Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total asphalt driveway cost
$8,910
Asphalt mat
$5,670
Excavation + aggregate base
$3,240
Tear-out and disposal
$0
Installed cost per sq ft
$9.90
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How to use this
- 1Enter driveway area (sq ft).
- 2Enter asphalt rate at 2 inch compacted ($/sq ft).
- 3Enter compacted asphalt thickness (in).
- 4Enter base + excavation rate at 4 inch ($/sq ft).
- 5Enter compacted base depth (in).
- 6Enter existing surface removal ($/sq ft).
- 7Read your total asphalt driveway cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
A new asphalt driveway is priced by area and by the depth of what goes under it. The asphalt mat itself is usually 2-3 inches compacted for residential use, but the aggregate base beneath it — typically 4-8 inches of compacted crushed stone — is what determines whether the driveway lasts five years or twenty-five. This calculator prices excavation and base, the asphalt mat by compacted thickness, and optional removal of an existing surface. 2026 US national averages land near $7-$13 per square foot for a full replacement including base work, or $4-$7 per square foot for a fresh mat over sound existing base. Northern freeze-thaw climates justify the thicker base; skimping there is the single most common cause of early cracking.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Driveway area: 900 sq ft
- Asphalt rate at 2 inch compacted: 4.2 $/sq ft
- Compacted asphalt thickness: 3 in
- Base + excavation rate at 4 inch: 2.4 $/sq ft
- Compacted base depth: 6 in
- Existing surface removal: 0 $/sq ft
Results
- Total asphalt driveway cost: $8,910
- Asphalt mat: $5,670
- Excavation + aggregate base: $3,240
- Tear-out and disposal: $0
- Installed cost per sq ft: $9.90
What each field means
Inputs
- Driveway area (sq ft)
- The driveway area used in the calculation, measured in sq ft. Starts at 900 sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 100–20000 sq ft.
- Asphalt rate at 2 inch compacted ($/sq ft)
- The asphalt rate at 2 inch compacted used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 4.2 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1.5–12 $/sq ft.
- Compacted asphalt thickness (in)
- The compacted asphalt thickness used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 3 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1.5–6 in.
- Base + excavation rate at 4 inch ($/sq ft)
- The base + excavation rate at 4 inch used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 2.4 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–8 $/sq ft.
- Compacted base depth (in)
- The compacted base depth used in the calculation, measured in in. Starts at 6 in so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–12 in.
- Existing surface removal ($/sq ft)
- The existing surface removal used in the calculation, measured in $/sq ft. Starts at 0 $/sq ft so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–5 $/sq ft.
Results
- Total asphalt driveway cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Asphalt mat
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Excavation + aggregate base
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Tear-out and disposal
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Installed cost per sq ft
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How thick should a residential asphalt driveway be?
Two to three inches of compacted asphalt over a properly compacted 4-8 inch stone base handles cars and light trucks. Go to four inches of asphalt and a deeper base if RVs, dump trucks, or heavy delivery vehicles will use it.
Can I pave over my old driveway?
An overlay works only if the existing surface is structurally sound with no alligator cracking or base failure — otherwise the same cracks reflect through the new mat within a couple of seasons.
When can I drive on new asphalt?
Usually 24-72 hours for cars depending on temperature, but the mat stays soft for weeks — avoid parking in one spot, turning the wheel while stopped, and heavy loads for the first month.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Asphalt Driveway Paving Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-driveway-paving-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-driveway-paving-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asphalt Driveway Paving Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Asphalt Driveway Paving Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-driveway-paving-cost) (2026).