Stamped Concrete Driveway: Pros and Cons, Styles, and Cost

If you’re planning for a new driveway, you don’t have to settle for something basic. Think beyond gray concrete or plain, utilitarian asphalt with stamped concrete driveways. Like driveway pavers, stamped concrete is an affordable decorative option that relishes in customization. It can help you create the driveway of your wildest dreams. But is it the right option for your home? When choosing driveway materials, it’s important to weigh your budget, lifestyle, and stamped concrete pros and cons. 

What Is Stamped Concrete?

Stamped concrete is a type of decorative concrete that comes in different patterns, textures, and colors. Most of the time, homeowners choose stamped concrete for driveways in a pattern that mimics common driveway materials like pavers, natural stone tiles, cobblestones, or bricks. 

Other homeowners choose intricate, opulent designs. The sky’s really the limit. A stamped concrete contractor near you can help you parse through the full amount of options.

Cost of Stamped Concrete Driveway

Because stamped concrete is decorative, it will cost more to install than regular concrete. It’s still more affordable than other decorative options like interlocking pavers, which can cost up to $60 per square foot. 

The cost to install basic stamped concrete is around $8 to $12 per square foot, though hand-stained and saw-cut designs can cost up to $28 per square foot.

Pros of Stamped Concrete Driveways

There are a lot of reasons homeowners choose stamped concrete. But the primary reasons are the value, durability, and sheer number of options. 

Affordable Decorative Option

A stamped concrete driveway will typically cost more than asphalt, gravel, or regular concrete driveways—but it’s one of the most affordable decorative options. Even the most ornate stamped concrete usually costs $30 less per square foot than high-end natural stone.

Easy to Install

Stamped concrete is easier to install than other materials like interlocking pavers, stones, and bricks. There’s no mortar work, and your concrete driveway contractor won’t have to carefully fit together different stones. Instead, they just pour the concrete and use a stamp to get the pattern before it dries.

Hyper-Personalization

The main draw of stamped concrete for your driveway is that it offers complete personalization. 

You can get stamped concrete that looks like virtually any material, including:

• Natural stone 

• Cobblestone

• Brick

• Pavers

• Slate slabs

• Wood planks

• Floral or vine patterns

The concrete also comes in a range of colors. Though most homeowners choose earth tones and natural shades, it spans way beyond the standard gray. You can even find stamped concrete in mossy green shades and grayish blues.

Low Maintenance

Though stamped concrete can crack, it’s low maintenance compared to other driveway materials, especially asphalt, which is prone to potholes, or gravel, which needs to be refilled every two to three years. Sealing your concrete driveway will give it even more durability.

Cons of Stamped Concrete Driveways

Though you may like the look and price of stamped concrete, it’s not right for every home. If you opt to install this type of driveway in a cold-weather climate, prepare for increased maintenance. 

Prone to Cracking

Stamped concrete is remarkably durable, but it is prone to cracking and scratching—especially in very cold temperatures and under the weight of a heavy car. Ice tends to exacerbate the problem because water can seep into existing cracks, where it expands as it freezes. 

In turn, a tiny crack can get a lot bigger. Sealing can help prevent ice-related damage, but prepare to deal with cracks if you have a high-traffic driveway in a cold climate.

Difficult to Color-Match Repairs

When it comes time to repair or replace your driveway, you may struggle with your stamped concrete. It’s not like driveway pavers, where you can pop out and replace the damaged paver stone. You can repair small driveway cracks with rubber or synthetic crack filler, but larger cracks will require patches—and patches are difficult to match.

Even the best stamped concrete contractor may not be able to exactly match the color and pattern of your existing concrete. If you don’t like the look, resurfacing may be your only option.

Not the Most Durable

Is stamped concrete durable when compared to other driveway materials? The answer is yes and no. Well-maintained stamped concrete can last approximately 40 to 50 years, which is twice as long as asphalt or rubber and about the same as concrete pavers. It’s very durable—but it’s not gravel or cobblestone.

Cobblestones can last more than 75 years, while gravel driveways can have a life span of 100 years with proper maintenance. Whichever option you choose, you’ll still need to consult a driveway paving contractor for installation. If you’re still on the fence, they’ll help you weigh the options.

