Cost guides › New driveway
United States
Driveway cost: asphalt, concrete and pavers
Pouring a new 538 sq ft concrete driveway typically costs $5,400 before sales tax, with most bids between $4,200 and $7,050. That covers digging out, a compacted gravel base, forms, reinforcement and a broom-finished slab. Asphalt comes in around $4,200, and a paver driveway with a contrasting border runs about $10,800. Pick gravel, asphalt, stamped concrete or pavers in the calculator to price each one, and add tear-out of an old driveway or a trench drain if you need them.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $5,350 | $7,250 | $11,900 |
| Alaska | $4,600 | $7,050 | $12,000 |
| Illinois | $4,700 | $6,400 | $11,600 |
| Washington | $4,600 | $6,350 | $12,000 |
| Oregon | $4,350 | $5,950 | $11,700 |
| Minnesota | $4,700 | $5,900 | $12,100 |
| Massachusetts | $4,850 | $5,750 | $12,300 |
| New York | $4,550 | $5,750 | $11,700 |
| Wisconsin | $4,550 | $5,750 | $11,200 |
| California | $4,700 | $5,700 | $11,800 |
Show all regions
| Ohio | $4,550 | $5,700 | $10,700 |
| Rhode Island | $4,600 | $5,700 | $11,700 |
| New Jersey | $4,850 | $5,650 | $11,200 |
| District of Columbia | $4,300 | $5,600 | $12,200 |
| Indiana | $4,300 | $5,600 | $10,700 |
| Missouri | $4,550 | $5,600 | $10,800 |
| Montana | $4,300 | $5,600 | $11,600 |
| Nevada | $4,250 | $5,600 | $10,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,250 | $5,600 | $10,900 |
| Vermont | $4,250 | $5,600 | $11,800 |
| Colorado | $4,200 | $5,550 | $11,700 |
| Michigan | $4,300 | $5,550 | $10,700 |
| Arizona | $4,150 | $5,500 | $10,800 |
| Connecticut | $4,600 | $5,500 | $11,800 |
| Iowa | $4,250 | $5,450 | $10,800 |
| North Dakota | $4,250 | $5,450 | $11,100 |
| Wyoming | $4,150 | $5,450 | $10,700 |
| Delaware | $4,100 | $5,400 | $10,600 |
| Idaho | $4,150 | $5,400 | $11,100 |
| Utah | $4,150 | $5,400 | $11,000 |
| Maine | $4,150 | $5,350 | $11,600 |
| New Hampshire | $4,300 | $5,300 | $11,600 |
| Kansas | $4,100 | $5,200 | $10,800 |
| Maryland | $4,150 | $5,150 | $10,800 |
| West Virginia | $4,000 | $5,150 | $9,750 |
| Kentucky | $4,100 | $5,100 | $10,400 |
| Virginia | $4,050 | $5,100 | $10,700 |
| Louisiana | $3,800 | $5,050 | $10,200 |
| Nebraska | $4,200 | $5,050 | $10,800 |
| New Mexico | $3,850 | $5,050 | $10,500 |
| South Carolina | $4,000 | $5,050 | $10,400 |
| Florida | $4,050 | $5,000 | $10,500 |
| Tennessee | $4,100 | $5,000 | $10,500 |
| North Carolina | $4,100 | $4,950 | $10,600 |
| South Dakota | $4,100 | $4,950 | $10,300 |
| Texas | $3,900 | $4,950 | $10,400 |
| Arkansas | $3,800 | $4,900 | $10,300 |
| Georgia | $3,850 | $4,900 | $10,600 |
| Oklahoma | $3,850 | $4,900 | $10,300 |
| Alabama | $3,750 | $4,850 | $10,200 |
| Mississippi | $3,800 | $4,800 | $9,650 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Excavating the driveway area and hauling off the spoil
- Grading the subgrade and laying a geotextile fabric
- A compacted crushed-stone base of about 4 to 6 inches
- Forms along the edges and control joints in the slab
- Wire mesh or rebar reinforcement
- A 4-inch concrete slab with a broom finish
- Curing and cleanup once the forms are stripped
What affects the cost
Surface material
Gravel is the cheapest surface to install, asphalt is next, and plain concrete costs more up front but needs no sealing. Stamped concrete and pavers cost the most per square foot because of the extra labor in patterns, color and cutting.
Tearing out the old driveway
Breaking out an old concrete slab is heavy work and the rubble has to be hauled away, which adds a noticeable amount per square foot. Old asphalt or gravel comes up faster and costs less to remove.
Soil and base depth
Soft clay or fill ground needs a deeper dig and more crushed stone, or the slab will crack and the asphalt will rut. In cold states the base also has to drain well so frost heave doesn't lift the slab.
Size and shape
Bigger driveways cost less per square foot because the crew and equipment are already on site. Curves, flared aprons and circular drives need more forming and cutting than a straight rectangle.
Drainage
A driveway that slopes toward the garage or house needs a trench drain across the bottom, piped to a safe discharge point. It's much cheaper to add while the ground is open than to retrofit later.
Thickness and traffic
Four inches of concrete is standard for cars. If you park an RV, a boat trailer or a heavy pickup, ask for 5 to 6 inches and heavier reinforcement, which adds concrete and labor.
How to save
- Keep the existing footprint: widening or adding an apron means more excavation, forming and often a curb cut.
- If the old asphalt base is sound, ask whether an overlay is possible instead of a full tear-out.
- Schedule for late spring or early fall, when paving and concrete crews are easier to book.
- Get three itemized bids that spell out base depth, slab or asphalt thickness and reinforcement, so you compare the same job.
Grants, tax and rules
Permits and curb cuts
Before you widen a driveway or cut a new curb, check with your city or county: many control where a driveway meets the street and the sidewalk. Permit fees are not in our figures.
Sales tax
Sales tax on materials varies by state, and labor is often not taxed but rules vary. Our figures are before sales tax.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new driveway cost?
A new 538 sq ft concrete driveway on a compacted base typically costs $5,400 before tax. Asphalt is around $4,200, and pavers with a border run about $10,800. Removing an old driveway and adding drainage cost extra.
Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
Asphalt is cheaper to install, but it needs sealing every few years and usually doesn't last as long. Concrete costs more up front, lasts decades and handles hot summers better; asphalt copes better with road salt and freeze-thaw.
How much does it cost to tear out an old driveway?
Pick the old surface in the calculator to see it for your size. Concrete costs the most to break out and haul away; asphalt and gravel are cheaper. A contractor can sometimes reuse a sound gravel base, which saves money.
What's the cheapest driveway?
Gravel over a compacted base is the cheapest driveway to install. It needs regular raking and topping up, and it's hard to plow in snow country, but it drains well and is easy to repair.
How soon can I drive on a new driveway?
On new concrete, wait about a week before driving on it and longer for heavy vehicles. New asphalt can usually take a car after two to three days, but avoid sharp turns on it in hot weather for the first weeks.
Are pavers worth the extra cost?
Pavers cost the most, but individual units can be lifted and replaced after a repair or a utility dig, and they don't crack like a slab. They need occasional re-sanding of the joints and weed control.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 38.6 · Labour: $2,684 · Materials: $2,721
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: Mid = plain concrete, 50 m2 (538 sq ft), standard base, no tear-out. ~$10/sq ft: HomeGuide driveway cost (19 Dec 2025) plain concrete $6-15/sq ft; HomeAdvisor install-a-driveway (updated 19 Jun 2026) concrete $8-18/sq ft, projects $2,523-7,292; Fixr pave-driveway (29 Aug 2025) $6,960 for a 24x24 concrete drive with apron..
Last reviewed September 26, 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy