Free Contractor Tool
Driveway Cost Calculator
Estimate what a driveway costs to install or replace — concrete, asphalt, gravel, stamped, or pavers — with base condition, slope, and duty rating factored in, since those drive the price more than the surface does.
Built by SubcontractorHub — the software contractors use to quote, finance, and run every job.
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Estimate Your Driveway Cost
Enter dimensions and pick a surface. Duty rating, base condition, slope, and region adjust the rate — demolition, drainage, and street apron are added separately.
Highest lifespan of the common options; cracks are hard to repair invisibly.
Estimated installed cost
$4,420 – $10,220
600 ft² • $12/ft² all-in
Surface & base
$4,320–$9,720
Additional work
$100–$500
Expected life
25–40 yrs
Parks about
3 cars
Reading the result: most driveway failures are base failures, not surface failures. If the soil is soft or the existing base is questionable, the base line item is the one worth paying for — an extra inch of concrete over a bad base buys nothing.
Driveway Cost by Surface Material
Installed cost per square foot at standard residential thickness over a prepared base. Expected life is the column that decides real cost.
Asphalt vs. concrete
Asphalt installs cheaper at $7–$15 per square foot against concrete’s $8–$18, but needs sealcoating every three to five years and lasts 15–20 years. Concrete runs 25–40 years with far less upkeep, so the lifetime gap closes and often reverses.
Climate should decide it more than price. Asphalt flexes with freeze-thaw cycles instead of cracking, which is why it dominates in northern states. Concrete handles sustained heat and heavy static loads better, which is why it dominates in the south and southwest.
The base is the driveway
Nearly every premature driveway failure is a base failure. Standard car use wants 4–8 inches of compacted aggregate under the surface; heavy vehicles want 8–12. Soft or clay soil needs excavation and replacement before anything is poured.
This is where cheap bids cut. Skipping base prep is invisible on install day and shows up as cracking or rutting in two to three winters. When comparing quotes, ask for base depth in writing — it is more diagnostic than the surface spec.
From Material Takeoffs to a Signed Proposal
SubcontractorHub is the platform contractors use to turn takeoffs like these into a branded proposal, financing the customer can accept on the spot, and a scheduled job — without re-entering the job anywhere. This tool is free to use; the platform is here if you want a closer look.
Driveway work is competitive and margin-sensitive, and the bids that win are usually the ones that make base prep visible instead of burying it in a lump sum. Itemizing scope on-site and attaching a payment option is what separates a signed job from a “we’ll think about it.” See contractor estimating software and embedded financing.
Common Questions About Driveway Cost
How much does a driveway cost?
A typical 600 ft² two-car driveway runs $1,000–$3,000 in gravel, $4,200–$9,000 in asphalt, $4,800–$10,800 in concrete, and $9,000–$21,000 in pavers. Per square foot installed: about $1.50–$5 gravel, $7–$15 asphalt, $8–$18 concrete, $14–$30 stamped concrete, $15–$35 pavers. Base prep and soil condition can move any of these 20–35%.
Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
Asphalt installs cheaper — $7–$15 per ft² vs $8–$18 — but the gap narrows over time. Asphalt needs sealcoating every three to five years and lasts 15–20 years; concrete lasts 25–40 with less maintenance. Climate matters more than price: asphalt flexes with freeze-thaw instead of cracking, while concrete handles sustained heat and heavy static loads better.
How much does a 20x20 concrete driveway cost?
That is 400 ft², so roughly $3,200–$7,200 at $8–$18 per ft² for standard 4-inch concrete over a prepared base. Add about 35% for RV or loaded-truck capacity, which means 5–6 inches of concrete and a deeper base. Tearing out an existing slab adds $1–$4 per ft², and a street apron or curb cut is a separate $600–$3,000.
How thick should a driveway be?
For passenger vehicles: 4 inches of concrete or 2–3 inches of asphalt over 4–8 inches of compacted aggregate. For RVs, loaded trucks, or trailers: 5–6 inches of concrete or 3–4 inches of asphalt over 8–12 inches of base. The base matters at least as much as the surface — most failures are base failures, and extra surface thickness over a bad base fixes nothing.
How long does a new driveway take to install?
Gravel can be a single day. Asphalt takes one to three days including base prep and is drivable in 24–72 hours. Concrete takes two to four days to place but needs seven days before vehicles and 28 days to full cure. Pavers are slowest at three to seven days since each unit is set individually. Demolition of an old driveway adds a day or two.
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway?
Replacing in the same footprint often does not need one, but expanding it, changing drainage, or touching the section between sidewalk and street almost always does. That street-side portion is usually public right-of-way and needs a curb cut or right-of-way permit from the municipality, not the building department. Permits run $100–$500. Many jurisdictions also cap impervious surface, which is where permeable options help.
Quote, Finance, and Run Every Job in One Platform
SubcontractorHub helps contractors turn field measurements into accurate proposals, present financing, and close jobs on-site — built for the way contractor sales actually works.
Book a Free DemoCost ranges are national planning estimates based on typical published contractor pricing, adjusted by the duty, base, slope, and region factors you select. Local material costs, soil conditions, stormwater requirements, and right-of-way rules vary considerably. Verify scope and pricing with a licensed contractor and your local permitting authority before bidding or building.