A new asphalt driveway costs roughly $4-$13 per square foot installed, depending on which published reference you use. Angi gives $7-$13 per sq ft for a new driveway, asphalt estimator AsphaPro gives $4-$7, and Homewyse starts its basic-work estimate at $12.46-$15.23.* An overlay on a sound existing driveway runs $3-$7 per sq ft.1 These are national budget references, not a local bid, and they genuinely disagree: this guide shows each figure with its stated scope so you can compare quotes against the right one.
$4 – $13
per sq ft installed
$3 – $7
per sq ft overlay
National asphalt driveway cost references*
| What the figure covers | Published reference* | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| New driveway, Angi | $7-$13 per sq ft installed ($2-$6 materials, $5-$7 labor); average project $5,350 | Cost data from research and member-reported projects. Average project range $3,154-$7,556. |
| New driveway, AsphaPro | $4-$7 per sq ft installed, stated national average $5.25; $2-$3 materials | A specialty asphalt estimator’s 2026 model, not a survey. Includes labor, equipment and base preparation in the rate. |
| Asphaltic concrete driveway, Homewyse | Starts at $12.46-$15.23 per sq ft (May 2026) | Basic mid-range professional work in readily serviceable conditions. Homewyse says premium work and difficult sites cost more. |
| Replacement, Angi | $8-$15 per sq ft | Includes $1-$2 per sq ft to remove the old surface. |
| Overlay (top coat), Angi | $3-$7 per sq ft | Poured over the existing surface. Angi notes it will not save a driveway with holes and spiderweb cracks. |
| Recycled or reclaimed asphalt, Angi | $6.20-$8.75 per sq ft installed | Material alone $10-$20 per ton or $0.20-$0.75 per sq ft. |
*National references from the named cost guides, not an independent MeasureScout survey or a local quote. Always get itemized local bids.
Why the three references disagree
The spread is real, not an error. Homewyse describes its figure as a starting point for basic professional work with in-stock materials and favorable site conditions, and warns that difficult sites, premium options and busy labor markets push costs higher.3 Angi’s figures come from project data its members report, so they reflect real quoted jobs across many scopes.1 AsphaPro publishes an estimator’s model that folds material, labor, equipment and base preparation into one lower rate.2 Different samples and different scopes produce different numbers. When you collect bids, state your scope first, then check it against the reference with the closest matching scope.
New-driveway budget by size
Angi puts most driveways at 200 to 800 sq ft. Budgets below multiply its $7-$13 per sq ft new-driveway range; Angi’s own examples for 200 and 800 sq ft match this table.1
| Driveway size (sq ft) | Budget at $7-$13 per sq ft* |
|---|---|
| 200 | $1,400-$2,600 |
| 400 | $2,800-$5,200 |
| 600 | $4,200-$7,800 |
| 800 | $5,600-$10,400 |
| 1,000 | $7,000-$13,000 |
Three checked budget examples
1. A 600 sq ft new driveway, three ways
Same driveway, three references. Angi: 600 x $7-$13 = $4,200-$7,800. AsphaPro: 600 x $4-$7 = $2,400-$4,200. Homewyse: 600 x $12.46-$15.23 = $7,476-$9,138. The highest and lowest budgets are about $5,000 apart, which is why one national average is not a budget.
2. Replacing a 1,000 sq ft driveway
At Angi’s $8-$15 per sq ft replacement range, 1,000 sq ft budgets $8,000-$15,000, including about $1,000-$2,000 to remove the old surface at its stated $1-$2 per sq ft.1 If your bids come in far below that, check whether removal is actually in the quote.
3. Overlay versus new on 500 sq ft
Overlay at Angi’s $3-$7 per sq ft: 500 sq ft = $1,500-$3,500. A new driveway on the same area: 500 x $7-$13 = $3,500-$6,500. The overlay saves roughly half, but only if the existing base is sound; Angi cautions that an overlay over a cracked, holed driveway is not a fix.1
What moves the price
- Removal and grading. Removing the old surface adds about $1-$2 per sq ft, and significant leveling or grading raises labor beyond the $5-$7 per sq ft baseline.1
- Asphalt type. Per Angi: recycled $6.20-$8.75, standard $7-$13, stamped or colored $10-$17, and heated blacktop $12-$25 per sq ft.1
- Location. AsphaPro’s state table runs from about $4-$7 per sq ft in lower-cost states to $6-$10 in California, which it attributes to labor, transport and regulation.2
- Sealcoating. AsphaPro adds about $0.20-$0.30 per sq ft when sealcoating is included.2
Compare bids at equal scope
Ask each contractor to itemize the same things: removal of the old surface, base preparation and thickness, asphalt type and thickness, and whether sealcoating is included. Homewyse’s basic-work description includes a gravel base layer and site protection,3 but not every quote does. Two bids are only comparable when the line items match.
Asphalt driveway cost FAQ
What is the national average asphalt driveway cost?
There is no single agreed figure. Angi puts the average project at $5,350, within a $3,154-$7,556 range.1 AsphaPro states a national average of $5.25 per sq ft installed.2 Homewyse starts higher, at $12.46-$15.23 per sq ft for basic professional work.3 Treat each as a different-scope reference, not as one number.
Does the per-square-foot price include base preparation?
Sometimes. AsphaPro says its installed rate includes base preparation,2 and Homewyse’s basic labor description includes adding a gravel base layer.3 Never assume it for a real quote: ask for base work as a line item.
Is an overlay always cheaper than a new driveway?
On price, yes: Angi’s $3-$7 per sq ft overlay range is about half its new-driveway range.1 But an overlay over a failing base does not last, so the cheaper option can cost more over time.
Is asphalt cheaper than a gravel or concrete driveway?
Each surface has its own cost structure. Compare the sourced per-square-foot and per-yard references in our gravel driveway cost guide and concrete cost guide against the asphalt figures above before deciding.
Related planning guides
Gravel driveway costSealcoating costTar and chip driveway costAsphalt repair costAsphalt resurfacing cost | Driveway cost calculator>>>> | Concrete cost | How much gravel for a driveway | How to build a gravel driveway | Square footage calculatorAsphalt calculator>
Choosing a surface? The asphalt vs concrete driveway cost comparison puts six published references side by side.
Considering millings instead? See recycled asphalt driveway cost.
Sources
- Angi: How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost? (new, replacement and overlay ranges, material/labor split, size examples, asphalt-type table, recycled asphalt)
- AsphaPro: Asphalt Driveway Cost Per Square Foot, 2026 (specialty estimator: installed range and average, cost breakdown, state table, sealcoating adder)
- Homewyse: Cost to Install an Asphaltic Concrete Driveway (May 2026 starting range for basic professional work and its stated scope)