.4 / 9.3 cu yd | $4,800–$9,000 | $7,200–$10,800 |
| 2-car deep, 16×40 (640) | 7.9 / 9.9 cu yd | $5,120–$9,600 | $7,680–$11,520 |
| 3-car, 24×36 (864) | 10.7 / 13.3 cu yd | $6,900–$13,000 | $10,370–$15,550 |
Need an exact yardage for an L-shape or a flared entrance? Run your dimensions through the concrete calculator before you call suppliers.
4-inch vs 5- to 6-inch thickness and reinforcement
Thickness and steel are the two line items competitors rarely separate, and they matter most if you park heavy vehicles or build on poor soil.
How thick should it be?
Concrete Network calls 4 inches the minimum for a driveway. Going to 5 inches adds about 20% to the concrete cost but boosts load capacity by nearly 50%. It also recommends thickening the edges by 1–2 inches.
What does that mean in dollars? On a 20×20 driveway, 5 inches needs 1.23 more cubic yards than 4 inches. At $150 a yard delivered, that is about $185 of extra concrete. Going to 6 inches adds 2.47 yards, or about $370.
Installed quotes jump more than that. HomeGuide lists 4-inch driveways at $6–$15 per sq ft and 6-inch at $8–$20, a $2–$5 difference. The rest of that gap is not concrete, so ask for the thickness upgrade as its own line and what it covers.
Rebar, wire mesh or fiber?
| Reinforcement | Added cost per sq ft | On 400 sq ft | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welded wire mesh | $1.07–$1.25 | $430–$500 | 4- to 5-inch slabs |
| Rebar grid (#4 bar) | $0.50–$1 (Angi) to $1–$3 (HomeGuide) | $200–$1,200 | Slabs 5 inches or thicker, heavy vehicles |
| Synthetic fiber | $2–$3 | $800–$1,200 | Limiting shrinkage cracks; not structural |
Why do rebar prices disagree? Concrete Network recommends #4 bar about 12 inches apart each way, which is roughly 2 linear feet of bar per sq ft. At Angi’s average of $1.40 per linear foot, that works out to about $2.80 per sq ft, near the top of HomeGuide’s range. If a bid is closer to Angi’s $0.50–$1, ask what bar size and spacing it assumes.
What a well-built slab looks like
- Subgrade: evenly compacted soil, with soft spots dug out and replaced with gravel or crushed rock.
- Base: compacted crushed rock; Concrete Network suggests 2–8 inches in expansive Western soils.
- Reinforcement: set on supports so it sits in the middle of the slab, not on the dirt.
- Concrete: 4 inches minimum, 5 inches for heavier loads, with thickened edges.
- Joints and slope: control joints no more than 10 feet apart on a 4-inch slab, cut one-quarter of the slab depth, and a slope of at least 1/8 inch per foot away from the house.
Finish upgrades: stamped, colored, exposed aggregate
Finish is the biggest price lever after size. Here is what each option costs installed and on a 20×20 driveway.
| Finish | Per sq ft | 20×20 (400 sq ft) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom (standard) | $8–$12 | $3,200–$4,800 | The usual default finish |
| Integral color | +$0.38–$2.10 | +$150–$840 | Earth tones are cheapest; blue costs the most |
| Exposed aggregate | $8–$12 (Angi); $13.90–$16.97 (Homewyse) | $3,200–$6,790 | Homewyse figure excludes base and excavation |
| Stamped, one pattern | $8–$13 | $3,200–$5,200 | Single pattern and color |
| Stamped, multi-color or custom | $13–$26+ | $5,200–$10,400+ | Borders, several patterns, stone or brick look |
| Saw-cut or stained | $18–$20 | $7,200–$8,000 | Top tier in Angi’s finish list |
Concrete driveway cost per sq ft by finish (installed)
Plain gray: $6 to $8
Broom, colored or exposed aggregate (Angi): $8 to $12
Exposed aggregate (Homewyse): $13.90 to $16.97
Stamped, one pattern (HomeGuide): $8 to $13
Stamped, multi-color or custom (HomeGuide): $13 to $26+
Saw-cut or stained: $18 to $20
Scale: $0 to $30 per sq ft. Sources: Angi concrete driveway guide (2026); HomeGuide stamped concrete (Dec 2025); Homewyse exposed aggregate (Sep 2026, excludes base and excavation).
Want color without the stamped price? Integral color in a broom finish adds only a few hundred dollars on a two-car driveway. HomeGuide puts the stamping and coloring step itself at $3–$4 per sq ft. Decorative finishes also need resealing every 2–3 years to stop color fading, at $1–$3 per sq ft.
Old driveway removal and replacement
Replacing a driveway means paying for demolition first. Angi’s September 2026 data puts concrete removal at $2–$6 per sq ft, including labor and dumping, with typical driveway tear-outs at $1,000–$2,500. Slabs with rebar cost $6 per sq ft or more to break up.
Concrete Network quotes a much lower figure of about $1 per sq ft. One reason quotes differ is hauling: some contractors roll disposal into their rate, while others add $0.50–$2 per sq ft or charge $50–$100 per ton at the dump (Angi). Ask which one your quote uses.
