Asphalt driveway cost: national prices and local ranges
Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- US range (600 sq ft)
- $3,050 – $7,400
- Per sq ft
- $5 – $12
- materials and labor
- Cheapest metro
- $4,450
- Fort Smith, AR
- Priciest metro
- $7,650
- Kahului, HI
An asphalt driveway runs $3,050 to $7,400 nationally for 600 sq ft, or $5 to $12 per sq ft for materials and labor. Where you live moves that number a lot: across 300 metros the midpoint runs from $4,450 in Fort Smith, AR to $7,650 in Kahului, HI.
Estimate your asphalt driveway cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in the US average, standard level
$4,350 to $6,100
About $7.10 to $9.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $160 |
| Total | $4,350 | $6,100 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in the US
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $2,950 | $3,950 | 57% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $2,150 | $3,250 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $130 | $200 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,250 | $7,400 | 100% |
What basic, standard and premium mean
Basic
$3,050 to $4,800
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,350 to $6,100
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,650 to $7,400
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
Cost by size and quality level
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,250 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $4,800 | $4,350 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,400 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,050 – $7,900 | $7,200 – $10,100 | $9,350 – $12,200 |
How a asphalt driveway job goes, step by step
- Decide between overlay and full replacement. If the base is sound, a new layer over the old asphalt costs less. Heavy cracking, potholes or standing water usually mean the base has failed.
- Excavate and compact the base. Replacement jobs remove the old asphalt and grade a crushed stone base. Compaction and drainage decide how long the surface lasts.
- Lay and roll hot mix. Hot asphalt arrives by truck and must be spread and rolled before it cools, so crews need dry weather and a mild day.
- Let it cure before sealing. Most pavers say to keep vehicles off for a couple of days. Sealcoat usually waits several months so the oils can weather out.
What changes the price of an asphalt driveway
New versus overlay
Resurfacing an existing driveway runs $3-$7 per sq ft; a full new driveway runs $5-$12+ (HomeGuide). Tearing out and replacing one is higher still.
Base work
Four to eight inches of compacted aggregate under the asphalt is where cheap quotes cut corners. Base typically runs $1-$3 per sq ft.
Small jobs cost more per foot
Paving crews move a paver, roller and trucks to your address, so a 400 sq ft driveway carries more mobilization per square foot than a 1,000 sq ft one.
Hot-mix price
Hot-mix asphalt is $100-$200 per ton delivered and moves with oil prices (PaveGauge).
Sealcoating
Sealing is $1-$2 per sq ft and is a maintenance cost, not part of the install.
Wages behind the national estimate
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) do the largest share of the work, about 40% of the weighting. Their national median is $25.64 an hour. Among 147 metros with a published figure, the median runs from $17.17 in Johnson City, TN to $60.89 in Riverside, CA, and the middle metro sits at $24.17. That ratio between the high and low end is 3.55 to 1, and it feeds straight into the labor line of the estimate.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $21.93 | $25.64 | $31.12 | $25.64 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.57 | $22.66 | $28.72 | $22.66 | 1.00 | US |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.40 | $28.78 | $37.10 | $28.78 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Add-ons and extras
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for the US, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.00) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $600 – $1,200 |
Does the season matter for asphalt driveway?
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 25 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 8 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, Bozeman, MT, Flagstaff, AZ and Grand Junction, CO have the fewest (5 to 5).
Local pages show a month-by-month table for each metro. We do not change prices by month, because there is no reliable published seasonal price series.
How much the price varies by city
The national midpoint of $5,250 hides a wide spread. 57 of 300 metros come in at least 10% higher and 34 at least 10% lower; 209 land in between. The cheapest, Fort Smith, is at $4,450, and the dearest, Kahului, at $7,650. Half of all metros are above $5,150.
