Asphalt Driveway Cost (2026)
Updated October 2026
Asphalt driveway paving runs $7–$13 per sq ft for a new install and $8–$15 per sq ft as a replacement (Angi 2026 data). NerdWallet puts labor at $5–$7 per sq ft plus materials, with a typical whole job (~600 sq ft) at a little over $5,000 on average. Oil prices are a named driver of year-to-year movement in asphalt quotes.
Cost by scenario
| Scenario | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New asphalt install | $7–$13 per sq ft | Angi [2026 Data]. |
| Asphalt replacement (tear-out included) | $8–$15 per sq ft | Angi [2026 Data]; union labor quoted $7–$15/sq ft. |
| Labor component | $5–$7 per sq ft | NerdWallet: labor $5–$7/sq ft plus materials. |
| Whole job, ~600 sq ft | ≈ $5,000 average | NerdWallet: 'a little over $5,000 on average' for a typical single driveway. |
Size example: at Angi's new-install band, a 600 sq ft driveway runs about $4,200–$7,800; replacement adds $8–$15/sq ft because tear-out and base work are included.
Resurface, sealcoat, or replace?
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resurfacing / overlay | $2–$7 per sq ft | Basic direct overlay $2–$5 (Asphapro, VF Paving); mill-and-overlay $4.50–$7. Roughly 40–60% cheaper than replacement when the base is sound. |
| Sealcoating | $0.17–$0.45 per sq ft | Pro-applied per-sq-ft band (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Cost to Renovate); HomeAdvisor averages $282–$867 per job. |
| Full replacement | $8–$15 per sq ft | The reset option when the base has failed — cracks and potholes return through overlays on a bad base. |
Rule of thumb: sealcoat on a schedule, resurface when the surface wears but the base holds, and replace when cracks return through the overlay.
Asphalt vs concrete
Asphalt is the lower-cost material upfront; concrete runs higher installed but lasts longer before resurfacing. Compare the concrete driveway cost breakdown before deciding, or start from the full driveway cost guide covering gravel, pavers, and size tiers, and estimate your own dimensions with the driveway cost calculator.
FAQs
How much does an asphalt driveway cost per square foot?
Angi's 2026 data puts a new asphalt install at $7–$13 per sq ft and a replacement (old surface torn out) at $8–$15 per sq ft. NerdWallet breaks the labor portion at $5–$7 per sq ft plus materials, and puts a typical whole-job (~600 sq ft) at a little over $5,000 on average.
How much does a 600 sq ft asphalt driveway cost?
At Angi's $7–$13/sq ft band, roughly $4,200–$7,800; NerdWallet's whole-job average for a typical driveway is a little over $5,000. Replacement jobs run higher ($8–$15/sq ft) because tear-out and base repair are included.
Can I resurface instead of replacing?
If the base is sound, yes — a basic overlay runs $2–$5 per sq ft and mill-and-overlay $4.50–$7 per sq ft, roughly 40–60% cheaper than replacement. But cracks and potholes return through an overlay when the base has failed, so a badly cracked driveway is usually a replacement job.
How often should I sealcoat an asphalt driveway?
Pro sealcoating runs $0.17–$0.45 per sq ft (about $282–$867 per job per HomeAdvisor), and asphalt driveways are typically resealed every few years to slow oxidation and cracking — the cheapest maintenance in the table by an order of magnitude.
Sources
- Angi — asphalt driveway cost [2026 Data] (new install $7–$13/sq ft; replacement $8–$15/sq ft)
- NerdWallet — asphalt vs. concrete driveway cost (labor $5–$7/sq ft + materials; ~$5,000 whole-job)
- HomeAdvisor — how much does it cost to seal an asphalt driveway? [2026 Data] (avg $574, range $282–$867)
- Fixr — cost to seal asphalt driveway (updated Jan 31 2025)
Figures gathered 2026-10-26 from pages fetched live 2026-09-26 and 2026-10-03; see packages/pricing-data/data/driveway/driveway-costs.json for the full per-source price-point log.