How Much Does a New Driveway Actually Cost? A Complete Breakdown

A new driveway enhances the value of the home while adding to the safety and performance of the property. Generally a contractor-driven project, new driveway installation is available in a wide range of prices that can fit most budgets.

A new driveway costs $7,490 on average, but the cost may start as low as $2,880 or go as high as $11,520, based on a standard double-stall driveway.

Cost Per Square Foot

On average, a new driveway costs $13 per square foot but can start as low as $5 per square foot and go up to a high of $20 per square foot.

The cost of a new driveway is proportional to the total square footage of the project area. As space increases, more surfacing and base materials are required. Larger driveways not only require more labor but more heavy equipment.

Cost of Labor

The cost of labor to build a new driveway is about $7.25 per square foot, on average. Labor starts at a low of $3.50 per square foot and ranges up to a high of $11 per square foot.

Cost by Materials

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The choice of materials for a new driveway is one of the most significant determiners of its total cost.

Materials and installation for a new driveway start at a low of $1 per square foot for gravel and range up to a high of $43.35 for non-permeable pavers. The average cost of materials (plus installation) for a new driveway is about $10 per square foot.

Aggregate

The average price for a new driveway made with aggregate is $7.50 per square foot. Its total cost range starts at around $5.50 per square foot and goes up to $9.50 per square foot.

An aggregate driveway, also called a pebble finish driveway, is composed of colorful stones. With a rough surface, aggregate driveways provide friction for driving and walking but can be difficult to keep clean.

Asphalt

While $7.70 per square foot is the typical average cost for a new asphalt driveway, its cost can run as low as $5 per square foot, up to a high of $10.35 per square foot.

Popular and easy for professionals to install, asphalt driveways—or hot mix asphalt driveways—are flexible, which makes them less prone to cracking than concrete driveways.

Chip Seal

The cost of a new chip seal driveway ranges from $4 per square foot to $8.35 per square foot, for an average cost of $6.20 per square foot.

Chip seal (or tar-and-chip or chip-and-seal) driveways are made by spreading hot mix asphalt on top of layers of stone aggregate. This rough surface works well for colder climates.

Concrete

A new concrete driveway costs around $11.70 per square foot, but it can range anywhere from $7 per square foot to $16.35 per square foot.

Concrete driveways are smooth, low-maintenance, and highly durable. Concrete can last up to 40 years with proper care, but it is one of the more expensive materials for driveways.

Gravel

A new gravel driveway costs an average of $3 per square foot. It can range from a low of $1 per square foot to a high of $5 per square foot.

Gravel is the clear winner in terms of low-cost driveway materials. Gravel is also one of the few materials that a do-it-yourselfer can install alone, simply by raking out bulk-delivered materials.

Pavers

The cost range for a new driveway made of non-permeable pavers is $5.35 per square foot to $43.35 per square foot, at an average cost of $24.35 per square foot.

Pavers of concrete, brick, or natural stone are high-end driveway materials with similarly high-end prices. Despite the upfront cost, driveway pavers significantly add to the visual appeal and long-term value of a home.

Cost by Driveway Shape

The new driveway's shape is determined by its width and length and its position relative to the house, road, and surrounding structures.

A standard-sized double-stall driveway designed to match the proportions of a double-vehicle garage is 24 feet long by 24 feet wide.

You can build a wider or narrower driveway for different sized garages, or for homes that have no garage. A long approach driveway is necessary for houses that are generously set back from the road.

Additional New Driveway Cost Factors

Extra driveway features add to the overall price but enhance performance and appearance.

Protective Coating

Adding a protective coating to a new driveway costs an average of $1.40 per square foot. The cost range of protective coatings starts at $0.70 per square foot and ranges up to $2.10 per square foot.

Stained Concrete

Treating a new driveway with decorative stain typically costs $8.75 per square foot. The total cost range for driveway stain is from $4 per square foot to $13.50 per square foot.

