What Is the Average Cost to Repave a Driveway?
Normal range: $1,400 - $12,100
You'll spend between $1,400 and $12,100 to repave a standard driveway depending on materials, or about $6,800 on average.
You shouldn't have to swerve to avoid a mishmash of cracks and potholes when you pull your car into the driveway. Repaving a driveway costs between $1,400 and $12,100 for the average-sized driveway, including the cost of demolishing the old one. While this is higher overall than the cost to pave a driveway from scratch, you could raise the value and curb appeal of your home and avoid expensive driveway repair costs that just rack up over time.
- Average
- $6,800
- Low end
- $1,400
- high end
- $12,100
Driveway Repaving Cost Breakdown
Unlike installing a driveway for the first time, you have the previous spot to lay your materials without additional excavation. However, the added cost of demolition can raise the price.
Demolition
On average, demolishing your old driveway will account for between $1,000 and $3,000 of the total cost. The demolition costs depend on the material as well. Concrete removal costs between $2 and $6 per square foot, while asphalt costs just $1 to $2 per square foot. You will also need to cover the price to haul away the old materials.
Cost per Square Foot
The most impactful cost factor of repaving your driveway is its size. Repaving your driveway costs between $7 and $14 per square foot, including labor and materials. The number of square feet will determine material and labor costs.
A driveway should fit your landscape and your lifestyle. The perfect size will fit the number of cars at home at any given time without taking up too much of your lawn. Most driveways fall between 200 and 800 square feet. Repaving is also an opportunity to widen your driveway—whether to cost more cars or simply to extend your hardscape.
Here are the most common driveway repaving costs by common dimensions.
| Driveway Dimensions | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 10'x20' | $1,400–$2,800 |
| 10'x22' | $1,540–$3,080 |
| 12x22' | $1,850–$4,000 |
| 20'x20' | $2,800–$5,600 |
| 24'x24' | $4,000–$8,100 |
| 24'x36' | $6,100–$12,100 |
Materials
On average, materials will account for between 30% and 50% of the cost of repaving a driveway. While concrete and asphalt are two of the most popular options, you have a few more decisions to make. You can also choose to pave your driveway with pavers, stone, or permeable varieties of each.
Labor
The other 50% to 70% of the costs go toward the arduous process of removing and installing a new driveway. Labor costs between $5 and $7 per square foot on average, though prices can be much higher for the cost of installing pavers or stone. Additional cost factors that affect labor include:
The cost of living and labor rates in your area
Complexity of removing the old driveway
The steepness of the driveway
The time of year and urgency of the job
Prices by Driveway Repaving Materials
As is the case with all home renovations, it's important to balance upfront costs with longevity and repair costs. For example, you'll pay more over time for the cost of asphalt driveway repairs compared to concrete, but typically less upfront. While the vast range of pavers on the market may be costly, they are easier to replace when you need repairs and also raise the value of your home.
When choosing the best materials for your driveway, ask yourself the following:
Can the material handle the hot and cold extremes in my area?
Is it visibly pleasing from the front of my house?
How often do I need to reseal my driveway?
How many years does it typically last before replacement?
Are there decorative options and different colors available?
Remember, repaving your driveway is a great time to upgrade your design to avoid the process in the near future. Let's break down the per-square-foot costs of the most common types of driveway repaving materials, including labor.
| Driveway Material | Price Range (per Square Foot) |
|---|---|
| Asphalt | $7–$13 |
| Porous Asphalt | $8–$15 |
| Concrete | $8–$18 |
| Stamped Concrete | $12–$18 |
| Permeable Concrete | $8–$18 |
| Brick Pavers | $10–$30 |
| Permeable Pavers | $10–$30 |
| Stone Pavers | $40–$75 |
Additional Factors to Consider
Take a look at the shape of your lawn and get to know local laws before estimating your driveway replacement price.
