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Asphalt driveway cost calculator
Estimate full installed cost of a residential asphalt driveway including subbase, paving, sealing, and removal of existing surface.
Total installed cost
Show the work
- Driveway sqft720
- Asphalt cost$2,700
- Subbase prep cost$900
- Removal cost$0
- All-in $ per sqft$6
Asphalt driveway — three layers, three line items
A residential asphalt driveway is three things stacked: graded subgrade, compacted gravel subbase, and asphalt top. Pricing scales linearly with all three.
What thickness do you need?
- Cars only: 2 inches asphalt over 4-6 inches gravel subbase
- Cars + occasional truck/RV: 3 inches asphalt over 6 inches subbase
- Daily heavy load (boat, dually, equipment): 4 inches asphalt over 6-8 inches subbase
Thicker isn't free — going from 2 inch to 3 inch adds 50% to the asphalt material cost. But thin asphalt over weak subbase fails fast.
Subbase is where money goes wrong
The subbase does most of the load-bearing work. A 3-inch asphalt over poor subbase fails before a 2-inch over good subbase. Don't let a contractor cut subbase prep — it's the line item where corner-cutting kills the driveway.
Sealcoat schedule
- First sealcoat: 6-12 months after install (lets oils cure out first)
- After that: every 3-5 years depending on UV exposure and traffic
- Cost: $0.15-0.30/sqft
A driveway you sealcoat on schedule lasts 20-25 years. One you don't lasts 10-12.
Asphalt vs concrete vs gravel
- Gravel: $2-5/sqft installed, $0.50/sqft/yr maintenance, 10-15 year life on top course
- Asphalt: $7-13/sqft installed, $0.10/sqft/yr sealcoat, 20-25 year life
- Concrete: $10-18/sqft installed, near zero maintenance, 30-40 year life
Asphalt wins where freeze/thaw cycles are heavy and you don't want to wait 28 days for the surface to cure.
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