Most expensive metros for asphalt driveway
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | $4,250 – $11,000 | $7,650 |
| Honolulu, HI | $4,200 – $10,900 | $7,550 |
| San Francisco, CA | $4,100 – $10,600 | $7,350 |
| San Jose, CA | $3,850 – $9,850 | $6,850 |
| Riverside, CA | $3,800 – $9,800 | $6,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $3,750 – $9,450 | $6,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $3,700 – $9,350 | $6,550 |
| Chicago, IL | $3,700 – $9,350 | $6,500 |
| Olympia, WA | $3,700 – $9,350 | $6,500 |
| Bellingham, WA | $3,650 – $9,250 | $6,450 |
Least expensive metros for asphalt driveway
| Metro | Range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR | $2,650 – $6,200 | $4,450 |
| McAllen, TX | $2,650 – $6,250 | $4,450 |
| El Paso, TX | $2,650 – $6,350 | $4,500 |
| Tyler, TX | $2,650 – $6,350 | $4,500 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $2,700 – $6,400 | $4,550 |
| Auburn, AL | $2,700 – $6,400 | $4,550 |
| Brownsville, TX | $2,700 – $6,400 | $4,550 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,550 |
| Dothan, AL | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,550 |
| Montgomery, AL | $2,750 – $6,450 | $4,600 |
Asphalt driveway cost by state
| State | Range (600 sq ft) | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 |
| Alaska | $3,550 – $8,900 | $6,250 |
| Arizona | $2,950 – $7,200 | $5,050 |
| Arkansas | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,600 |
| California | $3,650 – $9,100 | $6,350 |
| Colorado | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 |
| Connecticut | $3,350 – $8,450 | $5,900 |
| Delaware | $2,950 – $7,200 | $5,100 |
| District of Columbia | $3,550 – $8,900 | $6,250 |
| Florida | $2,900 – $6,950 | $4,900 |
| Georgia | $2,850 – $6,800 | $4,850 |
| Hawaii | $4,200 – $10,800 | $7,500 |
| Idaho | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 |
| Illinois | $3,550 – $8,950 | $6,250 |
| Indiana | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 |
| Iowa | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 |
| Kansas | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 |
| Kentucky | $2,900 – $6,950 | $4,950 |
| Louisiana | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 |
| Maine | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 |
| Maryland | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,450 |
| Massachusetts | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 |
| Michigan | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,200 |
| Minnesota | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 |
| Mississippi | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,600 |
| Missouri | $3,150 – $7,850 | $5,500 |
| Montana | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 |
| Nebraska | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 |
| Nevada | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 |
| New Hampshire | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 |
| New Jersey | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 |
| New Mexico | $2,800 – $6,750 | $4,800 |
| New York | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 |
| North Carolina | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 |
| North Dakota | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 |
| Ohio | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 |
| Oklahoma | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,700 |
| Oregon | $3,350 – $8,150 | $5,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 |
| Rhode Island | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 |
| South Carolina | $2,850 – $6,800 | $4,850 |
| South Dakota | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 |
| Tennessee | $2,850 – $6,800 | $4,800 |
| Texas | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 |
| Utah | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 |
| Vermont | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 |
| Virginia | $3,000 – $7,150 | $5,100 |
| Washington | $3,600 – $9,050 | $6,350 |
| West Virginia | $2,900 – $6,950 | $4,900 |
| Wisconsin | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 |
| Wyoming | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 |
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Asphalt driveway cost: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway?
$3,050 to $7,400 for 600 sq ft at national prices, including a permit of $50 to $200.
+What is the average cost per sq ft?
$5 to $12 per sq ft, materials and labor. The mid-range is about $8.50.
+How much does the price vary by city?
A lot. The most expensive metro we cover is 73% above the cheapest for the same 600 sq ft job. The cheapest is Fort Smith, AR; the priciest is Kahului, HI.
+How much of the cost is labor?
About 41% at the national midpoint ($2,150). Materials are 57%.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn on a asphalt driveway job?
The national BLS median is $25.64 an hour for paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators, with the middle half earning $21.93 to $31.12. Local wages are what move this estimate from town to town.
+How much more does a premium asphalt driveway job cost than a basic one?
At the national level, basic runs $3,050 to $4,800 and premium $5,650 to $7,400 for 600 sq ft. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+Can asphalt driveway work be done in winter?
It depends on where you are. Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen. Using NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals for 300 metros, 25 have a comfortable season that lasts all year. A typical metro has 8 comfortable months. At the other end, Anchorage, AK, Bozeman, MT, Flagstaff, AZ and Grand Junction, CO have the fewest (5 to 5).
Related projects
Largest metros: Asphalt driveway prices
- New York, NY$6,250 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$6,450 midpoint
- Chicago, IL$6,500 midpoint
- Dallas, TX$5,100 midpoint
- Houston, TX$4,950 midpoint
- Washington, DC$5,500 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$5,300 midpoint
- Atlanta, GA$4,950 midpoint
- Miami, FL$5,150 midpoint
- Boston, MA$5,850 midpoint
- Phoenix, AZ$5,150 midpoint
- San Francisco, CA$7,350 midpoint
- Seattle, WA$6,600 midpoint
- Minneapolis, MN$6,050 midpoint
- Detroit, MI$5,400 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$6,800 midpoint
- Denver, CO$5,450 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$6,050 midpoint
- Tampa, FL$4,850 midpoint
- Orlando, FL$4,850 midpoint
- Charlotte, NC$4,900 midpoint
- Baltimore, MD$5,400 midpoint
- St. Louis, MO$6,050 midpoint
- Austin, TX$4,850 midpoint
- Portland, OR$5,950 midpoint
- Las Vegas, NV$5,150 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$6,850 midpoint
- San Antonio, TX$4,700 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$5,250 midpoint
- Columbus, OH$5,550 midpoint
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Paving an Asphalt Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- PaveGauge: Asphalt Driveway Cost (2026): Price by Size (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = hot-mix asphalt ($2.30-$3.60/sq ft at 3 in) plus aggregate base ($1-$3/sq ft) from PaveGauge's component table.