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
Lower total cost option
Asphalt
Asphalt total cost
$9,275
Concrete total cost
$12,600
Difference
$3,325
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How to use this
- 1Enter driveway square footage (sqft).
- 2Enter asphalt install cost ($/sqft).
- 3Enter sealcoat cost ($/sqft).
- 4Enter years between sealing.
- 5Enter asphalt lifespan (yrs).
- 6Enter concrete install cost ($/sqft).
- 7Enter concrete lifespan (yrs).
- 8Enter comparison horizon (yrs).
- 9Read your lower total cost option on the right — it updates as you type.
- 10Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Asphalt driveways cost less upfront and are easy to patch, but need resealing every few years and typically last 20-25 years. Concrete costs more upfront, needs little maintenance, and can last 30-40+ years but is more expensive to repair if it cracks. This calculator compares lifetime cost per square foot including sealing and repair cycles.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Driveway square footage: 700 sqft
- Asphalt install cost: 5 $/sqft
- Sealcoat cost: 0.25 $/sqft
- Years between sealing: 3
- Asphalt lifespan: 22 yrs
- Concrete install cost: 9 $/sqft
- Concrete lifespan: 35 yrs
- Comparison horizon: 40 yrs
Results
- Lower total cost option: Asphalt
- Asphalt total cost: $9,275
- Concrete total cost: $12,600
- Difference: $3,325
What each field means
Inputs
- Driveway square footage (sqft)
- The driveway square footage used in the calculation, measured in sqft. Starts at 700 sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Asphalt install cost ($/sqft)
- The asphalt install cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 5 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Sealcoat cost ($/sqft)
- The sealcoat cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 0.25 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Years between sealing
- The years between sealing used in the calculation. Starts at 3 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–10.
- Asphalt lifespan (yrs)
- The asphalt lifespan used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 22 yrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 5–40 yrs.
- Concrete install cost ($/sqft)
- The concrete install cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 9 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Concrete lifespan (yrs)
- The concrete lifespan used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 35 yrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 5–60 yrs.
- Comparison horizon (yrs)
- The comparison horizon used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 40 yrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 5–60 yrs.
Results
- Lower total cost option
- Returned as a plain value and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Asphalt total cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Concrete total cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Difference
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Which holds up better in cold climates?
Asphalt flexes with freeze-thaw cycles and is easier/cheaper to patch, making it popular in colder regions, while concrete can crack under severe freeze-thaw without proper control joints and rebar.
Does concrete need any maintenance at all?
Occasional sealing (every 3-5 years) is recommended to protect against staining and cracking, though it's not as critical as asphalt sealcoating for structural longevity.
Which is cheaper to repair a pothole/crack?
Asphalt patches are cheap and fast; concrete repairs usually require cutting out and repouring a full section, costing significantly more per repair even though repairs are needed less often.
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 vs Concrete Driveway Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-vs-concrete-driveway
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-vs-concrete-driveway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asphalt vs Concrete Driveway Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Asphalt vs Concrete Driveway Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/asphalt-vs-concrete-driveway) (2026).