Grading and Excavation
One of the best things about repaving a driveway is that the ground is often already prepped once you remove the old materials. That being said, if you choose to extend your driveway, widen it, or flatten the slope of the climb, you may also pay regrading and excavation costs.
Residential excavation costs range from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the extent of the job. You may also need to excavate deeper into the ground if you're installing a permeable paver system, which often requires an additional layer of gravel below the pavers.
Accessibility
Does your driveway wind around your yard, passing through several large trees or a narrow space between you and your neighbor's houses? The harder to access your driveway, the more it will cost to repave. It will take your professional pavers longer to reach these areas and may even require specialized equipment.
Landscaping
Repaving a driveway will undoubtedly disrupt the surrounding turf and a bit of your garden. While you can save some money by fixing the landscape yourself, you can also hire a local landscaper and pay an average of $4 to $10 per square foot for the price.
Permits
In many areas across the country, you'll need a permit to repave or extend your driveway. Permit costs for outdoor projects range from $250 to $2,000, but simple projects like these tend to fall on the low end.
Cost to Repave a Driveway Yourself
Even though labor makes up the majority of driveway repaving costs, this is not an ideal DIY job when working with poured materials. The large amount of concrete or asphalt necessary for the job will require a professional's help. You would also need access to professional construction equipment and the license to operate it.
Keep in mind that learning how to install pavers is a little more straightforward. However, since the pavers must hold tons of weight from your vehicles, it's best to hire a local paving contractor in either case to avoid potential installation errors.
Cost of Common Driveway Add-Ons
Will you need specialized drainage to handle your new driveway? What about extra coats to protect it against the next snowstorm? Here are some common add-on costs to consider.
Driveway Culvert
Driveways that intersect with a constant flow of water across your lawn may require a culvert to redirect the stream. The culvert is a pipe that runs under your driveway to redirect snow and rainwater. Culvert replacement can cost between $1,000 and $9,000.
Heated Driveway
Can you imagine not having to shovel the driveway during the next storm? Heated driveways cost between $12 and $21 per square foot, depending on the system used. Keep in mind that this does not include the cost of removing the old driveway.
Gates and Alarms
Securing your new driveway could be the key to feeling safe in your home. The cost of a security gate or fence ranges anywhere from $2,200 to $12,000, whereas a home security system costs an average of $700.
Sealing
Asphalt driveways last longer when sealed every two to three years. Adding a coat of sealant to your driveway will cost an additional $500 on average, though keep in mind that this is a DIYable job for experienced homeowners and a great way to keep up with ongoing maintenance.
How to Cut Costs When Repaving a Driveway
Always begin by deciding whether it's best to seal, resurface, or replace your driveway. You can save a lot of money by considering resurfacing before digging the whole thing up. Other ways to lower repaving costs include:
Handle all DIYable parts of the project yourself, such as material removal, prep, and landscaping.
Opt for a simple design and a smaller size when possible
Avoid placing the driveway on an extreme slope or behind your house.
Opt for concrete or asphalt to save money on labor.
Avoid the rush at the beginning of spring to save money on hiring a professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your current driveway is full of potholes, cracks, and inconsistencies, it's best to remove your old driveway and start from scratch. That being said, concrete resurfacing and asphalt resurfacing are cost-effective options if the underlying structure is still strong enough to support your vehicle but just needs an extra layer to prolong its life.
Resurfacing concrete or asphalt driveways involves adding a new top layer to fill in large cracks and potholes. Repaving, however, removes all material from the previous driveway and fills the area in with new materials. Repaving is a chance to change the shape of your driveway and regrade the land.
Pavers last longer than both concrete and asphalt when well cared for. Since you can place individual pavers that suffer damage, you won't need to repave the entire driveway for an average of up to 50 years. However, the best material for you comes down to your local climate and budget.
Yes, repaving a driveway increases a home’s value, but the extent to which it increases depends on the materials, design, and overall market conditions in your area. Additionally, if your existing driveway is already in good condition, then repaving it won’t yield as much of a value increase as it would if your existing driveway is in poor condition.