Asphalt driveway cost in Idaho
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (600 sq ft)
- $3,150 – $7,750
- Per sq ft
- $5.15 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $5,250
- Metros covered
- 3
What does it cost to pave a driveway in Idaho? Plan on $3,150 to $7,750 for 600 sq ft. Wages (1.16x the US blend), materials (price index 96.3) and permit costs (95.5) put the state above the national midpoint by 4%.
Inside Idaho, the metros we cover range from $5,450 (Boise) to $5,550 (Coeur d'Alene) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Idaho (statewide), standard level
$4,500 to $6,350
About $7.40 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $150 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,350 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Idaho
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $2,850 | $3,800 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,200 | $2,450 | $3,750 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,450 | $7,750 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Idaho prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft.
Basic
$3,150 to $5,000
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,500 to $6,350
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,900 to $7,750
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,650 | $2,450 – $3,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,000 | $4,500 – $6,350 | $5,900 – $7,750 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,200 – $8,250 | $7,450 – $10,500 | $9,750 – $12,800 |
Add-ons priced for Idaho
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.06 for Idaho, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.16) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $640 – $1,250 |
If you are planning more than one job in Idaho
Each project weights the trades differently, so Idaho's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is +1% and concrete slab −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,400 | −1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | +1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
What paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators and the other trades earn in Idaho
Idaho's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.16 times the national level.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071), 40% of the weighting: a median of $35.20 an hour, 37% above the US median of $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $27.43 and $46.28 an hour. About 130 work in the state. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.57 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $26.46 an hour. BLS counts 10,850 of them working in the state, 126.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.66 an hour, 3% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.28 and $36.25 an hour. About 4,270 work in the state. That is 49.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators ($46.28 an hour) would add about $370 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.43) would take off about $260. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 857,440 jobs across Idaho (May 2025), which is 0.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $27.43 | $35.20 | $46.28 | $25.64 | 1.37 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.02 | $22.57 | $26.46 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.28 | $29.66 | $36.25 | $28.78 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Idaho against its neighbors
Idaho ranks 16 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for asphalt driveway, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $7,500 and the cheapest Mississippi at $4,600, both for 600 sq ft at the midpoint. Idaho sits at $5,450. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 270 miles away | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −5% |
| Utah | 280 miles away | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | −7% |
| Oregon | 350 miles away | $3,350 – $8,150 | $5,750 | +5% |
| Washington | 380 miles away | $3,600 – $9,050 | $6,350 | +16% |
| Nevada | 460 miles away | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −4% |
Idaho seasons and asphalt driveway
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Idaho is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Coeur d'Alene has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Idaho at 7 months (April through October); Idaho Falls has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 10 inches a year in Idaho Falls to 25 inches in Coeur d'Alene.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 26 | 93 | 12 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Idaho Falls | 12 | 87 | 10 | 5: May through September |
| Coeur d'Alene | 26 | 83 | 25 | 7: April through October |
Which Idaho city is cheapest for asphalt driveway?
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,450, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (600 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,550 | +2% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | level |
| Boise, ID | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | level |
Why two Idaho quotes can differ
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.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $4,500 to $6,350 for Idaho is attached.
Detailed asphalt driveway report for Idaho, $9
The report lays out the asphalt driveway numbers for Idaho line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Asphalt driveway in Idaho: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Idaho?
$3,150 to $7,750 for 600 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Idaho can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Idaho is cheapest for asphalt driveway?
Boise at about $5,450 (midpoint, 600 sq ft). The priciest is Coeur d'Alene at $5,550.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Idaho than the US average?
It is 4% more expensive: $5,450 against $5,250 for 600 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Idaho?
About 45% ($2,450). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.16x the national wage level.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Idaho?
The BLS statewide median is $35.20 an hour, against $25.64 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.43 to $46.28.
+Where does Idaho rank for asphalt driveway costs?
16th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,450 for 600 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Idaho?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $5,000 and premium work $5,900 to $7,750. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+Does the season matter for asphalt driveway in Idaho?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Idaho metros we cover, Coeur d'Alene has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add a sealcoat" add in Idaho?
$640 to $1,250 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway by city in Idaho
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.