Asphalt driveway cost in Baltimore, MD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,150 – $7,650
- Per sq ft
- $5.15 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #89
- 1 = most expensive
An asphalt driveway in Baltimore, MD usually costs $3,150 to $7,650 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $5.15 to $12.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $180 more. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $28.75 an hour in the Baltimore area, 12% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Baltimore, MD, standard level
$4,500 to $6,300
About $7.35 to $10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $3,450 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,700 |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $160 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Baltimore, MD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $3,050 | $4,050 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,250 | $3,400 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $130 | $210 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,400 | $7,650 | 100% |
Where the Baltimore price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.75 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Baltimore is 1.05 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 41% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baltimore is at 102.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,950 nationally becomes $3,050 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 104.5: $50 to $210.
What local crews earn in Baltimore
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 Baltimore the blend is 1.05.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.75 an hour, 12% above the US median of $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $23.60 and $29.10 an hour. About 310 work in the metro. That is 2.3 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 $22.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.72 and $26.66 an hour. BLS counts 10,520 of them working in the area, 77.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.20 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $32.50 an hour. About 3,350 work in the metro. That is 24.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $10 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 0.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has 1,356,680 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 22nd 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% | $23.60 | $28.75 | $29.10 | $25.64 | 1.12 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.72 | $22.34 | $26.66 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.67 | $29.20 | $32.50 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Baltimore?
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baltimore wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+2%) and concrete driveway lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $8,950 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,300 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,200 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $3,950 | −1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Baltimore
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baltimore. 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
$3,150 to $4,950
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,500 to $6,300
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,850 to $7,650
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 – $2,600 | $2,450 – $3,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $4,950 | $4,500 – $6,300 | $5,850 – $7,650 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,200 – $8,200 | $7,450 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,600 |
Why two Baltimore quotes can differ
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.
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.
Extras that change the Baltimore total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for Baltimore, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.05) and goods price index (1.02). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $620 – $1,250 |
Baltimore against nearby metros and the rest of Maryland
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group at $5,500. Dover is the cheapest at $5,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MDthis page | $3,150 – $7,650 | $5,400 | |
| York, PA45 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA55 miles | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Dover, DE60 miles | $2,900 – $7,050 | $5,000 | −8% |
| Washington, DC60 miles | $3,200 – $7,800 | $5,500 | +2% |
| Lexington Park, MD70 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Maryland (statewide) | $3,150 – $7,700 | $5,450 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baltimore ranks #89 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baltimore is 1% below the Maryland figure.
Elsewhere in Maryland
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $2,950 – $7,100 | $5,000 | −7% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baltimore against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,900 – $6,950 | $4,900 | −9% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $3,450 – $8,700 | $6,050 | +12% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −10% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,800 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −11% |
Baltimore 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, Md Sci Ctr Baltimore (in the city). 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 Baltimore are March through June and August through December: 9 of 12. Outside them, January and February have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January and February the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 52 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Baltimore gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 43 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 | 44 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 32 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 48 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 68 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 87 | 71 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 65 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 48 | 35 | 3.7 | Workable |
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Asphalt driveway in Baltimore: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Baltimore?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,150 to $7,650 in the Baltimore area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $6,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Baltimore?
About $5.15 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $210 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Baltimore or York?
York is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,350, which is 1% less than Baltimore ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baltimore?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,400. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Baltimore?
$3,150 to $7,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Baltimore?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $210 for fees in the Baltimore area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baltimore expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Maryland?
Baltimore is 1% below the Maryland statewide estimate ($5,450 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Maryland; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Baltimore?
The BLS median is $28.75 an hour in the Baltimore area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.60 to $29.10.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Baltimore?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $4,950 and premium work $5,850 to $7,650. 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 Baltimore?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through December. June and November 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 Baltimore?
$620 to $1,250 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Baltimore
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.