How Much Does It Cost to Install an Asphalt Driveway?

Tyrone Ward, owner of TMW Enterprises Paving & Maintenance in Bensenville, Illinois, recommends getting three estimates because “prices are all over the map.”

Denise Cooper, owner of John Cooper Paving and Sealing in Abington, Massachusetts, says the average price of a new asphalt driveway, including ripping out and hauling away the old one, ranges from $4,000 to $5,000.

Angie’s List members recently reported paying an average of $5,308, with a pricing range between $4,500 and $6,100. The average cost of a concrete driveway, by comparison, is almost $7,400. Other sources estimate the cost to install an asphalt driveway to be between $2,300 and $10,300.

RELATED: Pros & Cons: Asphalt vs. Concrete

Homeowners typically pay per square foot. Reibling adds the average cost per square foot is between $3.50 and $4.50. Some asphalt contractors may charge by the ton, with the cost ranging from $100 to $150 per ton.

Reibling, meanwhile, has a minimum charge of $2,800 for smaller driveway because the same amount of equipment needs to be brought to the job, regardless of its size. So, a 500-square-foot driveway may cost the same as a 700-square-foot driveway.

“The only difference is the extra material cost,” he says. “After the size is determined, the estimator will determine if there are any drainage issues that need to be corrected, as well as any areas in the driveway that might have subgrade issues. Those are all factors when determining the final cost.”

Aside from the size of a driveway, several other factors determine the price.

“Mostly size is the factor,” Ward says. “But building codes for base thickness has changed since the late 1970s, so on really old driveways, sometimes we have to dig the entire base out of place and put in all new gravel before paving.”

Driveways on a slope or ones with odd shapes or lengths can add to the cost, contractors say. For example, an asphalt driveway that runs a quarter-mile long can cost up to $50,000, according to CostHelper.

Homeowners can expect to pay up to $50 an hour to have a company remove small trees near the area, $70 for each stump removed and $200 to $400 for heavy machinery and skilled laborers to clear and prep a new driveway base.

“Each job is different,” Joseph says. “A difficult layout or existing drainage problems may cause price increases because it may take longer to complete.”

While asphalt driveways are more affordable than other options such as concrete, the total cost that you will incur for a new driveway will depend on multiple factors. Some of these include:

The equipment, materials, and processes that will be needed during installation will also influence the cost of an asphalt driveway. At the beginning of the installation, contractors may need to ensure that the driveway is slightly sloping so that drainage can be effective. A foundation that is composed of gravel is typically installed between the asphalt layer and the underlying surface. This can cost $1-$2.50 per square foot. The landscaping work needed will typically add to the installation and labor costs.

In addition, if you’re installing a new driveway where there was no previous one in place, the site may need to be excavated and cleared in preparation for the new paving.

Fixing potholes with a contractor costs $2 to $2.50 per square foot for repairs up to two inches thick. Pros estimate crack repairs using linear feet at an average of $1 to $3 per foot. Prices usually include labor. The cost varies based on size, labor and patching method. Ask your pro to detail the costs in their quote.

A contractor might suggest resurfacing a larger area if there's too much damage. This is typically $2 to $2.50 per square foot for a two-inch layer. Get a few quotes to find the best price.

Hire a smaller company for jobs with a few cracks or potholes. Bigger businesses might require a minimum of a few tons to accept a job. Ask contractors up front if they require minimum purchases.

Asphalt parking lots expand in heat and contract in cold weather. This and heavy traffic cause damage. They can last about 20 years. It might need repairs as early as 10 or 11 years. Look for cracks or depressions to save on major fixes.

Pothole repair runs $100 to $300, assuming a four-inch depth and around 25 to 80 square feet. Small contracting companies with less overhead are more likely to tackle jobs like this. Bigger companies usually work on jobs totalling $1,000 or more with more square feet.

The price to fix potholes depends on how many there are, asphalt market price and fuel needed to haul it. Double check prices in your area before making the decision to repair.

Hot-mix repair is costs between $100 to $500. It means excavating damaged areas, compacting or adding base rock and filling the hole with hot-mix asphalt. The project total will depend on the size of the hole.

How will the fix be made? What’s the scope of your project? Also consider:

Driveway sealing helps lengthen the life of an asphalt driveway. A sealer won't improve damaged asphalt. However, it protects it from heat and UV damage. It also seals tiny pores that water seep into. Driveway sealing costs about $200 to $500.

Before fixing an asphalt driveway crack, prepare the area you plan to repair. You don't want to make the crack any deeper, but you do want to clean up the edges so you can be sure that you fill in the crack completely.

The average price for a fully recycled asphalt driveway is $1,325 - expect to pay between $500 and $2,500. Many times homeowners never realize this cost savings since most recycled asphalt is used a base or in existing new hot mixes and the service pro passes along the savings without communication. Contractors save 75 to 80 percent when using recycled asphalt, going from $80 per ton down to $20 per ton.

When old asphalt is extracted, the slabs are taken to asphalt recycling plants where they are grounded down and made available to reuse.

John Korpaczewski, owner of J. Korpaczewski & Son Asphalt in Biddeford, Maine, says his company runs it through a paving machine and uses it as a base coat before laying new asphalt over it.

