Driveway Cost Calculator
The real driveway question isn't 'what does asphalt cost', it's 'what does asphalt cost against concrete on my driveway'. This tool answers it the way you'd actually decide: enter your driveway's length and width once, and see typical installed totals for gravel, asphalt, concrete, and pavers at the same time. Got a quote already? Type your quoted rate and the tool prices it against the field so you know whether it's fair before you sign anything.
Four surfaces, one honest comparison
Every driveway surface has a sales pitch. Gravel is cheap, asphalt is smooth, concrete lasts, pavers are beautiful, and each pitch skips the number that matters at your address: total installed cost at your square footage, next to the alternatives. That's the whole design of this tool. One set of dimensions, four totals, and a slot for the quote in your hand so you can see where it lands in the field.
The full picture per surface
| Surface | Installed $/sq ft | Life | Maintenance | Snow / climate notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | $1 - $3 | Indefinite with care | Regrade + top up every 2-4 yrs | Plowing scatters it; warm climates easiest |
| Asphalt | $7 - $13 | ~20 yrs | Seal every 3-5 yrs | Flexes with freeze-thaw; softens in desert heat |
| Concrete | $8 - $16 | 30+ yrs | Joint sealing, occasional crack fix | Salt damages it; great in heat |
| Pavers | $15 - $30 | 30+ yrs | Re-sand joints, spot re-level | Handles freeze-thaw best; repairs invisible |
Ranges come from national cost surveys and hold for straightforward sites. Slopes, tear-outs, drainage problems, and long material hauls push any of them up.
A 20 by 40 driveway, all four ways
800 square feet. Gravel: $800 to $2,400, plus a top-up load every few years. Asphalt: $5,600 to $10,400, resealed four times over its life at a few hundred each. Concrete: $6,400 to $12,800, mostly maintenance-free. Pavers: $12,000 to $24,000, and the only one where a repair truly disappears. Over 30 years the middle two converge more than their stickers suggest: one asphalt driveway plus a replacement roughly equals the concrete that's still there.
Reading a quote like a contractor
- Base depth is the tell. A cheap asphalt quote usually hides a thin base; 6 to 8 inches of compacted stone under 2 to 3 of asphalt is the spec that lasts.
- Tear-out is its own line, $1 to $3 per square foot. A quote that doesn't mention your existing driveway hasn't planned for it.
- Drainage decides lifespan more than material. If water sheets across or ponds at the garage, fix that in the same contract.
- For gravel, ask what grade: a crusher-run surface over a #57 base, like the crushed stone tool lays out, beats "driveway mix" mystery stone.
Once the surface is chosen, size the material precisely: gravel, asphalt, concrete, or pavers.
Common questions
Gravel, at $1 to $3 per square foot installed, often a tenth of pavers. The tradeoff is maintenance: regrading and topping up every few years, and snow removal is harder. Asphalt is the cheapest hard surface.
Asphalt costs less up front, roughly $7 to $13 a square foot against concrete's $8 to $16, but needs sealing every 3 to 5 years and lasts about 20 years to concrete's 30-plus. Cold climates favor asphalt; hot ones favor concrete.
576 square feet: about $1,150 in gravel, $5,800 in asphalt, $6,900 in concrete, or $13,000 in pavers at typical midpoints. Enter 24 by 24 above and adjust to your quotes.
Demolition of the old surface, poor drainage, extra base depth over soft soil, and tight access. A tear-out alone adds $1 to $3 per square foot. Get every quote itemized so you can see which line moved.
Estimates for planning. Verify against your supplier's units and your local building codes before ordering or building. For anything structural, follow your engineer or local code.