Driveway area
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Asphalt Driveway Cost Calculator
Enter the size of the driveway to get the tonnage, the material cost at your plant’s price per ton, and an installed price range per square foot.
Asphalt needed
0
tons
Cost per ft²
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USD
Mix: 0 tons at $0/ton$0
Paving, rolling and equipment$0
Base preparation$0
Estimated total$0
Material cost only, or material plus the labor rates you entered. It does not include permits, drainage, removal of an old surface or sales tax. Add 5% to the tonnage for waste.
Prices here are inputs, not quotes. The defaults are typical US ranges for 2025 and are meant as a starting point. Change them to your local plant and contractor numbers — the calculator will follow.
What an asphalt driveway actually costs
Installed asphalt runs roughly $3 to $7 per square foot in the US, and almost all of the spread is explained by site conditions rather than by the asphalt itself. A 500 sq ft driveway with easy truck access sits at the bottom of that range. A 2,000 sq ft driveway that needs a new stone base, a machine to get around the back of the house, and 6 tons of old concrete hauled away sits at the top.
Material is usually 25% to 40% of the total. The rest is grading, stone, hauling, the paver, the roller and the crew. That is why a low material price rarely produces a low installed price.
Cost by driveway size
The tonnage figures below assume 2 inches of compacted surface course over a prepared base, at 145 lb/ft³. Material is priced at $145 per ton.
| Size (ft) | Area (ft²) | Tons at 2 in | Material | Installed at $3–$7/ft² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 20 | 240 | 2.9 | $421 | $720 – $1,680 |
| 20 × 20 | 400 | 4.8 | $702 | $1,200 – $2,800 |
| 24 × 24 | 576 | 7.0 | $1,010 | $1,730 – $4,030 |
| 24 × 50 | 1,200 | 14.5 | $2,103 | $3,600 – $8,400 |
| 30 × 60 | 1,800 | 21.8 | $3,154 | $5,400 – $12,600 |
| 40 × 80 | 3,200 | 38.7 | $5,608 | $9,600 – $22,400 |
The formula behind the estimate
Tons:
Material:
Labor:
area × (depth ÷ 12) × density ÷ 2,000Material:
tons × price per tonLabor:
area × installed rate per ft²
Example, 1,200 sq ft at 2 inches: 1,200 × 0.1667 = 200 cubic feet. 200 × 145 ÷ 2,000 = 14.5 tons. At $145 per ton that is $2,103 of mix. Add 5% for waste and you order 15.2 tons.
Removing the old surface makes the cost drop
A driveway that only needs an overlay costs far less than a full rebuild, because the base and the grading already exist. An overlay is usually 1.5 to 2 inches of new mix over a cleaned and tack-coated surface, so a 1,200 sq ft job needs about 11 tons instead of 14.5 and no base work at all.
The catch is that an overlay only works if the base underneath is sound. Paving over an alligatored or heaved base reproduces the failure pattern in the new surface within two winters, and then you pay for the work twice.
If you are weighing the alternatives, cold-mix or recycled material is a cheaper surface for a low-traffic lane, and the savings are large. The trade is service life, not just appearance.
Five things that move a quote by thousands
- Truck access. If the paver and the dump truck can reach the whole area, labor is straightforward. If material has to be moved by skid steer from the street, expect $1 or more per square foot on top.
- Old surface removal. Breaking out 2 inches of asphalt and hauling it runs $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot on its own, and it is the single largest line in many quotes.
- Base depth. Two inches of compacted aggregate for a pedestrian driveway, four or six inches where a heavy vehicle turns. Every additional inch of stone is roughly $0.75 per square foot.
- Drainage. A crown and a positive fall to the street are free if the site allows them. A French drain or a dry well is not.
- Minimum load and season. A 5-ton order carries a minimum charge at most plants. Late-season work, when plants are closing and crews are chasing small jobs, prices higher than mid-summer.
How to compare two quotes without getting fooled
Two quotes for the same driveway can differ by 40% and both be honest. To compare them, put these five numbers side by side rather than the total:
- Depth of the compacted surface course, in inches. Anything under 1.5 inches for a residential driveway is thin.
- Depth of the aggregate base, and whether it is included or excluded.
- Tons of mix, so you can check it against the coverage figures.
- Whether removal and disposal of the old surface is inside the price.
- Who supplies and compacts the stone base.
A quote that is 20% cheaper usually turns out to be 1 inch thinner, or missing the base, or excluding removal. Those are not better deals, they are different jobs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an asphalt driveway cost per square foot?
Between $3 and $7 per square foot installed in the US, with a full rebuild including base and removal at the upper end and an overlay over a sound base near the lower end. Material alone is about $1.70 to $3.00 per square foot at 2 inches.
How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?
About 1.2 tons per 100 sq ft at 2 inches, or 14.5 tons for a 1,200 sq ft driveway. Enter your own dimensions and depth above for the exact figure.
Is 2 inches of asphalt enough for a driveway?
Yes for a residential driveway over a properly compacted base. Car traffic needs 1.5 to 2 inches of surface course; occasional heavy vehicles and hot-climate driveways benefit from 2.5 to 3 inches.
How thick is a typical asphalt driveway?
Around 2 inches of compacted surface course over 4 inches of compacted aggregate base, so roughly 6 inches of total build-up. A commercial driveway or a driveway used by a trailer often goes to 3 inches over 6.
What is cheaper, asphalt or concrete?
Asphalt is cheaper to install, usually 30% to 50% less per square foot. Concrete lasts longer without maintenance but costs more up front and cracks. Over 20 years the totals get close, and asphalt needs resealing every 2 to 4 years.
How long before I can drive on new asphalt?
24 to 48 hours for normal use, and 3 to 7 days for heavy vehicles, in warm weather. Tires leave marks on new asphalt that is still cooling, and turning the wheels while stationary is what causes those marks rather than driving straight.
Can I pave over an existing asphalt driveway?
Yes, if the base is sound and the surface is cleaned and tack-coated. An overlay adds 1.5 to 2 inches and costs about 40% less than a full rebuild, but it will not fix a base that is already failing.
How often does an asphalt driveway need resealing?
Every 2 to 4 years in most climates, and every 2 years where winters are hard or the driveway is in full sun. Sealing too often, more than once a year, builds up a brittle layer that cracks rather than flexes.