$5 – $15 per sq ftThat is the asphalt driveway cost in 2026 for a new install with labor included: HomeGuide says $5 to $12+, NerdWallet says $7 to $15. For a 20′ x 20′ driveway, HomeGuide gives $2,000 to $4,800 in total, and NerdWallet gives a whole-job average of $5,258 (range $3,128 to $7,391). An overlay on a sound driveway is far cheaper, at $1 to $7 per square foot depending on the guide.
Most of the price is the work under the asphalt: digging, a compacted stone base and a machine-rolled surface. This guide is about asphalt only. It covers new installs, overlays, base and thickness, and upkeep. For tear-out and other surfaces, see our guide to driveway replacement cost.
Asphalt driveway cost per square foot
| Job | HomeGuide | NerdWallet | This Old House | Homewyse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New driveway | $5 – $12+ | $7 – $13 | — | $12.46 – $15.23 |
| Replacement with tear-out | $4 – $10 (resurfacing guide) | $8 – $15 | $3 – $25 | — |
| Overlay or resurfacing | $1 – $3 | $3 – $7 | — | — |
The guides do not agree. HomeGuide splits its $5 to $12+ into $3 to $6+ for labor and $2 to $6+ for materials. This Old House’s $3 to $25 is the widest, and its own example of $750 to $4,000 for 600 square feet works out to only about $1.25 to $6.70 per square foot, so treat that row as a loose guide. Homewyse is the highest, and it gives its range as a starting price. HomeGuide’s own general driveway cost guide (December 19, 2025) lists asphalt at $3 to $7 per square foot in its table, the figure our driveway replacement guide uses, while quoting $5 to $12+ in its asphalt section. HomeGuide also warns that some contractors charge a minimum of $2,000 or more for small asphalt jobs.
Asphalt driveway cost by size
| Driveway | Square feet | HomeGuide ($5 – $12+/sq ft) | NerdWallet ($7 – $15/sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12′ x 24′ (1 car) | 288 | $1,440 – $3,456 | $2,016 – $4,320 |
| 20′ x 20′ (2 cars) | 400 | $2,000 – $4,800 | $2,800 – $6,000 |
| 24′ x 24′ (2 cars) | 576 | $2,880 – $6,912 | $4,032 – $8,640 |
| 24′ x 36′ (3 cars) | 864 | $4,320 – $10,368 | $6,048 – $12,960 |
| 1,000 sq ft (long drive) | 1,000 | $5,000 – $12,000 | $7,000 – $15,000 |
Our estimate: a typical two-car driveway of 576 square feet runs about $2,900 to $8,600 across the two guides, from the low end of HomeGuide to the high end of NerdWallet. This is our own arithmetic on published rates, not a measured price. Your quote depends on the base, slope and access.
Estimate your asphalt driveway cost
Our estimate: the published ranges above multiplied out for your inputs. Not a quote. New-driveway and recycled rates from HomeGuide (May 2025); NerdWallet (September 2025) for new, replacement and overlay; HomeGuide (December 2025) for the low overlay rate and milling; porous from HomeGuide (May 2025); Fixr (January 2025) for sealcoat. Excavation, curves and permits are not included. State adjustment: BLS construction wages (May 2025), applied to an assumed 50% labor share. How we calculate
Base, thickness and site work
HomeGuide says a standard residential driveway should have 6 to 8 inches of compacted gravel base under 2 to 3 inches of compacted asphalt. For heavier vehicles it suggests 3 to 4 inches of asphalt over an 8- to 10-inch base, and warns that skimping on thickness leads to early cracking and potholes. Bob Vila (older, May 29, 2024) puts the minimum at 2 inches and counts hot mix at $100 to $200 per ton, with a 2-inch layer covering about 80 square feet per ton. We found no official standard for these depths, so ask each bidder to state base and asphalt thickness in writing.
HomeGuide lists what moves the price: curves or slopes add 15% to 30%, extreme climates add 10% to 20%, and winter installs may save 10% to 15%. Poor or clay soil can need extra excavation and base. Decorative borders, drainage and reinforcement can add $500 to $2,000 each. Fixr, in its all-material guide, puts the extra for a curved or complex shape at 10% to 30% (Fixr, August 29, 2025). Bob Vila lists excavation at $1,500 to $5,100 and grading at $5 to $10 per square foot, but that is older data.
New asphalt types and prices
| Type | HomeGuide (per sq ft) | Bob Vila, May 2024 (older) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard hot mix | $5 – $12+ | $100 – $200 per ton, materials only |
| Recycled or reclaimed | $4 – $9 | $10 – $20 per ton, materials only |
| Porous | $7 – $15 | $8 – $15, materials only |
| Stamped or colored | — | $12 – $17, materials only |
| Heated | $12 – $27 | $12 – $25 |
HomeGuide says recycled asphalt may need more frequent maintenance than standard hot mix, and that porous asphalt needs a deeper stone base. Bob Vila says cold mix, at $10 to $50 per bag, is for temporary patches only, lasting one or two seasons.
