How this calculator works
Asphalt is the value pick of driveways — and the rare yard surface with a genuinely cheap mid-life rescue. This tool prices all three versions of the job.
Three jobs, three prices
New install builds from dirt: grading, a compacted aggregate base, then two or three inches of hot-mix — the base is half the job and half the lifespan. Replacement adds demolition of the old surface to that. Overlay is the budget star: a fresh two-inch lift over existing asphalt at a fraction of the cost, if the base underneath is still sound. A paver who recommends an overlay on alligator-cracked asphalt is selling you a two-year patch.
Why there’s no DIY toggle here
Hot-mix asphalt shows up at roughly 300°F and has to be spread, screeded, and rolled before it cools — a machinery-and-crew sprint with no amateur window. So this calculator prices professional paving only. The owner-friendly part of asphalt life is maintenance: sealing every few years, which genuinely is a weekend job.
Reading quotes
Per-square-foot quotes hinge on three things worth asking about: lift thickness (two compacted inches minimum for cars, three for trucks), what happens to the old material, and whether grading or base repair is included. And use the quote checker below — driveway paving attracts both fair specialists and storm-chasing “leftover asphalt” scams, and a number wildly below this range is its own red flag. Considering the long-life alternative? Run the same footprint through the concrete driveway calculator.
2026 asphalt driveway cost per square foot
Professionally paved. New installs include grading and the aggregate base; an overlay assumes your existing base is still sound.
| Option | Low (per sq ft) | High (per sq ft) | Typical (per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New install (incl. base) | $6 | $13 | $9 |
| Replace (tear out + repave) | $8 | $15 | $11 |
| Overlay / resurface (2 in) | $3 | $7 | $5 |
Estimated cost by state
Typical installed range for a new 480 sq ft asphalt driveway including the base, professionally paved, adjusted by each state's construction cost index. Your actual project scales with the size and options you enter above.
| State | Estimated low | Estimated high |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,563 | $5,554 |
| Alaska | $3,312 | $7,176 |
| Arizona | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| Arkansas | $2,592 | $5,616 |
| California | $3,312 | $7,176 |
| Colorado | $2,822 | $6,115 |
| Connecticut | $3,024 | $6,552 |
| Delaware | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| District of Columbia | $2,966 | $6,427 |
| Florida | $2,707 | $5,866 |
| Georgia | $2,621 | $5,678 |
| Hawaii | $3,686 | $7,987 |
| Idaho | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| Illinois | $3,427 | $7,426 |
| Indiana | $2,966 | $6,427 |
| Iowa | $2,909 | $6,302 |
| Kansas | $2,822 | $6,115 |
| Kentucky | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| Louisiana | $2,678 | $5,803 |
| Maine | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| Maryland | $2,880 | $6,240 |
| Massachusetts | $3,370 | $7,301 |
| Michigan | $2,938 | $6,365 |
| Minnesota | $3,254 | $7,051 |
| Mississippi | $2,592 | $5,616 |
| Missouri | $3,110 | $6,739 |
| Montana | $2,966 | $6,427 |
| Nebraska | $2,880 | $6,240 |
| Nevada | $2,909 | $6,302 |
| New Hampshire | $2,909 | $6,302 |
| New Jersey | $3,398 | $7,363 |
| New Mexico | $2,621 | $5,678 |
| New York | $3,226 | $6,989 |
| North Carolina | $2,736 | $5,928 |
| North Dakota | $2,938 | $6,365 |
| Ohio | $2,966 | $6,427 |
| Oklahoma | $2,678 | $5,803 |
| Oregon | $2,966 | $6,427 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,938 | $6,365 |
| Rhode Island | $3,226 | $6,989 |
| South Carolina | $2,707 | $5,866 |
| South Dakota | $2,794 | $6,053 |
| Tennessee | $2,794 | $6,053 |
| Texas | $2,621 | $5,678 |
| Utah | $2,851 | $6,178 |
| Vermont | $2,880 | $6,240 |
| Virginia | $2,678 | $5,803 |
| Washington | $3,197 | $6,926 |
| West Virginia | $2,621 | $5,678 |
| Wisconsin | $3,053 | $6,614 |
| Wyoming | $2,851 | $6,178 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an asphalt driveway cost in 2026?
New asphalt runs about $6–$13 per square foot including the base, so a 480 sq ft single-car driveway lands around $2,900–$6,200 before state adjustments. Replacing an old driveway adds tear-out; a simple overlay on a sound base is the budget play at $3–$7.
What's the difference between an overlay and a replacement?
An overlay paves a fresh 1.5–2 inch surface over your existing asphalt — cheap and quick, but only as good as what's underneath. If the base has failed (alligator cracking, sunken wheel paths), the cracks return through the new surface within a couple of winters, and a full replacement is the honest fix.
Asphalt or concrete driveway?
Asphalt is cheaper upfront, tolerates freeze-thaw well, and patches easily, but wants sealing every 3–5 years and a shorter life (15–25 years). Concrete costs more, lasts longer, and shrugs off summer heat that softens asphalt. In hot southern climates concrete often wins; in the frost belt asphalt holds its own.
Why can't I pave a driveway myself?
Hot-mix asphalt arrives at about 300°F and must be spread and compacted with machinery before it cools — there's no DIY window. That's why this calculator only prices professional paving. The DIY-able part of asphalt ownership is sealing, which has its own calculator here.
How long does asphalt need before driving on it?
Stay off it for 2–3 days, longer in hot weather, and be gentle the first season — asphalt cures slowly and a parked car's tires can dent fresh pavement in summer heat. Avoid sharp wheel-turns in place for the first few months.
Disclaimer: Estimates are for planning only and reflect typical ranges, not quotes. Actual costs vary with site conditions, design complexity, local permits, and contractor availability. Pricing approach: national averages cross-referenced from public cost guides, adjusted by a state construction cost index — see our methodology.
Price data sources: HomeGuide & Angi 2025–2026 asphalt driveway cost guides ($ per sq ft new, replace, overlay); Fixr & Forbes Home asphalt paving ranges; Regional hot-mix asphalt pricing (per ton, converted at typical 2–3 in lifts). Last updated: June 2026.