Asphalt Driveway Cost Calculator
Estimate asphalt driveway cost from footprint and pavement thickness, plus optional tear-out and sealcoat. Click any i for a plain-English explanation.
Your driveway
Length (ft)
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Length
Distance from street (or garage apron) to the far end of the paved area. Curve the tape along the centerline if the drive bends. |
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Width (ft)
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Width
Single-car drives are often 10–12 ft; two-car shared drives 18–24 ft. Measure the paved width, not the whole yard opening. |
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Compacted thickness
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Thickness
Many residential drives use about 3 inches of compacted asphalt over a prepared base. Thinner 2-inch overlays suit light cars on a sound base; 4 inches is common when trucks or heavy use are expected. |
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Your state
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Your state
Scales paving midpoints for typical state-level labor and material costs. Plant distance and access still move real bids — this is not a contractor quote. |
Options
How to use this calculator
- Enter length and width to set the paved footprint.
- Choose compacted thickness for how the drive will be used.
- Toggle tear-out if you are replacing an old asphalt surface.
- Optionally add sealcoat as a follow-on maintenance line.
Results explained
The headline is an installed midpoint for new asphalt over a prepared area. Square footage is length × width. Tear-out and sealcoat only appear when checked.
If your bid is much higher, crews may be rebuilding a failed base, fixing drainage, or hauling longer distances from the plant — none of which this simple model prices in full.
Quick reference: asphalt cost by thickness
U.S.-average installed midpoints per sq ft before state scaling. Footprint = length × width.
| Compacted thickness | Per sq ft | 480 sq ft example* | Typical use |
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| 2 in | $5.50 | $2,640 | Light residential / overlay-like depth |
| 3 in | $7.25 | $3,480 | Typical two-car driveway |
| 4 in | $9.50 | $4,560 | Heavy / truck traffic |
*40 × 12 ft driveway, pave only. Tear-out ≈ $2.25/sq ft · sealcoat ≈ $0.35/sq ft.
How the estimate is built
Installed midpoints are about $5.50 / $7.25 / $9.50 per sq ft for 2 in, 3 in, and 4 in compacted asphalt. Existing asphalt removal adds about $2.25/sq ft. Sealcoat adds about $0.35/sq ft.
Your state scales the U.S.-average midpoints. The band is about 78%–130% of the midpoint because paving access and base work vary.
Example scenario
A 40 × 12 ft (480 sq ft) driveway at 3 in at U.S. average pricing is about $3,480. Add tear-out (~$1,080) and you are near $4,560 before any base rebuild.
FAQ
Does this include the gravel base?
The per-square-foot pave midpoints assume a workable base is in place or included in a typical residential install. Full excavation and new aggregate bases can add a large separate line — get that itemized if your soil is soft or the old base failed.
Overlay vs full replacement?
A thin overlay on sound pavement can undercut these 3 in midpoints. If the old surface is cracked through, replacement (and often tear-out) is the honest comparison.
When should I sealcoat?
Usually after the new asphalt has cured — often several months. Toggle sealcoat to see a maintenance add-on, not a same-day line item.