Overlay, repair and sealing costs
| Job | HomeGuide | Other guides |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay, 1.5 to 2 inches | $1 – $3 per sq ft (Dec 2025); average job $400 – $1,800 | $3 – $7 per sq ft (NerdWallet) |
| Milling the old surface first | $0.25 – $0.75 per sq ft | — |
| Crack filling | $1 – $3 per linear foot | $1 – $3 per linear foot (NerdWallet) |
| Fix cracks and potholes | $100 – $400; major repairs $600 – $3,000 | $2 – $5 per sq ft (NerdWallet) |
| Sealcoat | $1 – $2 per sq ft | $0.88 – $2.10 per sq ft; $355 – $600 per job (Fixr) |
HomeGuide says an overlay suits pavement under 15 to 20 years old, with a stable base, no drainage problems and less than 30% of the surface needing repair. It extends the driveway’s life by 8 to 15 years. Replacement is the job when cracks cover 60% or more, the driveway is 20 to 30 years old, or the base has failed. Fixr agrees that paving over an old driveway is rarely wise, with asphalt on asphalt the exception once cracks are repaired.
The overlay figures conflict. HomeGuide’s May 2025 paving guide says an overlay saves 20% to 30% compared with replacement and puts resurfacing at $3 to $7 per square foot, while its December 2025 resurfacing guide says $1 to $3. NerdWallet and Bob Vila both say $3 to $7. Ask whether a quote includes milling and repairs.
Asphalt vs. concrete
| Asphalt | Concrete | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft, HomeGuide | $5 – $12+ | $6 – $15 |
| Cost per sq ft, NerdWallet | $7 – $15 | $8 – $20 |
| Lifespan, HomeGuide | 15 – 30 years | 30 – 40 years |
| Time to dry or cure, NerdWallet | dries in about 1 to 3 days | cures in 7 to 28 days |
NerdWallet says asphalt suits very cold climates, while it can turn sticky or oily in great heat; concrete is the reverse. Fixr says asphalt softens and loses shape in hot climates. For concrete costs in detail, see our driveway replacement cost guide.
How long it lasts and what upkeep costs
Lifespan estimates for asphalt: 15 to 30 years (HomeGuide), 15 to 20 (This Old House, and NerdWallet in its text, though its table says 15 to 30) and 12 to 25 (Fixr). Sealing advice varies more. HomeGuide says to seal after one year, then every 2 to 3 years; This Old House says every 2 to 3 years; Bob Vila says every 2 to 5; Fixr, in a January 2025 guide, says every 5 to 10. HomeGuide adds that extreme weather may call for more frequent sealing. Its general driveway guide instead says to seal every 3 to 5 years and 3 to 9 months after paving or repairs, which is the schedule in our driveway replacement guide.
HomeGuide says to stay off a new driveway for 24 to 48 hours, 3 to 5 days in hot weather, and a week for heavy vehicles. Its general driveway cost guide (December 19, 2025) is more cautious, at 48 to 72 hours minimum, the figure in our driveway replacement guide; if in doubt, wait the longer time. It also says rock salt can damage asphalt and that motor oil or gasoline can dissolve the binder.
How to keep the bill down
- Get at least three itemized quotes for the same thickness, base depth and scope, so the bids can be compared.
- Keep the shape simple. HomeGuide says curves and slopes add 15% to 30%.
- Ask about recycled asphalt, which HomeGuide prices at $4 to $9 per square foot.
- Consider an overlay if the base is sound and the driveway is under 15 to 20 years old.
- Seal and fill cracks on schedule so the driveway reaches the top of its lifespan.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many inches of compacted base and of compacted asphalt are you installing?
- Is this hot mix, and is any of it recycled?
- Does the price include tear-out, excavation, grading and drainage?
- Who pulls the permit, and what do local rules say about width and setbacks?
- When should I seal it, and what warranty do you give in writing?
To vet a paving company, read how to find a contractor. For other work on the outside of the house, our siding replacement cost guide is the place to start.
Sources
- HomeGuide, How Much Does Paving an Asphalt Driveway Cost?, updated May 28, 2025.
- HomeGuide, How Much Does It Cost to Resurface an Asphalt Driveway?, December 19, 2025.
- HomeGuide, How Much Does a Driveway Cost?, December 19, 2025.
- NerdWallet, Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveway Cost in 2026, updated September 3, 2025.
- This Old House, Driveway Repair and Replacement: Options & Costs, updated March 31, 2026.
- Fixr, Driveway Paving Cost, updated August 29, 2025.
- Fixr, Cost to Seal Asphalt Driveway, updated January 31, 2025.
- Homewyse, Cost to Install Asphaltic Concrete Driveway, May 2026.
- Bob Vila, How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost?, May 29, 2024 (older).
