The national average for installing an asphalt driveway costs about $3 to $5 per square foot. For a standard 10-foot by 20-foot driveway, big enough for a single car, that means you'll spend between $600 and $1,000. Along with concrete, asphalt paving is one of the most popular driveway materials and it comes with a number of benefits, especially if you live in cold-weather climates.
Benefits of using asphalt
First, an asphalt driveway is cheaper than a concrete driveway. Prices for a concrete driveway range from to $7 per square foot. also handles extreme temperature changes better by expanding and contracting easily. Unlike concrete, it won't crack in freezing temperatures, and it generally holds up well to salt and snowplows and gravel doesn't hold up to snowplows at all.
But asphalt paving does have its drawbacks (otherwise, this begs the question: who would install a gravel or concrete driveway?). In terms of upkeep, asphalt is a little more high-maintenance than concrete and gravel driveways. Expect to your paved asphalt driveway every three to five years. You'll need to budget about $2.50 per square foot for this regular resurfacing job.
How much does an asphalt driveway cost?
A number of factors can affect how much your new asphalt driveway paving costs. Here's what to look at to get a better idea of what you may end up spending.
Driveway size
The size of your driveway is the single biggest factor in determining your asphalt driveway cost because most contractors charge per square foot of asphalt. If you don't have an established or paved driveway, your contractor can help you determine the appropriate size for your house before the paver ever comes in.
Single-car driveways are typically nine to 12-feet wide. If you want to be able to turn your car around in your driveway as opposed to simply backing out plan for a 10-foot-wide by 20-foot-long paved driveway, minimum.
If you would like to park two cars side-by-side, your driveway will need to be between 16- and 24-feet wide.
Consider the length of your driveway and the location of your garage or carport, too. If your garage is located behind your house, you may need a longer paved driveway, which will drive up costs.
Existing driveway or terrain features
If you're not paving your asphalt driveway from scratch, your contractor will need to break up your existing driveway (concrete, asphalt, etc.) before paving a new one. As an example, removing an existing concrete or asphalt driveway
Surface preparation
You can't have a driveway installed if the job site is oddly sloped and covered in gravel and debris. In order to get your home paver-ready, your contractor may also need to:
Generally, preparing your property for a new driveway before the paver comes in can cost between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand. It really depends on your unique situation, and your contractor can help determine exactly what you need.
For example, Joe Jones, owner of
Asphalt driveway maintenance
To keep your asphalt driveway in tip-top shape, these are some things that should be done every few years:
Sealing
Sealing asphalt costs about $0.20 per square foot. As mentioned earlier, asphalt driveways require regular sealing to extend their life. However, you probably won't seal your new asphalt driveway immediately after the paver finishes the job: asphalt takes about six months to harden after paving, and the oils in the asphalt need time to evaporate. Your asphalt driveway installation company will likely return to seal your driveway then.
Jones recommends sealing your asphalt driveway every three to five years after paving, so make sure you've budgeted for that regular expense.
Resurfacing
Expect to spend about $2.50 per square foot for asphalt resurfacing. But don't fret: After a new driveway installation, you shouldn't need to repair or resurface the asphalt for about 20 years. However, if there is movement in the ground or heavy vehicle traffic, asphalt resurfacing may be needed sooner.
Heated asphalt driveway
If you live in a cold-weather climate, consider heating your asphalt driveway particularly useful for super-snowy days. However, this is definitely a luxury addition: expect your cost per square foot to increase dramatically. Typically, the to install a heated driveway runs between $12 $21 per square foot.
Tips to save money on an asphalt driveway
When all is said and done, paving an asphalt driveway isn't cheap. Here are a few of our best money-saving tips when looking to install a new driveway:
It's important to find out all the information you can before the paver ever comes to your home. a Thumbtack pro to help you calculate the installation cost of an asphalt driveway for your home today!