Cost guides › New driveway
Canada
Driveway cost: asphalt, concrete and pavers
Paving a 50 m² driveway with hot-mix asphalt typically costs $3,800 before GST/HST, with most quotes between $2,950 and $4,900. That includes excavation, a compacted granular base and machine-laid asphalt. A gravel driveway comes in around $1,300, and interlocking pavers with a border run about $11,200. Pick concrete, exposed aggregate, stamped concrete or interlock in the calculator to price each surface, and add removal of the old driveway if you are replacing one.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $1,300 | $4,100 | $11,500 |
| Ontario | $1,300 | $3,900 | $11,200 |
| Alberta | $1,300 | $3,800 | $11,300 |
| British Columbia | $1,350 | $3,800 | $11,600 |
| Saskatchewan | $1,250 | $3,650 | $10,900 |
| Manitoba | $1,200 | $3,600 | $10,500 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $1,200 | $3,600 | $10,400 |
| Nova Scotia | $1,250 | $3,500 | $10,600 |
| New Brunswick | $1,200 | $3,450 | $10,500 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Excavating the driveway area and trucking away the soil
- Grading and a geotextile fabric over the subgrade
- A compacted granular A base, graded to shed water
- Hot-mix asphalt laid by machine and rolled
- Tapered edges and tie-ins at the garage and the sidewalk
- Cleanup of the site
What affects the cost
Surface material
Asphalt is the usual choice in most of Canada because it flexes with frost and shrugs off road salt. Concrete costs roughly twice as much, exposed aggregate and stamped concrete more again, and interlocking pavers sit near the top.
Frost and the granular base
Freeze-thaw is what breaks driveways here. A deeper, well-compacted granular base with good drainage costs more but stops heaving and cracking; clay soils common in Ontario and the Prairies often need the extra depth.
Removing the old driveway
Ripping out old asphalt or a concrete slab and trucking it away is a separate line on most quotes. Concrete is the heaviest and costs the most to remove.
Size and access
Paving crews charge a lot to bring a paver, roller and trucks to site, so small driveways cost more per square foot. Tight access that needs smaller equipment or hand work also adds time.
Drainage
If water runs toward the garage or the house, a trench drain or regrading is needed. Adding it during the job is far cheaper than fixing a wet garage later.
Season
Asphalt plants and paving crews work roughly from spring to late fall. Late-season bookings can be cheaper, but asphalt laid on cold ground doesn't compact as well.
How to save
- If the old base is sound and drains, ask whether it can be reused and topped up instead of fully excavated.
- Book early in the season or late in the fall when crews have gaps in their schedule.
- Keep the same footprint: widening means more excavation and a talk with your municipality.
- Compare quotes on the same base depth and compacted asphalt thickness, not just the total.
Grants, tax and rules
Municipal approval
Before widening a driveway or changing the curb cut, check with your municipality about the section between your property line and the road. Permit fees are not in our figures.
GST/HST
GST/HST applies to renovation work; our figures are before GST/HST (13% HST in Ontario, 5% GST in Alberta).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new asphalt driveway cost in Canada?
For 50 m² with excavation and a new granular base, expect around $3,800 before GST/HST. Removing an old driveway and adding a trench drain are extra.
Is interlock worth it compared to asphalt?
Interlocking pavers cost much more, around $11,200 for the same size with a border, but they look better, can be lifted and relaid after frost movement or repairs, and don't need sealing. Asphalt is the budget choice and needs sealing and patching over time.
Concrete or asphalt in a cold climate?
Asphalt copes better with road salt and frost movement and is cheaper to repair. Concrete lasts longer when the base is right, but de-icing salt can scale the surface, so it needs sealing.
How long before I can drive on new asphalt?
Usually two to three days for a car, longer in hot weather. Avoid turning the steering wheel while stationary and keep heavy trucks off it for the first weeks.
What is the cheapest driveway option?
Gravel over a compacted base, at about $1,300 for 50 m². It's common on rural properties, drains well and is easy to repair, but it's harder to plow and needs topping up.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 28.2 · Labour: $1,692 · Materials: $2,091
Sources: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada); Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: Mid = hot-mix asphalt, 50 m2 (538 sq ft), granular base, no tear-out. ~$7/sq ft: Green Building Canada asphalt driveway cost ($3.00-8.17/sq ft, 600 sq ft $1,800-4,900); HomeStars asphalt driveway price guide (updated 21 Aug 2026) $3-10/sq ft plus $1-3 site prep, total $2,800-6,500..
Last reviewed September 26, 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy