How Much Does Asphalt Removal Cost?
The average homeowner who is replacing a driveway spends about $4,750 to have existing asphalt removed. Depending on the specs of the driveway, homeowners might pay between $4,375 and $5,125.
On average, asphalt removal cost is $4,750. This project's cost can range between $4,000 and $5,500 when factoring in the size of the driveway and the complexity of the surrounding property. Asphalt removal may be the best option when a driveway has deep cracking, sinking, potholes, or unevenness.
Asphalt Removal Cost Factors
Ultimately, the level of complexity involved in removing asphalt on your property will determine the cost of this project.
Driveway Size
Most asphalt companies charge by square foot for driveway removal. With costs averaging $3 to $7 per square foot, homeowners can pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
| Driveway Dimensions | Size (Square Feet) | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| 10x12 | 120 | $360–$850 |
| 20x20 | 400 | $1,200–$2,800 |
| 30x30 | 900 | $2,250–$4,500 |
Asphalt Depth
Depending on how thick the gravel base that supports your existing asphalt driveway is, a contractor may adjust your price to account for the difference in effort needed. In general, asphalt paving should be 3 inches to 4 inches thick with a 4-inch to 6-inch base of gravel. If your paving is shallower, you may see the price of asphalt removal go down.
| Asphalt Thickness (Inches) | Removal Cost by Square Footage |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | $1.50–$3.50 |
| 4-6 | $3–$7 |
| 7-8 | $4.50–$5.50 |
| 8-10 | $6–$9 |
Labor
While most contractors charge by square foot, labor often accounts for up to 40% of total asphalt removal cost. On average, asphalt contractors charge $16 to $38 per hour. An asphalt company near you can provide a quote that takes into account the number of hours needed to remove your asphalt driveway based on its size and orientation.
Prep
Prep work is minimal for removing an asphalt driveway, so these costs are typically built into an estimate. However, you may need more extensive prep work if you need to remove plants or landscaping before a driveway can be removed. If you need to hire a professional landscaper to help prepare the area, expect to pay between $50 and $100 per hour.
Accessibility
Asphalt removal companies utilize heavy machinery to break up and remove asphalt. If you have a narrow driveway or steep yard, pavement pros will spend more time and effort at your property. Additionally, carrying asphalt away can be more difficult if you have a yard that's hard to access. In general, you can expect contractors to charge 5% to 10% more when a driveway is difficult to access.
Location
In general, contractors in urban areas charge more for asphalt driveway removal due to the complexity of using heavy machinery and hauling away asphalt in congested areas. While rural homeowners can expect to pay $4,000 to $4,300 on average, urban homeowners could pay up to $5,100 to remove a driveway of the same size.
Asphalt Driveway Removal Ongoing Costs
Once an asphalt driveway has been removed, a homeowner must decide what to do with the space that's left.
Installing a New Driveway
If the reason for removing an existing asphalt driveway is to replace it with another option, homeowners will need to factor in the cost of adding a new driveway. When keeping with the same material, the typical new asphalt driveway cost ranges from $3,124 to $7,377. If you're able to reuse any of the asphalt from your old driveway, you may be able to save $500 to $700 in materials. Here's what you'll pay for other options:
Concrete driveway: $2,700-$14,500
Gravel driveway: $500-$3,500
Paver driveway: $6,000-$18,000
Driveway Sealing
On average, sealing a new driveway costs $400 to $1,500. The cost to seal concrete driveway specifically ranges from $1.25 to $1.50 per square foot. Depending on the driveway material you've selected for your next driveway, resealing may need to be done every two to five years.
DIY Asphalt Driveway Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
If you can remove asphalt on your own, you could reduce the cost of this project to $200 to $600. Just be prepared to dedicate a few days to living among the dust as you break up several tons of asphalt.
DIY asphalt driveway removal can take several days of manual labor. If you need to rent a jackhammer to break up asphalt, the cost can range from $75 to $125 per day on average. For partial removal, you'll need to rent a concrete saw with a special diamond-dipped blade for a clean, straight cut if you don't already own one. Daily rates for this specialty tool can range from $30 to $115 at most hardware stores. If you don't want to chip away at asphalt manually, a skid steer or bobcat with a breaker attachment can be rented at a rate of around $199 to $390 per day.
Most contractors will include asphalt removal and dumping in their costs. If you need to dump or recycle asphalt on your own, the price generally ranges anywhere from $5 to $35 per truckload. Overall, the difficulty of this project causes most homeowners to simply hire professional asphalt removers who can get the job done in a day or two.
Cost of Common Asphalt Removal Add-Ons
As you reimagine your driveway, you may decide that it's time to add in some extra features while the ground is already exposed. Here are the common add-on features homeowners choose when removing asphalt.
Adding a driveway apron: $1,300–$7,800
Weed removal: $35–$400
Adding drainage: $2,119–$7,114
Excavating to expanding driveway: $1,660–$6,716
Ways You Can Save Money While Removing an Asphalt Driveway
Here are some ways to bring down the cost of removing an asphalt driveway:
If you're able to keep your existing driveway pad to use as a foundation for your next driveway, this can shave between $1,600 and $1,800 from your project.
When getting quotes, focus on companies that use excavators instead of manually removing asphalt. This more efficient method can dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete the project.
If you'll be immediately installing a new driveway after your asphalt driveway is removed, try to use the same company for both to get a discount.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don't have access to commercial equipment, you can utilize a pickaxe or circular saw with a masonry blade to break up asphalt. However, this is generally only effective in small areas. A jackhammer is usually needed to break up slabs of asphalt into smaller pieces. The most effective method when removing an entire driveway is an excavator that breaks apart and pries away asphalt.
While asphalt driveway repair costs can be as high as $1,071 to $4,011, smaller potholes and dips in a driveway can generally be patched at a cost of $2 to $3 per square foot. The average driveway patch lasts two to three years. However, large dips or cracking in asphalt may require resurfacing or replacing a driveway to prevent safety risks or damage to your vehicles.
