Driveway Cost Calculator
A driveway's price is mostly its square feet times an installed per-square-foot rate that swings with material — asphalt $5–$12, concrete $6–$15, pavers $10–$30, gravel $1–$3.50 — then depth, removal, slope, and access nudge it. This estimator prices all four materials side by side and counts the concrete, asphalt, or stone too, so you can see where the money goes. Last updated July 6, 2026.
Estimated total
$3,468–$8,788
Concrete · 4 in
Low $3kMost likely ~$5,843High $9k
$3k – $9k · $10 per square foot (/sq ft)
Confidencehigh
Material takeoff
- Concrete (with waste)
- 8 yd³
- Form boards
- 100 lf
- Gravel base course
- 10 tons
Cost breakdown
- concrete surface (installed)
- $4k – $9k
- Permit allowance
- $50 – $250
- Total
- $3k – $9k
- Most likely
- $5,843
- Rate assumes a 4 in concrete section on a standard base; your 4 in depth scales the material share.
- Contractors typically cut control joints every 8–12 ft on concrete, depending on slab shape and local practice.
- Permits vary by city; HOA paving rules are common and aprons in the right-of-way need city approval.
Compare materials
- Asphalt
- $3k – $7k
- ConcreteSelected
- $3k – $9k
- Pavers
- $6k – $17k
- Gravel
- $618 – $2k
Each material at its typical depth, same size, site, and state.
iBallpark estimate for planning, not a bid. Assumes a rectangular pad on a standard base; soft soils, drainage work, and curb-cut/apron rules are the usual extras. Get 3 local quotes before signing.
How this estimate works
- All-in rate × area is the backbone. Each material's installed $/sq ft already includes the surface, a standard gravel base, and labor — multiplied by your length × width.
- Depth scales materials, not labor. The rate assumes a standard section (e.g. a 4 in concrete slab); a thicker slab or lift scales only the material share of the cost.
- Multipliers layer on top. Slope, what parks on it, site access, your state's labor market, and a small-project premium under 250 sq ft each adjust the subtotal; removal and a permit allowance are added as their own lines.
- What's excluded: curb-cut/apron work in the public right-of-way beyond the permit allowance, retaining walls, drainage systems, and soft-soil undercutting — the usual site-specific extras a contractor prices on a walkthrough.
Driveway cost FAQ
- How much does a driveway cost per square foot in 2026?
- Installed (surface, standard base, and labor): asphalt runs about $5–$12 per sq ft, concrete $6–$15, pavers $10–$30, and gravel $1–$3.50. Depth, slope, access, and your state's labor rates move the number within those bands.
- How much does a typical two-car driveway cost?
- A 600 sq ft (20 × 30 ft) two-car concrete driveway runs about $3,650–$9,250 installed at the national average; the same driveway in asphalt is roughly $3,050–$7,450.
- Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
- Asphalt is cheaper up front — about $5–$12 per sq ft installed versus $6–$15 for concrete. Concrete typically lasts longer (30+ years vs ~20) with less resealing, so its lifetime cost can come out ahead in mild climates.
- What does it cost to remove and replace an old driveway?
- Tear-out and disposal add about $1–$3.50 per sq ft for old asphalt and $2–$6 for old concrete, on top of the new surface. The calculator adds it as a separate line when you say what's there now.
- Do I need a permit for a driveway?
- Flatwork permits vary by town — the estimate carries a $50–$250 allowance. Work on the apron or curb cut in the public right-of-way almost always needs its own permit.
- What's the cheapest driveway material?
- Gravel, at about $1–$3.50 per sq ft installed — a 600 sq ft drive often lands near $1,200. It needs periodic regrading and top-up stone, and most towns don't count it as a paved surface.
Related calculators
- Fence Cost Calculator — pricing the yard's other big line item.
- Pool Cost Calculator — inground pool costs with the same show-the-math approach.
Wondering where these numbers come from? Read our methodology.