Repair or replace?
| What you see | Usual fix | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline or minor cracks | Crack filling | $0.50–$3 per linear ft |
| A few potholes | Patching | $100–$400 each |
| Worn or flaking surface on a sound slab | Resurfacing | $3–$5 per sq ft |
| Sunken or tilted sections | Raising or leveling | $3–$25 per sq ft |
| One or two broken slabs | Replace those sections | $6–$14 per sq ft |
| Widespread sinking or heavy crumbling | Full replacement | About $6,400 on average |
Keep lifespan in mind: Angi notes that resurfacing lasts roughly half as long as new concrete. If the slab is already 20+ years old and failing in several places, a new driveway is often the better value.
Worked example: Replacing a cracked 20×20 (400 sq ft) concrete driveway with a 5-inch, rebar-reinforced broom finish. Tear-out: 400 × $4 = $1,600. New 4-inch broom slab: 400 × $10 = $4,000. Extra inch of concrete: 1.23 cu yd × $150 = $185. Rebar: 400 × $2 = $800. Permit: $125. Total: $6,710, or about $16.78 per sq ft. Rates are midpoints of Angi’s removal ($2–$6), broom-finish ($8–$12) and permit ($50–$200) ranges and HomeGuide’s rebar range ($1–$3). The thickness line is concrete only; some crews charge more for the extra labor.
Concrete vs asphalt
| Concrete | Asphalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed per sq ft | $8–$20 | $7–$15 |
| Average project | $6,400 | $5,258 |
| Typical lifespan | 27.5 years on average; 30–40 with care | 15–20 years |
| Minor crack repair | $0.50–$3 per linear ft | $1–$3 per linear ft |
Asphalt wins on day one, and concrete usually wins over time. For a size-by-size comparison and the full 20-year math, see how much it costs to pave a driveway. To price the asphalt option for your exact size, try the asphalt cost calculator.
Lifespan and maintenance
Sources don’t agree on lifespan. HomeGuide says up to 30 years, or 40+ with premium materials. NerdWallet gives an average of 27.5 years, and HomeAdvisor says up to 40. Angi’s paving guide stretches it to 50–100 years, which is far above the rest. Plan on about 30 years with basic care.
- Sealing: $1–$2 per sq ft every 2–3 years by a pro (Angi), or $0.50–$0.75 per sq ft in DIY materials (Concrete Network).
- Curing: wait about a week before driving on it (Concrete Network); it reaches full strength in 28–30 days (HomeGuide).
- Cracks: fill small ones early at $0.50–$3 per linear foot before water gets under the slab.
How to save and what to check in a quote
- Get thickness, reinforcement and base depth in writing. A cheap bid that skips them isn’t cheaper over 30 years.
- Confirm tear-out and haul-off are included, and whether dumping is billed per ton.
- Avoid short-load fees. If your driveway needs well under 10 yards, pouring a walkway or patio the same day can fill the truck.
- Pick broom plus integral color instead of stamped if you want a warmer look on a budget.
- Repair a sound slab instead of replacing it: the average repair is $1,873 vs about $6,400 for a new driveway (Angi).
- Seal it yourself to cut upkeep costs by about half or more.
Next step: Work out cubic yards for your size with the concrete yardage calculator, then compare it against each contractor’s quote. More tools are on our calculators page.
Common questions
How much does a 2-car concrete driveway cost?
A 20 x 20 foot two-car driveway costs about $3,200 to $6,000 with a standard finish, and a larger 24 x 24 foot one runs $4,600 to $8,600, according to Angi’s 2026 data. Stamped finishes add roughly 50% or more.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
Four inches is the minimum. Concrete Network notes that going to 5 inches adds about 20% to the concrete cost but raises load capacity by nearly 50%, which is worth it for trucks, RVs or soft soil.
Does a concrete driveway need rebar?
It needs some reinforcement. Concrete Network suggests wire mesh for 4 to 5 inch slabs and #4 rebar about 12 inches apart for slabs 5 inches or thicker. Fibers help limit shrinkage cracks but are not structural. Budget $1 to $3 per sq ft for rebar or mesh.
How much does it cost to replace a concrete driveway?
Add tear-out at $2 to $6 per sq ft to a new driveway at $8 to $20 per sq ft. For a 20 x 20 foot driveway that works out to about $4,000 to $10,400, depending on finish and whether the old slab has rebar.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Plan to wait about one week before driving on it, per Concrete Network. Concrete keeps gaining strength and reaches full cure in about 28 to 30 days.
Sources
- Angi: Concrete driveway cost, 2026
- Angi: Concrete cost per yard and delivery, 2026
- Angi: Concrete slab and reinforcement cost, 2026
- Angi: Concrete removal cost, 2026
- Angi: Concrete driveway repair vs replace, 2026
- Angi: Driveway paving cost and sealing, 2026
- Homewyse: Concrete driveway installation cost, 2026
- Homewyse: Wire mesh installation cost, 2026
- Homewyse: Exposed aggregate driveway cost, 2026
- Concrete Network: Concrete driveway cost, 2026
- Concrete Network: Driveway thickness, reinforcement and joints, 2026
- Concrete Network: Concrete prices per yard, 2026
- HomeGuide: Concrete driveway cost, 2025
- HomeGuide: Stamped concrete cost, 2025
- HomeGuide: Concrete prices and color add-ons, 2026
- HomeGuide: Concrete slab coverage per yard, 2026
- NerdWallet: Asphalt vs concrete driveway, 2025
- HomeAdvisor: Driveway lifespan by material, 2026
More guides in Driveways & Concrete.