Stamped Concrete vs. Asphalt

When comparing the two side by side, asphalt versus concrete driveways offer two entirely different vibes, in look, cost, and durability. While asphalt is dark gray or black, stamped concrete has a wealth of options. You can even tint or stain it to just about any color you want. In addition, the textured finish allows you to mimic any sort of material, whereas asphalt is just that: asphalt. 

That said, stamped concrete for driveways is a bit of an investment, but it could be well worth it. On the high end, you could wind up paying $28 per square foot for an intricate stamped concrete design, while the cost of asphalt driveways taps out at around $13 per square foot. Still, concrete can last 10 to 20 years longer if it’s well-maintained. 

Keep in mind that asphalt and concrete are prone to cracks, but asphalt is usually easier to repair. In general, asphalt struggles in high heat (so it may not be the best in extremely warm climates), while concrete may struggle in extreme cold. 

Stamped Concrete vs. Pavers

Stamped concrete is often used as an affordable alternative to slate or natural stone pavers. High-end pavers can cost twice as much as stamped concrete in a similar design, though prices for either material vary based on labor. The more intricate the design, the more you’re going to pay. 

When comparing stamped concrete versus pavers as far as durability, concrete inches ahead by a few years. Pavers last between 20 and 30 years, while concrete can last up to 50. That being said, you won’t need to resurface pavers as regularly—and if a paver is damaged, it’s easier to repair. You can just replace the single stone without needing to pour an entirely new concrete slab. 

Stamped Concrete Designs

The magic of stamped concrete is that your contractor can make it look like almost any material and tint it almost any color. You can even find stamped concrete that looks like wood planks (hello, wooden patio with a small fraction of the required deck maintenance!). 

Other homeowners stamp concrete in artful designs, like a nautical-themed compass or colorful mosaic. Here are some common options:

Patterns

Stamped concrete patterns can look like anything from rough stone slabs to European-inspired cobblestone and other cut stone patterns. Popular patterns include:

• Brick

• Cobblestone

• Slate

• Flagstone

• Granite

• Random stone

• Wood plank

• Rough stone

Colors

Though you can tint stamped concrete just about any color, most homeowners choose something that mimics a natural material. Some variation of gray, brown, or red tends to be the most popular. This includes:

• Cream

• Beige

• Terra-cotta

• Brick red

• Sandstone

• Light gray

• Slate green

• Charcoal

• Sandy yellow

• Tan

• Copper 

• Walnut

Does a Stamped Concrete Driveway Increase Home Value?

Curb appeal accounts for about 7% of the value of a home's resale price, according to a report by The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. A stamped concrete driveway will be one of the first things neighbors and potential home buyers will see when they look at your property, possibly leading to a higher return on investment in the long run.

Stamped concrete offers the chic style of a costly paver driveway without the higher upfront costs. Additionally, one of the advantages of concrete is its long life span compared to other materials, meaning you will spend less time keeping it looking its best. At the same time, it's crucial to know how to clean stamped concrete to avoid fading, wear, and mildew buildup.

Where Else Can You Use Stamped Concrete?

Nearly all concrete spaces in and outside your home can be stamped, particularly because there are so many types of concrete to choose from. Professionals can even apply the process to existing slabs by stamping concrete overlays. Here are a few places to consider adding stamped concrete.

Stamped Concrete Patios

The cost of a concrete slab may look appealing for your patio, but you can add a stylish slant by stamping it before it cures. This way, you can achieve the look of a paver, cobblestone, or brick patio without the high price tag.

Stamped Concrete Walkways

Separate the winding concrete walkway that leads up to your door or around the backyard with a stamped design. Add a border or individual paver-like stamps or simply separate the walkway into larger blocks that mimic the sidewalk.

Stamped Concrete Floors

Concrete floor finishes inside the house are growing in popularity due to their durability and modern appearance. Get the look of brick, natural stone tiles, or even ceramic without the high maintenance, costs, and repairs.

Mariel Loveland contributed to this piece.