In a range of colors mostly in an earthen palette, decorative stains liven up the dull appearance of raw concrete.

Stamped Concrete

While a new stamped concrete driveway averages $14.25 per square foot, it can cost anywhere between $8.50 per square foot and $20 per square foot.

Much like stained concrete, stamped concrete turns an ordinary building product into one of note. Simulated cobblestones, bricks, and pavers are a few of the molds available for stamping concrete when it's poured on the driveway.

Permeable Materials

Using permeable paving materials for a new driveway ranges from around $2.75 per square foot for permeable asphalt, up to $47.50 per square foot for permeable pavers.

Permeable driveway paving materials allow water to drain within them instead of off of them. This is a benefit to the environment because the chance of flooding is minimized. Permeable materials also help the earth replenish groundwater.

Widen or Extend the Driveway

Widening or extending the length of a new driveway costs $7.50 per square foot, on average, with a total price range of $2.50 per square foot to $12.50 per square foot.

One feature of installing a new driveway is the opportunity to widen it to match the dimensions of the garage or beyond. Driveways can also be extended in a similar fashion.

Remove Old Driveway

The average cost to remove an existing driveway before installing a new driveway is $3.20 per square foot—either concrete or asphalt. The price range from removal is from $1 per square foot to $5.35 per square foot.

Existing driveways that are unstable should be removed before installing the new driveway.

Grading

The cost to regrade the ground before installing a new driveway is about $6 per square foot, with a cost range of $4 per square foot to $8 per square foot.

Grading the site of a new driveway usually means using heavy equipment, unless the driveway is especially small. Grading helps slope the driveway away from the home and encourages water to flow in the right direction.

Resurfacing Cost vs. New Driveway Cost

Resurfacing an asphalt driveway costs an average of $5 per square foot. Resurfacing a concrete driveway costs an average of $14 per square foot.

A less expensive resurfacing option for asphalt driveways is liquid asphalt sealant, at an average cost of $1.10 per square foot.

7 Ways to Save Money on a New Driveway

Many homeowners may want to save money on the new driveway's cost. Here are a few ways:

• Choose less expensive materials like gravel or asphalt.

• Pare down the width of the driveway.

• Ask the contractor if discounts are available for installing during the off-season.

• Keep the surface basic—no texturing or staining.

• Get estimates from three or more contractors.

• Add sealants or stains yourself.

8 Signs You Need a New Driveway

Your driveway may hold up well for years, even decades. Repairs and maintenance extend the life of the driveway. At some point, though, it is necessary to replace it. Here's what to look for:

• Large cracks

• Widespread surface degradation

• Drainage problems

• Large dips and potholes

• Heaving, buckling

• Large tree roots

• Shifting

• End of expected lifespan

DIY vs. Professional New Driveway Cost

Of all of the driveway materials, two are easiest for do-it-yourselfers to work with: gravel and pavers.

The driveway site must first be excavated, preferably with heavy equipment, then the aggregate base must be poured. Gravel should be bulk-delivered.

Whether distributing gravel by hand or laying pavers by hand, the work is slow and painstaking. Generally, driveway installation requires professional help. Large equipment like dump trucks, skip loads, bulldozers, and plate compactors are needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest driveway to install?

The cheapest driveway to install is a gravel driveway. Including materials and installation, a new gravel driveway costs an average of $3 per square foot.

How long does a driveway last?

Asphalt driveways can last up to 20 years. Well-maintained concrete driveways can last longer—up to 40 years.

What is the price to have a driveway redone?

The price to have a driveway redone is about $7,490, on average, for a standard double-stall driveway.

Is a new concrete driveway worth it?

Approaching an average of $12 per square foot, a new concrete driveway is about four times more expensive than the cheapest type of driveway material, asphalt. Concrete driveways are prized for their smoothness and solidity. Plus, concrete driveways are easy to maintain and they add high resale value to a home. If those are your goals, then a new concrete driveway is worth it.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.