A tar and chip driveway costs $1 to $5 per square foot installed, averaging about $3.1,2 Angi and HomeAdvisor put the national average job at $1,600; Renotag says $1,800.3 For a 20’ x 20’ two-car driveway (400 sq ft), expect about $1,200 at the average rate.*
$1 – $5
per sq ft installed
~$3
per sq ft average
$1,600 – $1,800
average job
Quick math: square footage x rate. 400 sq ft at the $3 average = $1,200 – which matches Angi’s published size table exactly.1 At the $1 to $5 range edges, the same driveway runs $400 to $2,000.
Published prices at a glance
Three references, all fetched and read October 2026. Angi and HomeAdvisor are sister brands and publish identical numbers here, so count them as one independent estimate:
By driveway size
Angi publishes a size table that matches its $3 average exactly (we checked the math):1
| Driveway size | Square feet | At $3/sq ft average | At $1 – $5/sq ft range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12’ x 20’ (1-car) | 240 | $720 | $240 – $1,200 |
| 16’ x 20’ | 320 | $960 | $320 – $1,600 |
| 20’ x 20’ (2-car) | 400 | $1,200 | $400 – $2,000 |
| 20’ x 40’ | 800 | $2,400 | $800 – $4,000 |
| 24’ x 24’ (2-car) | 576 | $1,728 | $576 – $2,880 |
One caution: Renotag’s own numbers do not quite agree with each other. Its $2 to $5 per sq ft range implies $800 to $2,000 for a 400 sq ft two-car driveway, but its published two-car average is $700 to $2,900. Treat its totals as a rough band, not a precise quote.
What moves the price
Chip stone: budget options like crushed granite, limestone and pea gravel run $0.45 to $2 per square foot, while premium lava rock and quartz can reach $11 per square foot.1,2
Layers: a single chip seal costs $2 to $3 per sq ft; a double seal (two layers, longer lasting) costs $3 to $5.1,3
Site prep: grading and leveling add $5 to $8 per square foot, and clearing land runs $250 to $2,800 per half-acre.2
Permits: when the driveway connects to a public road, permits run $500 to $2,000, averaging $1,100.1,2
Tar and chip vs the alternatives
Angi positions tar and chip between gravel ($1 to $3 per sq ft) and asphalt ($7 to $15 per sq ft) on price.1 Renotag’s comparison table instead lists asphalt at $3 to $7 per sq ft and gives chip seal a 7 to 10 year lifespan.3 The asphalt figures disagree – our own asphalt driveway cost guide found $3 to $15 depending on the reference, which is why we flag ranges instead of repeating single numbers. Related guides: asphalt vs concrete, gravel driveway cost, recycled asphalt (millings), and sealcoating cost (chip seal is a cousin of sealcoating).
FAQ
How much does a 2-car tar and chip driveway cost? About $1,200 at the $3 per sq ft average for 20’ x 20’ (400 sq ft), and $400 to $2,000 across the full $1 to $5 range.1
Is tar and chip cheaper than asphalt? Yes on every reference we read: tar and chip averages $3 per sq ft while asphalt references run $3 to $15 depending on the source.1,3
How long does a tar and chip driveway last? Renotag’s comparison table says 7 to 10 years, calling it low-maintenance with self-healing cracks.3 We did not find a second independent lifespan figure, so treat that as one source’s estimate.
What is the difference between single and double chip seal? A double seal applies two layers of tar and stone instead of one, costs $3 to $5 per sq ft instead of $2 to $3, and lasts longer.1,3
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does a Tar and Chip Driveway Cost?
- HomeAdvisor – Tar and Chip Driveway Cost
- Renotag – Chip Seal or Tar and Chip Driveway Cost
*Prices are 2025-2026 national averages from the cited sources and vary by region, stone choice, layers, and site conditions. Get local quotes before budgeting.