Paving your driveway is not something you often do, so understanding the average cost to pave a driveway is important to ensure you’re not being overcharged. It’s also important to gauge the average cost to pave a driveway so that you’re not going too cheap and will need to repave your driveway again very quickly.

In most locations, the cost of materials will be similar, and it’s largely the labor cost that can increase prices throughout states and cities; in some cases, the labor cost can account for 50% of the total cost of paving your driveway.

If you’re interested in understanding the average cost to pave a driveway and what factors into the price and can modify it, then keep reading for all the information you need.

What Is The Average Cost To Pave A Driveway?

The average cost to pave a driveway in the United States is $4,200, and depending on your location and materials, the range can be $1,700 – $6,900. The biggest factors in average cost are the material used, the size of your driveway, and whether you plan to do it yourself or contract the entire process out.

Average Cost	$4,200
Average Minimum Cost	$600
Average Maximum Cost	$18,000
Average Cost Range	$1,700 to $6,900

Typical materials used in paving a driveway include concrete, asphalt, gravel, pavers, and rubber. The cost of materials can range in price from $1- $30 per square foot, and the remainder of the average cost goes towards labor, which can be as high as 50% of the total.

What Is The Average Material Cost To Pave A Driveway?

Based on a 600 square foot driveway, the average costs vary based on the material you choose. Each material has benefits and drawbacks based on appearance, as well as durability in different locations; concrete is by far the most common material used in paving driveways.

Material	Cost Per Square Foot	Average Cost
Concrete	$4 – $8	$2,400 – $4,800
Asphalt	$3 – $7	$1,800 – $4,200
Gravel	$1 – $3	$600 – $1,800
Chip Seal	$2 – $5	$1,200 – $3,000
Pavers	$10 – $30	$6,000 – $18,000
Rubber	$6 – $11	$3,600 – $6,600

Concrete Driveway

A standard 600 square foot concrete driveway can cost $2,400 – $4,800 to pave, with the average price being $4 – $8 per square foot. So the price will be up or down based on the size of your driveway, along with a number of other factors.

If you add colors, borders, designs, or special finishes to the concrete driveway, the cost can be increased to $8 – $18 per square foot. 

Concrete is one of the most common materials for driveways; it looks good even if you just go with plain grey concrete, and it handles heat much better than asphalt, which is cheaper but may require more long-term upkeep.

A concrete driveway will last you anywhere from 30 to 40 years before you need to replace it, so it’s a good low-cost investment when you factor in how long it will last.

Asphalt Driveway

A standard 600 square foot asphalt driveway can cost $1,800 – $4,200 to pave, with the average cost per square foot being $3 – $7. If you know the size of your driveway roughly, then you can get some average costs for your specific size.

While you may not add designs or colors to a blacktop driveway, you can certainly add borders to the driveway, which will increase the cost.

Asphalt driveways typically last 15 – 30 years and handle colder temperatures much better than concrete. However, you do have maintenance costs on asphalt, such as seal coating the driveway every 3 – 5 years, which can cost $1 – $3 per square foot.

Gravel Driveway

Gravel driveways are some of the cheapest to pave; however, they don’t bring much resale value to your home as concrete and asphalt can. The average price for a 600 square foot driveway is $600 – $1,800, or $1 – $3 per square foot.

If installed on a solid base, a gravel driveway can last 100+ years, but as time goes along, you may need to replace some of the gravel; however, that’s minimal cost and can be done yourself once the driveway has been laid out.

You can get various types of gravel, either standard pea gravel for $1 – $3 per square foot, white gravel for $2 – $4 per square foot, or even black gravel, which can be $4 – $11 per square foot. There are a range of other gravels available within those price ranges, typically on the lower end.

Chip Seal Driveway

An average 600 square foot chip seal (tar seal) driveway will cost $1,200 – $3,000, or $2 – $5 per square foot but will only last for 7 – 10 years which is much lower than asphalt or concrete driveways. 

The advantages of chip seal driveways are that it’s very similar to asphalt but comes in a range of colors and features, including stone spread over the top of it. While you get the color and design enhancements, this is what makes the chip seal less durable.

Pavers Driveway

Paved driveways can be done with concrete, brick, cobblestone, or a range of other materials, built into pavers that are laid out on your driveway. The average cost for a 600 square foot paved driveway is $6,000 – $18,000 or $10 – $30 per square foot.

The price can increase hugely depending on the type of paver you use, with some pavers going as high as $25 – $50 per square foot.

Depending on the material used, you can expect your driveway to last for 25 – 75 years, which while more expensive than concrete or asphalt, does give you a similar life expectancy for your driveway, which is superior to chip seal.

Permeable Pavers Driveway

An average 600 square foot permeable paver driveway can cost $4,800 – $18,000 or $8 – $30 per square foot. For most products, you’re looking at 30+ years of life expectancy, so the cost can be spread out over that time.

You can lower the cost by using porous asphalt, which costs $7 – $13 per square foot.

