How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost?
$3,000 – $7,000
National average: $4,800 installed
Interactive worksheet
Asphalt driveway cost calculator
Set the scope, size, and state — the tally updates as you go. Built from this guide's figures and BLS state wage data.
01 Quality & scope
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State figures apply BLS construction wages (2025) at a 60% labor weight — how we estimate.
Your estimate
- Labor ≈60%
- $2,880
- Materials & equipment
- $1,920
- Planning range
- $4,320 – $5,280
low $3,000 $7,000 high
U.S. construction trades average $65,360/yr (BLS 2025).
Get three written bids. One far under $3,800 usually means missing scope — ask what's not included. Far over $5,800, ask what's driving the number.
Asphalt is the budget-friendly driveway: cheaper to install than concrete and quick to pave. A new asphalt driveway costs $3,000 to $7,000 in 2026, or about $3 to $7 per square foot — and resurfacing an existing one costs far less.
What you’re paying for
The asphalt itself is only part of the bill. You’re paying for excavation, a graded gravel base, paving and compaction, and a first sealcoat. The base is the part that decides whether the driveway lasts 20 years or cracks in five.
New, resurface, or sealcoat
These are three different jobs at three different prices. Sealcoating ($0.15–$0.50/sq ft) is routine maintenance. Resurfacing ($1–$3/sq ft) lays a new top over a sound base. A new driveway ($3–$7/sq ft) tears out and rebuilds.
Asphalt vs. concrete
Asphalt wins on upfront cost; concrete wins on lifespan and low upkeep. Asphalt needs resealing every couple of years, but it’s more forgiving of freeze-thaw cracking and cheaper to repair.
How to save on an asphalt driveway
- Resurface instead of replace if the base is still solid.
- Seal on schedule (every 2–3 years) to avoid an early tear-out.
- Pave in warm weather — asphalt lays and compacts better.
- Get the base right the first time; it’s the cheapest insurance against cracks.
| Component | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation & grading | $600 – $1,800 | — |
| Gravel base | $500 – $1,500 | — |
| Asphalt material & paving | $1,200 – $3,000 | — |
| Labor & compaction | $700 – $1,500 | — |
| Sealcoat (first coat) | $100 – $300 | — |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sealcoating | $0.15 – $0.50 / sq ft | Maintenance, every 2–3 years |
| Resurface / overlay | $1 – $3 / sq ft | New top layer over a sound base |
| New asphalt driveway | $3 – $7 / sq ft | — |
| Heated / premium base | $8 – $15 / sq ft | — |
What affects the price
- Size & shape Priced per square foot, so a long or wide driveway costs more; curves and tight access slow paving.
- Base preparation A proper gravel base, graded for drainage, is what keeps asphalt from cracking — and a big part of the cost.
- New vs. resurface Laying a fresh top layer over a solid base costs a fraction of a full tear-out and replacement.
- Thickness A thicker asphalt layer (and stronger base) costs more but holds up to heavy vehicles.
- Old driveway removal Tearing out and hauling away old asphalt or concrete adds labor and disposal fees.
Asphalt driveway cost by state
Where you live moves the price as much as any option you pick, because labor is a big share of the bill and construction wages differ sharply by state. Adjusted with BLS wage data (2025), a typical asphalt driveway job runs about $3,500 – $8,200 in Hawaii (+17%) versus $2,600 – $6,000 in Arkansas (−15%).
See the typical range in all 50 states + D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,600 – $6,100 |
| Alaska | $3,400 – $8,000 |
| Arizona | $2,900 – $6,700 |
| Arkansas | $2,600 – $6,000 |
| California | $3,400 – $7,800 |
| Colorado | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Connecticut | $3,200 – $7,500 |
| Delaware | $2,900 – $6,900 |
| District of Columbia | $3,200 – $7,600 |
| Florida | $2,700 – $6,400 |
| Georgia | $2,800 – $6,400 |
| Hawaii | $3,500 – $8,200 |
| Idaho | $2,800 – $6,600 |
| Illinois | $3,400 – $8,000 |
| Indiana | $3,000 – $7,100 |
| Iowa | $2,900 – $6,800 |
| Kansas | $2,900 – $6,700 |
| Kentucky | $2,800 – $6,500 |
| Louisiana | $2,700 – $6,300 |
| Maine | $2,900 – $6,900 |
| Maryland | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Massachusetts | $3,400 – $8,000 |
| Michigan | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Minnesota | $3,300 – $7,600 |
| Mississippi | $2,600 – $6,100 |
| Missouri | $3,100 – $7,100 |
| Montana | $2,900 – $6,900 |
| Nebraska | $2,800 – $6,600 |
| Nevada | $3,100 – $7,200 |
| New Hampshire | $3,000 – $6,900 |
| New Jersey | $3,400 – $8,000 |
| New Mexico | $2,800 – $6,400 |
| New York | $3,300 – $7,700 |
| North Carolina | $2,700 – $6,300 |
| North Dakota | $3,000 – $7,100 |
| Ohio | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Oklahoma | $2,700 – $6,400 |
| Oregon | $3,300 – $7,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,000 – $7,100 |
| Rhode Island | $3,100 – $7,300 |
| South Carolina | $2,700 – $6,400 |
| South Dakota | $2,700 – $6,300 |
| Tennessee | $2,800 – $6,400 |
| Texas | $2,700 – $6,400 |
| Utah | $2,800 – $6,600 |
| Vermont | $2,900 – $6,800 |
| Virginia | $2,900 – $6,700 |
| Washington | $3,500 – $8,100 |
| West Virginia | $2,900 – $6,700 |
| Wisconsin | $3,100 – $7,300 |
| Wyoming | $3,000 – $6,900 |
Estimates apply each state's BLS construction-wage multiplier to this guide's national range — a planning number, not a quote. Browse the full state cost guides or our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an asphalt driveway cost per square foot?
- A new asphalt driveway runs about $3–$7 per square foot installed. Resurfacing is much cheaper at $1–$3 per square foot, and sealcoating is $0.15–$0.50. A typical driveway totals $3,000–$7,000.
- Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
- Asphalt is cheaper upfront — usually $3–$7 per square foot versus $6–$12 for concrete. Concrete lasts longer and needs less upkeep, while asphalt needs resealing every few years. See our asphalt-vs-concrete driveway comparison.
- How long does an asphalt driveway last?
- About 15–25 years if it's sealed regularly and the base was done right. Skipping sealcoating and starting with a thin base are the two biggest reasons asphalt fails early.
- How often should I seal an asphalt driveway?
- Every 2–3 years. The first sealcoat should wait 6–12 months after install so the asphalt cures, then reseal on that cycle to prevent cracks and UV damage.
- Can I resurface instead of replacing?
- If the base is sound and the cracks are surface-level, a 1.5–2 inch overlay ($1–$3 per square foot) restores the driveway for far less than a full replacement. Deep cracks or a failing base mean replacement.
How we estimate: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources:
- Asphalt Driveway Cost (2026) — HomeGuide
- How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost? — Angi
- Asphalt Driveway Cost — Fixr