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Driveway Cost Calculator

What a driveway costs, by size and surface type.

Your measurementsEvery assumption editable01

Material and placement together.

The layer under the surface. Skimping here is why driveways fail.

Poor soil and drainage problems are the usual surprises.

Estimated costCalculated live02

Result

$4158–6930estimated

Midpoint $5544 — about $9.24 per sq ft

Driveway area
600 sq ft
Materials
$3000
Labour27% of the subtotal
$1350
Apron, drainage and edging
$600
Subtotal
$4950
Contingency12%
$594
Midpoint estimate
$5544
Likely range±25%, the usual concept-stage spread
$4158 – $6930
Cost per sq ft
$9.24

This is a budgeting figure, not a quote. Regional labour rates vary by a factor of two or more across the country, and the same job priced in a busy season and a quiet one can differ by a third. Get three local quotes before committing to anything.

The range matters more than the midpoint. Construction estimating works to roughly ±25% until a scope is drawn and priced, and a single confident number would be pretending to a precision that does not exist at this stage.

Labour is usually the larger half and the more variable half. If the figure looks wrong, the labour rate is almost always the input to revisit first — material prices are far more consistent between regions than crews are.

Four surfaces with a nine-to-one spread between them, plus the base underneath — which is what determines whether the driveway lasts and is the line most quick estimates leave out entirely.

Why use this tool?What it does differently03

Why use this tool?

Four surfaces

Gravel, asphalt, concrete and pavers, spanning roughly nine to one in cost.

Base costed separately

Skimping on the base is why driveways fail, and it is routinely omitted from estimates.

Apron and drainage

The transition to the road and any drainage work, which can be substantial.

Higher contingency

Poor soil and drainage problems are the usual surprises on a drive.

How this worksThe method04

How this driveway cost calculator works

Surface and base are rated separately per square foot, because they are genuinely independent decisions — you can put a cheap surface on a good base or, disastrously, the reverse.

The base is what determines lifespan. An under-built base fails regardless of what sits on top, and the failure shows as cracking and rutting within a few years rather than immediately, which is why cutting it is such a common false economy.

The apron — the transition to the public road — and any drainage work are a fixed line because they do not scale with driveway area, and they can be a surprisingly large share of a small job.

How to use itStep by step05

How to use it

  1. Step 1: Measure the driveway

    Length and width. Twelve feet is a comfortable single width.

  2. Step 2: Pick a surface

    The spread between gravel and pavers is very large.

  3. Step 3: Do not cut the base

    It is what makes the difference between a drive lasting five years and twenty-five.

  4. Step 4: Check the apron requirements

    Local authorities often specify how the drive meets the road.

Example usageWorked figures06

Example usage

A 50 by 12 asphalt drive
600 sq ft: $3,000 surface, $1,350 base, $600 apron — about $5,544 midpoint, or $4,158 to $6,930. That is $9.24 per square foot.
Concrete instead
Raising the surface rate to $8 takes it to about $7,560. Concrete costs more up front and generally lasts longer.
Gravel
At $1.75 the same drive is roughly $3,360 — and gravel needs topping up every few years, which the figure does not include.
Frequently asked questionsCommon questions07

Frequently asked questions

How much does a driveway cost?

Roughly $3,000 for gravel, $5,000 to $7,000 for asphalt, and $7,000 to $10,000 for concrete on a typical 600 square foot drive — including base and apron.

Which driveway surface lasts longest?

Concrete and pavers, typically 25 to 30 years against 15 to 20 for asphalt. Gravel lasts indefinitely but needs topping up and grading.

Why does the base matter so much?

Because the surface only performs as well as what it sits on. An under-built base cracks and ruts within a few years no matter how good the asphalt or concrete above it is.

How thick should a driveway base be?

Typically 4 to 8 inches of compacted aggregate depending on soil and expected load. Poor draining or clay soil wants more.

What is an apron?

The transition where the driveway meets the public road. Local authorities often specify its construction, and it can be a significant share of a small job.

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