Asphalt Driveway Cost

How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost?

Typical: $2-$5 a Square Foot

12'x50' Driveway: $1,200-$3,000+

Asphalt is a common driveway material because of its relatively low price compared to concrete. It generally works better and is more popular in colder climates because it can crack with constant exposure to high temperatures.

Typical costs:

CostHelper readers report paying $2,300-$10,300 to install a new asphalt driveway or completely remove replace an old one, or $1.67-$2.72 a square foot, with an average cost of $2.24 a square foot. Readers report paying $2,000-$3,800 to door-to-door contractors to redo all or parts of an asphalt driveway, at $0.73-$1.37 a square foot with an average of $1.17 a square foot.
An asphalt driveway typically costs about $2-$5 a square foot, $1,200 - $3,000 for a 12'x50' single-car driveway; or $25,000-$50,000 for up to a quarter mile. Slopes, curves, odd shapes and other complications add to the total cost, and smaller jobs aren't necessarily cheaper because it costs the contractor a minimum amount to haul the asphalt heater, steamroller and other equipment to the site.
Costs can go as low as $1-$2 a square foot or less, particularly for repaving work by door-to-door hustlers claiming they have "left over" asphalt in their truck and will install it cheaply; many experts caution against this, because the quality of the work may be substandard, there's no way to find the company after the work is done and the "left over" asphalt may have cooled off too much, which affects its durability and quality.

What should be included:

Asphalt requires professional equipment and a trained crew. It can include removing topsoil and organic material or existing pavement; compacting the soil; installing geo-tech fabric if the soil is weak or drains poorly; laying a base; and applying 2"-3" of asphalt and compacting it. AskTheBuilder.com offers tips on residential asphalt paving[1] .
Wait about 24-48 hours before driving or parking on fresh asphalt (or longer if the weather is hot). However, it can take up to 12 months for asphalt to completely harden and cure.
An asphalt driveway can last 10-35 years, depending on the quality of the installation and maintenance. The Family Handyman magazine explains factors that make an asphalt driveway durable[2] .
If more than 55% to 60% of an old asphalt driveway contains wide or spiderweb cracks, sinkholes or potholes, it typically needs to be removed and replaced rather than repaved.

Additional costs:

Because a driveway connects to a public street, there may be local regulations governing the width of the driveway and the materials used to build it. A permit is typically required, and fees vary from nominal to pricey, depending on location.
An asphalt driveway should be sealed about six to eight months after installation, and again every 2-5 years. Some experts recommend sealing a driveway every year, depending on climate and other conditions. Do-it-yourself supplies can cost $50-$200 depending on the size and condition of the driveway, and the quality of the sealer. Professional driveway sealing can cost $200-$500 or more.

Shopping for an asphalt driveway:

Asphalt driveways are typically installed by asphalt or paving contractors (although general building or landscaping contractors may do this as part of a larger project, and sub out the asphalt work. The Better Business Bureau lists tips for selecting an asphalt driveway contractor[3] .
Get several estimates; ask for and check references (if possible, visit a previous project); make sure the company is properly insured and licensed.

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

Replaced asphalt with 20 Thousand cobblestone

Amount: $2,000.00

Posted by: John He ry in Belleville, IL.	Posted: January 15th, 2022 12:01PM
Sq Ft of Driveway: 2500	Contractor: Me

I pulled up asphalt and poured 25 truck loads of sand and installed approximately 20 Thousand 19th Century granite cobblestones