How Much Does it Cost to Install a Driveway?

On This Page:

1. Comparison Chart
2. Concrete Driveways
3. Asphalt/Blacktop Driveways
4. Heated Driveways
5. Gravel Driveways
6. Driveway Pavers
7. Brick or Cobblestone Paver Driveways
8. Driveway Replacement & Removal
9. Additional Cost Factors

Driveway Comparison Chart

Which one works best for your needs? Ask a professional today.

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Concrete Driveway Cost

Concrete is probably the most popular driveway material and for good reason. It's extremely durable and lasts a long time with little need for maintenance save for repairing cracks or stains from oil and gas. In terms of driveway material costs, concrete averages around $3,540. The cost of concrete driveway pavers will increase for a driveway that is stamped and colored, assuming you want to customize the looks more.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Durable, lasts more than 40 years, doesn't need any kind of sealing, comes in a multiplicity of types and color options, no resurfacing
• Cons: cracks in freezing weather, expensive, difficult repairs

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Asphalt/Blacktop Driveway Cost

An asphalt or blacktop driveway, in comparison, is the more affordable option that can help keep driveway installation costs down. However, most homeowners aren't thrilled with the way that a blacktop looks and how it can't be customized. There are also downsides to asphalt if you don't want to keep up with regular maintenance like resealing and resurfacing. However, it does handle changes in temperature like freezing and high heat far better than concrete, and it takes far less time to settle in and dry for use than concrete -- several hours as compared to several days.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: costs less than concrete (about $3 to $4 per square foot), easy repairs, dries faster for immediate use, adapts to different temperature changes, lasts about 20 years
• Cons: only comes in black, less durable, requires resealing every 3-5 years and resurfacing regularly

Sound good? Get a quote for an asphalt driveway today.

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Heated Driveway Cost

Heated driveways can be essential to homeowners who live in northern areas with a lot of snowfall and don't want to spend an extra half hour shoveling their driveways. Having a heated driveway saves you time and effort. A heated driveway means getting a radiant heating system installed underneath it, which averages around $4,130. Installing a radiant heating system also means pulling up the driveway, so be sure to park your car on the street if you want to access to it during the process.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: melts snow, doesn't require separate electrical wiring
• Cons: will increase utility bills during the winter, might require re-installing driveway, only useful for winter months

A heating and cooling professional will come out to your home and have to pull up your driveway to install the system, so don't park your car in the garage. Radiant floor heating systems will be controlled on the same circuit as your home wiring, so you'll have a switch you can flip inside and watch as the driveway melts. You might need to check with an electrician and see if your home wiring can handle the radiant heating system before having it installed.

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Gravel Driveway Cost

Photo courtesy of Forest Ridge Builders, Inc.

Gravel driveways cost the least, averaging around $1,470. They are popular in rural areas and often lead to concrete floors. They can be made from various items like rock, sand and clay. It compacts better than regular rocks which makes it more stable for cars. While laying rocks or a mixture is easy for installation, it will require regular maintenance. Gravel driveways can last around a century with maintenance because it doesn't crack, sink or soften -- just moves. You might need to relay portions of the driveway if it moves or becomes too low. Stabilizers are one option to keep the gravel in place, but this will increase the cost of a driveway.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: easy to install & maintain, doesn't crack or sink, matches different house styles
• Cons: easily moves, doesn't handle snow well, very dusty and requires regular maintenance

Sound like your kind of driveway? Get a quote for gravel today.

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Driveway Pavers Cost

Driveway pavers are another option for homeowners, though it is the most expensive: about $4,750 to install. This is because they have to be installed by hand, so it costs extra for the materials and labor to lay them. However, this can offer a really attractive option and will increase your curb appeal, which could offset some of the initial cost of the pavers. Driveway pavers come in a variety of materials, including concrete, brick and cobblestone. They also come in a variety of textures and colors, so you can lay pavers to match your home almost perfectly. Maintenance depends on if the pavers break or crack under car pressure, which means replacing them.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: can do DIY installation, durable depending on material, can last a long time
• Cons: expensive for a pro installation, requires regular maintenance, requires landscape changes for a flat surface

Need more information? Contact a paver professional now.

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Brick or Cobblestone Paver Driveway Cost

Brick or cobblestone paver driveways are beautiful, enduring options for homeowners who need a strong driveway that's not black or grey. On average, installing either of these can cost around $1,380. Homeowners can pick bricks that come in many textures, along with cobblestones and bricks of a wide variety of colors. Since installation is done by hand, the total cost to install driveway pavers will also need to have labor factored in, unless you decide to install it yourself. Homeowners should also keep maintenance in mind. Akin to other types of pavers, maintenance will depend on whether any of the bricks or cobblestone shift or break over the lifetime of the driveway. They will need to be replaced in such instances, so be sure to buy extras. It's also a good idea to wash the driveway once or twice a year and seal the bricks or cobblestones to avoid cracks or other problems so it lasts the maximum of 25 years.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: can be a DIY installation, comes in a variety of textures & colors, easy maintenance, lasts 25 years
• Cons: will need to be sealed & washed, labor-intensive adding onto total cost, sand installation necessary for laying the bricks or cobblestones

For more information or a quote, get in touch with a professional.

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Driveway Replacement & Removal

If you want to install a new driveway, you will need to remove the old one as most materials can't be laid over the old kind. A driveway professional will charge extra to remove the existing driveway, especially if it involves pulling up and cracking a concrete or asphalt driveway. Although removal shouldn't be too expensive, it is a necessary part of the job, so be sure to factor that in when budgeting for the cost of a driveway.

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Additional Cost Factors

Any complications that arise will increase the cost of a driveway. Some complications could be slopes, curves, lots of grading or drains. If you opt for customized designs, this will also raise the cost of a driveway. Overall the cost of a driveway will depend on what materials you decide to use for your project. For some people a driveway is just a way to drive to the garage, but for others it's a prominent viewpoint in front of the house that needs to have the same curb appeal as the yard or exterior of the home. Just make sure to talk to at least three professionals before you start to help you decide what will be right for you.

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