Cost to Install an Asphalt Driveway – 2023 Price Guide

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On this page:

• How Much Does a Driveway Cost?
• Size of Driveway
• Material Costs
• Asphalt Thickness
• Grading and Base Preparation
• Labor Costs
• Existing Driveway Removal
• How to Estimate Asphalt Driveway Installation Cost
• Example Driveway Project Estimate
• References

[ see all ]

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How Much Does a Driveway Cost?

The national average cost of an asphalt driveway is close to $4,500.^[1] The price can rise or fall depending on many factors including location, quality of material, depth of material required, and the size of your drive.

Asphalt driveway installation pricing across the country can be anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000, but most spend $4,000 to $8,000. The amount varies depending on such factors as the cost of labor and the general difference between pricing in different states.

The amount of differing figures can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to help by providing you with accurate and thorough calculations for a range of sizes of a driveway.

First, though, let’s briefly examine the factors that determine the overall cost of an asphalt driveway:

Size of Driveway

This is the most obvious one. A bigger driveway will inevitably cost more, even if you opt for a lower grade of asphalt. The length is one thing, but don’t forget that the size of a drive often includes how wide it is. Those who need to have parking space for a lot of cars will pay a much higher sum.

If you’re a homeowner, who has just bought a new property and only have one car in your household, choosing a narrower driveway will save you a significant amount.

Material Costs

The cost of asphalt ranges from $3 to $5 per square foot, including labor.^[2] It is easier to get a better idea of the total cost when you calculate it in tonnes, however, and that is how these calculations will be carried out.

The average price of good quality asphalt is $85 to $150 per ton. Asphalt pricing fluctuates with the price of oil.

Asphalt Thickness

An asphalt driveway is often composed of base layers and top layers, though the most stable form of asphalt driveway will be created using full-depth asphalt. In general a 4″ thick asphalt layer is suitable for most driveways, but 5-6″ is recommended to support heavier vehicles and loads.^[3]

This means that the entire thickness of the driveway is composed of asphalt, instead of having a substandard material for lower layers. Thus, once you grade it as discussed below, the entire driveway is made of the same material, reducing the risk of shifting and movement.

Grading and Base Preparation

Grading and preparing a solid base is a hidden cost of an asphalt project. For your driveway to be as stable as possible, you may need to ensure that the top 6 inches of soil (at least) is stable and 4 to 8 inches of crushed gravel for a solid base.^[4]

Never use topsoil as a base for any structures which require stability. Topsoil is the soil you use for flowerbeds. The type of soil you need to prepare your new driveway with should be as free of organic compounds as possible. It is also known as ‘fill dirt’.

Labor Costs

The cost of labor for general contracting work is usually between $40 and $55 per hour. Labor rates differ around the country, and some homeowners may know someone in the industry who may offer a reduced price. However, regarding averages, it is best to assume that labor will cost around $40 per hour.

Existing Driveway Removal

Removing an existing driveway will undoubtedly add to the costs of a paving project. Removing existing paving may take considerable time for the crew, while also generating a significant amount of waste that needs to be disposed of.

How to Estimate Asphalt Driveway Installation Cost

While our asphalt driveway calculator can estimate materials and labor pricing for your project, you can also do some back of the envelope calculations to ballpark your costs.

Example Driveway Project Estimate

For example, let’s estimate the cost of a 20-foot wide by 40-foot long driveway that is 6-inches deep.

One ton of asphalt will cover 26.66 square foot of driveway at a 6-inch depth.

You find out the square footage of your driveway by just multiplying the length by the width. The square footage in this example is 20′ times 40′, which equals 800 square foot.

Next, divide this into how much asphalt we need per square foot. 800 divided by 26.66 equals 30 tonnes of asphalt.

At $85 per ton for hot-mix asphalt, the asphalt will cost 30 times $85, or $2,550.

Once labor costs, equipment costs, and grading and fill dirt costs are considered, it is safe to say that you should set aside at least $5,500 for this new driveway.

Compare asphalt to gravel driveway or concrete driveway costs.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.