Asphalt driveway cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,050 – $7,500
- Per sq ft
- $5 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #124
- 1 = most expensive
An asphalt driveway in Portland, ME usually costs $3,050 to $7,500 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $5 to $12 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $28.88 an hour in the Portland area, 13% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Portland, ME, standard level
$4,400 to $6,150
About $7.15 to $10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,700 |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $160 |
| Total | $4,400 | $6,150 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $2,900 | $3,850 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,250 | $3,450 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $130 | $200 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,250 | $7,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Portland number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators at 40%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%. Weighted together, Portland wages are 1.06 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (41% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,950 nationally becomes $2,900 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.9: $50 to $200.
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Portland
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft.
Basic
$3,050 to $4,800
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,400 to $6,150
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,700 to $7,500
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| 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 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $5,050 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $4,800 | $4,400 – $6,150 | $5,700 – $7,500 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,050 – $7,950 | $7,250 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,300 |
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Portland. Manchester comes closest at about $5,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +11% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | +6% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | +6% |
| Maine (statewide) | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #124 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 2% above the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $2,950 – $7,200 | $5,050 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $3,550 – $8,850 | $6,200 | +18% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $2,900 – $7,000 | $4,950 | −6% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $3,350 – $8,500 | $5,950 | +13% |
What nearby projects cost in Portland
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+3%) and paver patio lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,550 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,250 | −3% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
Why two Portland quotes can differ
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.
Extras that change the Portland total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.01 for Portland, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.06) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $610 – $1,200 |
Portland weather and the asphalt driveway calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Portland Intl Jetport (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Portland are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Portland gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 69 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, October and December (5.3 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 5 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 16 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 26 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 35 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 55 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 41 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 22 | 4.5 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Portland
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Portland the blend is 1.06.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.88 an hour, 13% above the US median of $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $27.36 and $35.90 an hour. About 100 work in the metro. That is 3.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.46 an hour. BLS counts 1,470 of them working in the area, 51.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $28.62 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $30.84 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 30.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $230 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 1.0% to 4.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-South Portland has 288,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 89th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $27.36 | $28.88 | $35.90 | $25.64 | 1.13 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.00 | $28.62 | $30.84 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Asphalt driveway in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Portland?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,050 to $7,500 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,400 to $6,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Portland?
About $5 to $12 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $200 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,300, which is 1% more than Portland ($5,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,250. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Portland?
$3,050 to $7,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $200 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 2% above the Maine statewide estimate ($5,150 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $28.88 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.36 to $35.90.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Portland?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,800 and premium work $5,700 to $7,500. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+When is the best time to pave a driveway in Portland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July and August are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add a sealcoat" add in Portland?
$610 to $1,200 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Portland
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.