Pervious concrete is another option, which costs $8 – $16 per square foot. It can be a much better option for better environments, as the pervious concrete will drain much easier.

Grass Paver Driveway

Grass pavers can add a more natural look to your property; the average cost for a 600 square foot driveway is $2,400 – $7,200 or $4 – $12 per square foot. 

The maintenance of grass pavers is more than most others, as there is actual grass growing between the pavers, which needs to be trimmed, and in some cases, will need to be replaced. 

There is good drainage through the grass, but heavy rain and usage of the driveway can cause the grass to be removed or muddied. So these pavers are often best for light rain regions.

Rubber Driveway

An average 600 square foot rubber driveway will cost $3,600 – $6,600, or $6 – $11 per square foot. The rubber used is typically eco-friendly recycled rubber that is placed or poured over a concrete or asphalt base.

The advantages of going with rubber over straight concrete or asphalt are that you get more design options such as colors and patterns, they’re more durable and much easier to clean, and they’re much more weather resistant than many other driveway materials.

You’re looking at 20+ years for the life expectancy of a rubber driveway, which can also be impacted whether you use an asphalt or concrete base.

Exposed Aggregate Or Peddle Driveway

Typical exposed aggregate and peddle driveways can cost $3,000 – $6,600 or $5 – $11 per square foot. This is a similar style as chip seal, where you get multiple colors and designs, but instead of asphalt, you’re working with concrete, so it’s better for hot environments.

This is a great mix between the durability of concrete, with the designs and colors, and providing a good nonskid surface for when it does rain, which can sometimes cause slicks on standard concrete.

Factors In The Cost To Pave A Driveway

The average cost of a driveway can be impacted by a range of factors, and while location will certainly play a part, it’s not the only thing that drives the price up or down on paving your driveway.

Factor	Average Cost Per Square Foot
Installation labor	$2 – $4
Material	$1 – $30
Excavation	$1 – $5
Site Preparation	$1 – $5
Wire Mesh	$1 – $3
Stylizations	$2 – $15
Decorative Borders	$10 – $25

• Driveway size and material used are the biggest factor on cost. So consider what type of material you really need for your driveway.
• Labor is often 50% of the total cost of paving a driveway.
• Adding designs, colors, or patterns can increase the price by $2 – $15 per square foot.
• Added features, borders, or other stylizations can increase the price by $10 – $25 per square foot.
• Enhancing the strength of some driveways by adding wire mesh can add $1 – $3 per square foot.
• Driveway preparation to remove stones, trees, roots, and other material blocking a smooth driveway can add $1 – $5 per square foot.
• Driveway leveling and other prep work can increase the cost by $5 – $8 per square foot.
• Location can be a big factor in the labor cost; bigger cities will be more expensive.

If you have access to equipment or the ability to do any of the work, you can drop your costs down; site prep can add huge costs to your driveway paving just to remove material and flatten the base out.

How Much Does A Heated Driveway Cost?

If you live in a cold climate that often has snow, then a heated driveway may be a common cost added to driveways that you need to factor into your price. The average additional cost for a heated component to your driveway is $7,200 – $16,800 or $12 – $28 per square foot.

It will also cost you around $120 – $600 per winter to keep your heated driveway operating; the amount of snow or cold weather you want the driveway to deal with can impact the cost. However, in many cases, this can save you having to shovel the driveway as much.

Lower cost options such as snow melting mats can be added to the driveway for $1,600 per mat, and you may need 1 per car. 

How Much Does A Circular Driveway Cost?

Require a circular driveway or curves in your driveway can increase the costs by 10% – 20%; this can often be required on longer driveways or if you’re looking for a carport to easily turn your car, rather than having to back out or maneuver to get out of your garage and driveway.

Cost to Pave Your Own Driveway

Typically DIY driveway paving can lead to issues that would require repair sooner or replacement due to failed paving methods. However, the easiest option for DIY driveway paving is to level out the driveway and lay gravel on the surface, which can last you a long time and keep your costs down.

If you decide to pave your own driveway with gravel, you will need tools, equipment, and potentially a helper to speed the process on. Tools may cost you $150 – $300, plus equipment rental for $200 – $400 per day, and the gravel could cost you $200 – $1,500 depending on the size of your driveway.

Standard equipment required can be rented from many stores, Home Depot may be a good option to start.

Equipment Rental	Average cost
Excavator	$230 – $380 per day
Skid Steer	$195 – $290 per day
Truck For Gravel	$100 per day
Tamper	$90 per day
Tow Rear Blade	$200+ per day

You can rent tools from places like Home Depot, but it may be better to buy them, especially for maintenance as time goes along.

Item To Purchase	Cost
Stakes and String	$10 – $30
Sledge Hammer	$25 – $50
Textile and Erosion Mats	$1.25 – $1.71 per square yard
Drain Pipes	$1 – $3 per foot
Hand Tampers	$25 – $40
Rake	$25 – $50