Enter your driveway size, pick a material, and get an installed price range — then optionally price the DIY material math for the same driveway.
Quick answer: A 20 × 40 ft (800 sq ft) asphalt driveway runs 800 × $4–$8 = $3,200–$6,400 installed; the same driveway in concrete runs 800 × $8–$15 = $6,400–$12,000 installed. Typical US ranges — the full comparison is in our guide.
Ballpark, not gospel. Installed ranges are typical US figures for a straightforward job with standard site prep — excavation, a compacted stone base, and a plain finish. Your metro's labor rates decide the real number; get local quotes.
| Material | Installed / sq ft | Lifespan | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt | $4–$8 / sq ft | 15–30 yrs | Sealcoat every 3–5 yrs |
| Concrete (plain) | $8–$15 / sq ft | 30–40+ yrs | Reseal every 5–7 yrs |
| Gravel | $1.50–$3 / sq ft | Indefinite | Regrade + top up stone |
The headline trade: asphalt is the cheaper driveway that asks for your attention; concrete is the expensive driveway that mostly leaves you alone. For the full head-to-head — DIY math, 30-year totals, climate guidance — read asphalt vs concrete driveway cost.
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
At 800 sq ft: asphalt runs $3,200–$6,400 installed ($4–$8 per sq ft) and plain concrete runs $6,400–$12,000 installed ($8–$15 per sq ft) — typical US ranges. Concrete costs roughly double to install, but lasts 30–40+ years versus 15–30 for asphalt.
Asphalt, upfront — about half the installed price. Over 30 years the gap narrows because asphalt needs sealcoating every 3–5 years (and usually a resurface around year 20–25), while concrete mostly needs periodic resealing. Asphalt still finishes cheaper lifetime in most models, but it asks for more maintenance along the way.
Not realistically at driveway scale. Hot-mix asphalt is delivered at ~300°F, must be placed and compacted within hours, and needs a paver or an experienced crew plus a vibratory roller. Concrete is the DIY-friendly option: ready-mix delivery or bags, simple forms, and a weekend with a couple of helpers.
About $1.50–$3 per square foot installed is our ballpark planning figure — the cheapest driveway surface by far (contractor quotes with heavy grading or long hauls can run $4–$10). The trade-off is maintenance: plan on regrading and fresh top-up stone every few years to keep it level and well drained.
Residential asphalt: 2–4 inches of compacted hot mix over 4–6 inches of compacted crushed-stone base — the base does most of the structural work. Concrete: 4 inches minimum for passenger cars, 5–6 inches for heavy pickups, RVs, or work trucks. Thinner than spec is the most common cause of early failure for both.
For the complete comparison, read asphalt vs concrete driveway cost. Sizing the materials yourself? Try the asphalt calculator, the concrete calculator, or the gravel calculator.