On published references, asphalt and concrete driveway costs overlap: asphalt runs $4-$13 per sq ft installed depending on the reference, concrete $6-$12, and gravel $4-$10.* No published guide prices all three surfaces with one method, so the honest comparison is scope-matched local bids. This page puts the sourced ranges side by side with each reference’s stated limits, then shows three checked budget examples.
$4 – $13
asphalt per sq ft
$6 – $12
concrete per sq ft
$4 – $10
gravel per sq ft
Side-by-side installed cost references*
| Surface | Published installed reference* | Scope note |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt, Angi | $7-$13 per sq ft new; $8-$15 replacement; $3-$7 overlay | Research and member-reported projects. Replacement includes $1-$2 per sq ft removal. |
| Asphalt, AsphaPro | $4-$7 per sq ft, stated average $5.25 | Specialty estimator’s 2026 model; includes labor, equipment and base prep in the rate. |
| Asphalt, Homewyse | Starts at $12.46-$15.23 per sq ft (May 2026) | Basic mid-range professional work, favorable conditions; premium work costs more. |
| Concrete, HomeGuide | $6-$12 per sq ft installed | Consumer cost guide from research and member-reported projects. |
| Concrete, Concrete Network | $6.50-$10.50 per sq ft, materials and labor | Plain concrete. Site prep, base and reinforcement inclusions vary. |
| Gravel, HomeGuide | $4-$10 per sq ft installed | Installed driveway reference. Stone-only pricing is a different, lower scope. |
*National references from the named cost guides, not an independent MeasureScout survey or a local quote. Each guide uses its own sample and scope.
The same 600 sq ft driveway, every reference
| Reference | Math | 600 sq ft budget* |
|---|---|---|
| Angi asphalt, new | 600 x $7-$13 | $4,200-$7,800 |
| AsphaPro asphalt | 600 x $4-$7 | $2,400-$4,200 |
| Homewyse asphalt | 600 x $12.46-$15.23 | $7,476-$9,138 |
| HomeGuide concrete | 600 x $6-$12 | $3,600-$7,200 |
| Concrete Network plain slab | 600 x $6.50-$10.50 | $3,900-$6,300 |
| HomeGuide gravel | 600 x $4-$10 | $2,400-$6,000 |
Read the table as bands, not rankings. The cheapest asphalt reference and the most expensive concrete reference disagree by about $5,000 on the same driveway, so “asphalt is cheaper” or “concrete is cheaper” is not something these references can settle.
What these references do not compare
None of the six sources prices lifespan, climate performance or maintenance across all three surfaces with the same method, so this page does not claim a winner on those. What the sources do support: asphalt has a published resurfacing route – an overlay at $3-$7 per sq ft1 – and gravel’s installed range sits lowest while its stone-only scope is lower still.6 For everything else, collect itemized local bids for the same scope and compare those.
Three checked budget examples
1. 600 sq ft new: the full spread
From the table above: $2,400 (AsphaPro asphalt low end) to $9,138 (Homewyse asphalt high end). A realistic local bid for any surface will likely land inside that $2,400-$9,138 envelope, and the surface choice alone does not determine where.
2. 1,000 sq ft: gravel versus asphalt
Gravel at HomeGuide’s $4-$10 per sq ft: $4,000-$10,000.6 New asphalt at Angi’s $7-$13: $7,000-$13,000.1 The ranges overlap at $7,000-$10,000. Gravel is only clearly cheaper at the low ends.
3. 400 sq ft: asphalt versus concrete, tightest pair
Asphalt at Angi’s $7-$13: $2,800-$5,200.1 Concrete at HomeGuide’s $6-$12: $2,400-$4,800.4 Concrete’s published band is lower here even though asphalt has the reputation for cheap. Reference choice changes the answer, which is the point of comparing scopes rather than slogans.
How to compare real bids
- Give every contractor the same scope: area, thickness, base preparation, removal of the old surface and finish.
- Ask what the rate includes. Angi’s replacement range includes removal;1 Homewyse’s basic work includes a gravel base layer;3 many bids do not.
- Check the bid against the reference with the closest scope from the table above, not against a single national average.
Asphalt vs concrete cost FAQ
Is asphalt cheaper than concrete?
The published references disagree. Angi’s asphalt band ($7-$13) sits above HomeGuide’s concrete band ($6-$12), while AsphaPro’s asphalt band ($4-$7) sits below it.1, 2, 4 Scope-matched local bids are the only reliable answer.
Is gravel the cheapest driveway?
HomeGuide’s installed gravel reference ($4-$10 per sq ft) is the lowest installed band we found,6 but it is a different surface with its own maintenance profile, which these references do not price. Compare total bids, not just the first install.
Do these per-square-foot prices include the base?
It depends on the reference. AsphaPro says its rate includes base preparation, and Homewyse’s basic description includes a gravel base layer.2, 3 For a real quote, always ask for base work as a line item.
Related planning guides
Asphalt driveway costPaver driveway cost | Sealcoating costTar and chip driveway cost>> | Concrete cost | Gravel driveway cost | How to build a gravel driveway | Square footage calculator
Building a driveway? See the concrete driveway cost guide for plain and decorative per-square-foot references.
Considering millings instead? See recycled asphalt driveway cost.
Comparing premium surfaces too? See paver driveway cost for installed prices by paver material.
Sources
- Angi: How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost? (new, replacement and overlay asphalt ranges)
- AsphaPro: Asphalt Driveway Cost Per Square Foot, 2026 (specialty estimator’s installed range and average)
- Homewyse: Cost to Install an Asphaltic Concrete Driveway (May 2026 basic-work starting range)
- HomeGuide: Concrete Slab Cost (installed slab range, re-checked October 14, 2026)
- Concrete Network: Concrete Prices (plain poured slab range, re-checked October 14, 2026)
- HomeGuide: Gravel Driveway Cost (installed gravel reference, re-checked October 14, 2026)