“Our company feels that recycled asphalt is an excellent quality foundation for a driveway, and it’s good for the environment,” Korpaczewski says. “Years ago, used asphalt went into a landfill, and now it’s recycled.”

Dominic Stanley, owner of Dominic’s Paving in Frederick, Maryland, adds recycled asphalt includes a lower initial cost, superior performance because of an increased density as well as environmental benefits.

“No reclaimed asphalt goes to the landfills,” he says.

It’s estimated that recycling prevents nearly 75 million tons of asphalt from going to landfills.

Recycled asphalt also provides a significant cost savings to local governments. According to AsphaltRecycling.com, the potential savings is $30 to $80 a ton. The site offers an example of a contractor saving $60 a ton through recycling. If that contractor recycled 50 tons a day for 30 day, their company would have a savings or profit of $90,000.

AsphaltRecyling also reports that recycling asphalt reduces mining, quarrying and oil consumption, as well as cutting down on materials and resources needed to produce virgin asphalt, which is scarce in some areas of the country, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The National Asphalt Paving Association estimates 1.65 million tons of recycled asphalt product [RAP] was used in 2013 in the U.S., saving taxpayers more than $2 billion.

1. Invest in a quality stone base. Asphalt with a firm base is just as strong as concrete and will hold up very well over time. Ask for an 8-inch stone base with 2.5 inches of blacktop rather than a 2-inch stone base with 4 inches of blacktop. Asphalt needs an adequate base of 8 inches because: asphalt needs more support than concrete and the freeze-thaw cycle during winter will not crack asphalt that has a significant stone base.  Also a good stone base provides adequate load-bearing qualities and proper water drainage.

2. Consider paving with a coat of binder or modified binder. Binder is a rough and durable grade of blacktop with 1-inch stones rather than the typical 3/8-inch stones. Using binder might add tremendous strength to your driveway. Modified binder is a good option if you want a cost-friendly paving job and you have an adequate 8-inch stone base. Modified binder sheds most rainwater and doesn’t need a wearing course — the very top, surface layer of asphalt — to seal it. It is often cheaper and sometimes better than a wearing course.

3. Check out the driveway contractor. Verify the contractor is insured and check out the contractor’s previous jobs - ask for photos of previous work done. See if they show any signs of problems. Hire an asphalt driveway contractor that has modern equipment and an experienced crew. Equipment manufacturers have greatly modernized construction equipment. This benefits the contractor and the customer because the contractor is more efficient and the homeowner benefits financially. More importantly, the customer will often get a higher quality job when the contractor uses modern equipment. Experience with compaction techniques, mat quality and proper joint construction will also make a difference in the quality and longevity of your driveway.

4. Get the job details in a written estimate. In order to obtain an accurate estimate, have a sketch of the home and the desired driveway footprint. Walk the site with the paving contractor and have him/her mark where the paved driveway is to lay.

5. Talk to your contractor about an accessible area for materials. Ask about clean-up.

6. Talk to the contractor about installing proper slopes and drainage. Otherwise, you may end up with water pooling on the finished driveway, or draining into your garage or home.

7. If there are any municipal pipes that need to be raised to the finished height of the driveway, find out if the paving contractors’ quotes include performing this task.

8. Driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. To avoid wasting time and money, check if building a concrete driveway will result in any violation.

9. As the crew begins work, there will be some dust, dirt and noise from the equipment. Keep all windows and doors closed during construction.

10. Lead times can be up to several weeks, so plan appropriately when talking with contractors.

11. Don’t leave your car in the garage that day!

The scam goes something like this.

You get a knock on the door or approached in the front yard by someone claiming to be an asphalt contractor with leftover material from a nearby job.

They deliver a high-pressure sales pitch and offer to pave your driveway for a ridiculously low price — low enough that you take the bait and pay up front.

After the work is completed — if the company even finishes the job — the alleged contractor demands more money, sometimes hundreds or thousands more. Or, the alleged contractor leaves you with a shoddy driveway constructed with a cheap, inferior product.

If you find yourself in this predicament, you’ve been scammed. As often is the case, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Driveway scams are popular during the summer in many regions of the country.

“Beware of door knockers,” says Denise Cooper, owner of John Cooper Paving & Sealing in Abington, Massachusetts. “If someone comes to your door and offers to do your driveway for a good price, it’s almost always a scam.”

One of the best ways to avoid a scam is by making sure the company is legit.

“Just be sure you are hiring a licensed contractor,” says Adam Joseph, owner of All State Paving in Hanover, Maryland. “We have a Maryland Home Improvement Commission that issues licenses.”

The Iowa Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General recommends attaining multiple written estimates, asking to see licenses and permits and checking if the contractor is bonded.

“Never pay in full until the work is completed, limit what you pay in advance, do not pay in cash and get a receipt for your payment,” according to consumer information from the state of Iowa.

Cooper says it never hurts to take a little time before hiring someone to work on your driveway.“A person should always do their research and go with a reputable company,” she says. “By doing this, they ensure that any issues with the install get fixed. When you buy from a door knocker, there is no one to reach out to, and you get stuck with the costs of repairs and any replacements if the job was done badly.”