At a glance
- Concrete, installed
- $6 – $12 / sq ft
- 2-car driveway (600 sq ft)
- $3,700 – $7,400
- Asphalt, installed
- $3.50 – $7 / sq ft
- Concrete lifespan
- 20 – 35 years
Concrete costs more than asphalt up front but usually lasts longer. Use 4 inches for cars and 5 inches or more for trucks.
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
A standard broom-finished concrete driveway typically costs $6 to $12 per square foot installed. For a common 2-car driveway of about 20 × 30 feet (600 sq ft), that's roughly $3,700 to $7,400 with wire mesh. Published national averages range from about $3,500 to $8,500, depending on size and finish.
Decorative finishes, thicker slabs, rebar and removing an old driveway all add to the price. Labor makes up roughly 40% to 50% of the total.
Concrete driveway cost by size
Broom finish, 5 inches thick, with wire mesh, at average prices:
| Size | Area | Low | Typical | High | Concrete to order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 20 ft (short 1-car) | 200 sq ft | $1,250 | $1,850 | $2,450 | 3.4 cu yd |
| 12 × 30 ft (1-car) | 360 sq ft | $2,250 | $3,350 | $4,450 | 6.1 cu yd |
| 20 × 20 ft (short 2-car) | 400 sq ft | $2,500 | $3,700 | $4,950 | 6.8 cu yd |
| 20 × 30 ft (2-car) | 600 sq ft | $3,700 | $5,550 | $7,400 | 10.2 cu yd |
| 24 × 36 ft (large 2-car) | 864 sq ft | $5,350 | $8,000 | $10,650 | 14.7 cu yd |
| 30 × 30 ft (3-car) | 900 sq ft | $5,600 | $8,350 | $11,100 | 15.3 cu yd |
Concrete driveway cost by finish
| Finish | Installed per sq ft | 2-car driveway (600 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Broom (standard) | $6 – $12 | $3,700 – $7,400 |
| Colored | $8 – $18 | $4,900 – $11,000 |
| Stamped | $10 – $18 | $6,100 – $11,000 |
2-car totals include wire mesh at 5 inches thick.
Asphalt vs concrete driveway cost
Asphalt is the cheaper option up front, while concrete costs more but usually lasts longer and needs less frequent resurfacing. Here's how the main driveway materials compare:
| Material | Installed per sq ft | 2-car (600 sq ft) | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel | $1.25 – $4 | $750 – $2,400 | 5–10 yrs before regrading |
| Asphalt | $3.50 – $7 | $2,100 – $4,200 | 15–20 yrs |
| Concrete (broom) | $6 – $12 | $3,600 – $7,200 | 20–35 yrs |
| Stamped concrete | $10 – $18 | $6,000 – $10,800 | 25–30 yrs |
| Interlocking pavers | $10 – $25 | $6,000 – $15,000 | 25–50 yrs |
- Choose asphalt for the lowest upfront cost and in cold climates, where its flexibility handles freeze-thaw cycles. Plan on sealing every few years.
- Choose concrete for a longer life, less maintenance, and decorative options such as color and stamping.
- Choose pavers when appearance matters most; individual pavers can be replaced instead of patching.
- Choose gravel for long rural driveways on a tight budget, accepting regular regrading.
What affects the cost
- Thickness. Four inches suits cars; five inches is recommended for trucks, and 5- to 6-inch pours usually get rebar.
- Reinforcement. Wire mesh adds about $0.20 to $0.35 per sq ft; rebar adds about $1 to $3.
- Removal. Tearing out and hauling away an old driveway costs about $1 to $2 per sq ft for asphalt and $2 to $6 for concrete.
- Grading and excavation. Sloped or soft ground may need grading ($100 to $3,400) or excavation ($500 to $6,000).
- Permits. Many cities require one for driveways and curb cuts. Permits and related fees can add several hundred to about $2,000.
- Access and location. Long or hard-to-reach driveways may need a concrete pump, and higher cost-of-living areas pay more.
Standard driveway sizes
A single-car driveway is usually 9 to 12 feet wide (9 feet is tight), and a two-car driveway is about 20 feet wide. Length depends on how far your garage sits from the street; 20 to 30 feet is common for suburban homes.
Worked example
Replacing an old asphalt driveway with a 20 × 30 ft concrete driveway, 6 inches thick with rebar, at average prices:
- Area: 20 × 30 = 600 sq ft.
- Concrete installed: 600 × $6 to $12 = $3,600 to $7,200.
- Extra inch over the standard 5 inches: 600 × $0.42 = $252.
- Rebar: 600 × $1 to $3 = $600 to $1,800.
- Asphalt removal: 600 × $1 to $2 = $600 to $1,200.
- Total: about $5,050 to $10,450, with a typical price near $7,750.
How to save on a concrete driveway
- Get at least three quotes that spell out thickness, psi, base depth, reinforcement and control joints.
- Keep the shape simple. Curves, flares and decorative borders add forming labor.
- Skip decorative finishes or limit them to a border to get the look for less.
- Seal it. Sealing every few years helps the driveway reach the high end of its lifespan.
- Pouring it yourself? Use our concrete cost calculator to price ready-mix or bags for a DIY job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a concrete driveway cost?
A standard broom-finished concrete driveway typically costs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed. A common 2-car driveway of about 20 by 30 feet (600 sq ft) runs roughly $3,700 to $7,400.
Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
Asphalt is cheaper up front at about $3.50 to $7 per square foot versus $6 to $12 for concrete. Concrete usually lasts longer, about 20 to 35 years compared with 15 to 20 for asphalt.
How thick should a concrete driveway be?
Four inches is enough for cars and small vehicles. Five inches is recommended for trucks and larger vehicles, and 5- to 6-inch pours typically use rebar.
How long does a concrete driveway last?
A well-built concrete driveway typically lasts about 20 to 35 years, longer with proper base preparation, control joints and periodic sealing.
How much does it cost to replace a driveway?
Replacing means paying for removal plus the new driveway. Tearing out an old driveway costs about $1 to $2 per sq ft for asphalt and $2 to $6 for concrete, on top of $6 to $12 per sq ft for new concrete.
Do I need a permit for a new driveway?
Many cities require a permit, especially if the driveway connects to the street or changes the curb. Permits and related fees can add several hundred to about $2,000, so check with your local building department first.
How we calculate
The concrete driveway price of $6 to $12 per sq ft reflects HomeAdvisor's 2026 driveway slab range and CostInsightHub's 2026 paving guide. Decorative finish add-ons are the difference between standard and decorative prices published by LawnStarter and CostInsightHub. Reinforcement costs come from Inch Calculator and LawnStarter, removal from CostInsightHub and Lawn Love, and grading, excavation and permit ranges from LawnStarter. Asphalt, paver and gravel prices blend CostInsightHub and NerdWallet; lifespans come from LawnStarter and CostInsightHub.
Some inputs are our own planning assumptions, stated so you can judge them: size presets use typical dimensions (12, 20 or 30 ft wide by 30 ft long), each inch over 5 inches adds about $0.42 per sq ft, the cost-of-living setting moves prices by −10% or +15%, and gravel weighs about 1.4 tons per cubic yard. The "typical" price is the midpoint of the range.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Grading, drainage, permits and access vary a lot from site to site. Always get written quotes from licensed contractors before you hire.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor: Concrete slab cost (updated June 2026)
- CostInsightHub: How much does it cost to pave a driveway? (April 2026)
- LawnStarter: Concrete driveway cost (December 2025)
- Inch Calculator: Cost to install a concrete driveway
- NerdWallet: Cost to repave a driveway (2025)
- Lawn Love: Concrete removal cost (October 2026)