Asphalt driveway cost in Kingsport, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $2,850 – $6,850
- Per sq ft
- $4.70 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #215
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pave a driveway in Kingsport, plan on $2,850 to $6,850 for 600 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $4.70 to $11 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $20.44 an hour in the Kingsport area, 20% below the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Kingsport, TN, standard level
$4,050 to $5,650
About $6.60 to $9.20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,250 |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $4,050 | $5,650 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Kingsport, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $2,850 | $3,800 | 59% |
| Labor | $910 | $1,900 | $2,900 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,850 | $6,850 | 100% |
Where the Kingsport 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 $20.44 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Kingsport is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kingsport metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $2,850, compared with $2,950 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (86.4) and land at $45 to $170.
Data note: 40% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Kingsport. The wage table below marks each row.
Kingsport: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kingsport wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$2,850 to $4,450
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,050 to $5,650
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,250 to $6,850
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,350 | $2,200 – $2,850 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,900 – $3,000 | $2,750 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,650 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $4,450 | $4,050 – $5,650 | $5,250 – $6,850 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,750 – $7,350 | $6,700 – $9,350 | $8,700 – $11,300 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Kingsport bid
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.
Related projects, priced for Kingsport
Because every project leans on different trades, Kingsport's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs −5% and concrete driveway −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,750 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −6% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
Kingsport labor market for asphalt driveway
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Kingsport is 0.89 times the national level.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kingsport metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $20.44 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $24.88 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.81 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $23.70 an hour. About 1,430 work in the metro. That is 119.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.90 an hour, which is 7% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.49 and $36.27 an hour. BLS counts 770 of them working in the area, 64.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.88 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($18.16) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 3.0% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 119,560 jobs in the Kingsport-Bristol area. That makes it the 183rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $18.16 | $20.44 | $24.88 | $25.64 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.40 | $21.81 | $23.70 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.49 | $26.90 | $36.27 | $28.78 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Optional extras in Kingsport
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Kingsport by the average of the local wage index (0.89) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.93. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $560 – $1,100 |
Is Kingsport cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $4,950. Johnson City is the cheapest at $4,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport, TNthis page | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | |
| Johnson City, TN25 miles | $2,750 – $6,500 | $4,600 | −5% |
| Asheville, NC70 miles | $2,900 – $7,000 | $4,950 | +2% |
| Hickory, NC75 miles | $2,850 – $6,800 | $4,800 | −1% |
| Knoxville, TN100 miles | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | −2% |
| Blacksburg, VA110 miles | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | level |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,850 – $6,800 | $4,800 | −1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Kingsport comes in at #215 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $7,650; the cheapest is Fort Smith, AR at $4,450 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, Kingsport is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,900 – $7,050 | $5,000 | +2% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $2,800 – $6,750 | $4,800 | −2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | −2% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $2,800 – $6,650 | $4,700 | −3% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 | +1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Kingsport's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kingsport against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VT | 120,150 jobs | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | +7% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | +9% |
| Erie, PA | 120,480 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | +8% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $3,150 – $7,650 | $5,400 | +11% |
Climate in Kingsport: timing your asphalt driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Kingsport (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Kingsport (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 83 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Kingsport gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are February, March and July (5.0 inches in July). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 28 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 27 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 51 | 30 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 60 | 36 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 45 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 78 | 54 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 62 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 66 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 58 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 46 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 36 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 30 | 4.0 | Cold |
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 $4,050 to $5,650 for Kingsport, TN is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in Kingsport: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Kingsport?
For 600 sq ft, expect $2,850 to $6,850 in the Kingsport area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,050 to $5,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Kingsport?
About $4.70 to $11 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Kingsport or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $4,600, which is 5% less than Kingsport ($4,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kingsport?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,900 out of $4,850. Materials are 59% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Kingsport?
$2,850 to $6,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Kingsport?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $170 for fees in the Kingsport area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kingsport expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Kingsport is 1% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($4,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Kingsport?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.44 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.16 to $24.88.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Kingsport?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $4,450 and premium work $5,250 to $6,850. 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 Kingsport?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. September and October 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 Kingsport?
$560 to $1,100 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Kingsport
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.