Calculate the Cost of a Concrete Driveway

How much does a concrete driveway cost? The simple answer is more than an asphalt driveway and less than a paver driveway, but of course there’s much more to it than that! If you want to accurately estimate your concrete driveways costs before speaking to a professional contractor then read on.

In this RenoCompare cost guide we will take you through the different pricing scenarios, give a clear breakdown of costs and detail a real life example. By the end of this post you will be ready to calculate your own concrete driveway estimate before requesting free quotes from our network of qualified driveway contractors.

Concrete Driveway Cost Summary

Let’s start with an overview of pricing, and then we’ll break it down to see how your concrete driveway costs will be determined. These are the four most common scenarios in order of cost for materials and installation for a new concrete drive.

1. Upgrading a gravel driveway to a concrete driveway:

• Grading the existing drive and removing some material, if necessary for proper height
• Installation and finish of 4-6 inches of reinforced concrete
• Application of sealer
• Cost: $3.40 to $5.25 per square foot using 4 inches of concrete
• Cost: $4.35 to $6.50 per square foot using 6 inches of concrete

2. New concrete driveway where none existed:

• Excavating the driveway path by removing turf and soil
• Grading the path
• Installation of a subgrade layer of sand when native soils aren’t suitable
• Installation of a subbase layer of compacted aggregate
• Installation and finish of 4-6 inches of reinforced concrete
• Application of sealer
• Cost: $4.60 to $6.95 per square foot using 4 inches of concrete
• Cost: $5.55 to $8.20 per square foot using 6 inches of concrete

3. Asphalt driveway removal & replacement with concrete:

• Break up and removal of the existing driveway
• Grading the path
• Installation of a subgrade layer of sand if needed
• Installation of a subbase layer of compacted aggregate if needed
• Installation and finish of 4-6 inches of reinforced concrete
• Application of sealer
• Cost: $5.15 to $9.15 per square foot using 4 inches of concrete
• Cost: $6.10 to $10.25 per square foot using 6 inches of concrete

4. Concrete driveway removal & replacement with concrete:

• Break up and removal of the existing driveway
• Grading the path
• Installation of a subgrade layer of sand if needed
• Installation of a subbase layer of compacted aggregate if needed
• Installation and finish of 4-6 inches of reinforced concrete
• Application of sealer
• Cost: $9.45 to $12.15 per square foot using 4 inches of concrete
• Cost: $10.40 to $15.75 per square foot using 6 inches of concrete

Note 1: When the original asphalt or concrete driveway was built properly, the subgrade and subbase layers should already be in place with little or no change required. If not, one or both of these layers will need to be installed. These variables account for the wide cost ranges in scenarios 3 and 4. Before a contractor gives you an estimate, it is possible that he or she might want to hand-dig alongside the existing driveway to view what lies beneath.

Note 2: Most concrete driveways are built with 4 inches of concrete. Some homeowners prefer 6 inches of concrete for greater stability and durability, but the advantages might not be worth the extra cost unless you have very unstable soil or you plan to drive very heavy vehicles on the concrete.

Breaking Down Concrete Driveway Costs

There are many steps to installing a concrete driveway. Not all of these will apply to your project.

Old Driveway Removal Cost (Scenarios 3 and 4)

Asphalt drives are moderately difficult to break up and load; removing a concrete drive requires heavier equipment and more time.

• Asphalt driveway removal cost: $1.75-$2.50 per square foot
• Concrete driveway removal cost: $6-$8 per square foot

New Driveway Excavation and Preparation Cost (Scenario 2)

When installing a new drive, the turf and up to 10 inches of soil must be removed. Soil containing clay or expansive material is removed to a greater depth than soil containing large amounts of sand. The removed soil may be hauled away or relocated to another part of the property, at your discretion.

• Driveway excavation and hauling costs (non-wooded land): $0.55-$0.80 per square foot

Material & Installation Costs (All scenarios)

Depending on your project, here are the layers you’ll need:

• Brand new driveways need all layers unless the existing soil is very sandy or gravelly
• Upgraded gravel driveways typically need just concrete
• Replaced asphalt and concrete driveways typically need just concrete

Here are all potential layers with their costs.

Subgrade layer: Up to 4 inches of sand, graded and compacted, are added where existing soils are unstable.

• Subgrade material and installation: $0.40-$0.60 per square foot

Subbase layer: Up to 4 inches of 4-inch stone, gravel or crushed stone aggregate, graded and compacted, form the next layer in concrete driveways.

• Subbase material and installation: $0.55-$0.80 per square foot

Concrete: A minimum of 4 layers of concrete will be installed. Premium installations have up to 6 inches of concrete.

• 4-inch layer of reinforced concrete with expansion joints: $1.85-$2.25 per square foot
• 6-inch layer of reinforced concrete with expansion joints: $2.80-$3.35 per square foot

Some installations are four inches thick in the middle with the last foot or so at the edges thickening to six inches for greater strength. The price lies between the costs for 4” and 6” layers of concrete.

Driveway Sealing Cost (All scenarios)

Concrete cures completely within four weeks. It should then be sealed to prevent staining and deterioration caused by moisture, especially where freeze/thaw cycles are common.

• Professional concrete driveway sealing costs $1.25-$2.50 per square foot depending on the type of the sealer used

Factors that Affect Concrete Driveway Installation Costs

Costs given so far are for basic concrete driveways. However, many driveway projects include additional costs, and we summarize those here.

Mobilization costs and trucking premiums: Most contractors have a “work zone” in which no premiums for extra gas and time spent traveling are added. There might not be a line item for these premiums, but they will show up in higher estimates. Contractors factor distance and time with something like this:

• Jobsites within 15 miles of the contractor’s yard or material source: 0 % increase
• Jobsites outside 15 miles: 3-10% increase for every 10 extra miles based on wages and the price of gasoline

Wooded property: Removing trees and stumps, cutting up wood and hauling it away is a costly process. Excavation costs rise by 25% (lightly wooded, small-diameter trees) to 500% (heavily wooded, large-diameter trees, though such trees often have timber value and can be sold).

Extra fill required: Fill dirt or gravel might be required to fill low areas or to lessen the pitch of steep driveways. The volume of fill required will determine the cost.

• $20-$30 per cubic yard of fill (10-30 yards is average)
• $10-$14 per cubic yard to install and grade

Adding drain tile: Drain tile is often used to dry out wet areas near the driveway. Every job is unique, but a reasonable estimate is 15 feet of drain tile for every foot of driveway that has water standing adjacent to it. For example, an area affecting 12 feet of the driveway would require approximately 180 feet (15×12) of drain tile to resolve the issue.

• Drain tile installed: $15-$28 per linear foot ($225-$420 for every foot of driveway affected by standing water)

Low areas are generally not ideal for driveway construction without a massive and costly buildup of the driveway bed. Water can soften and erode the subgrade and subbase layers beneath concrete, with results including settling, sinking, cracking or collapsing.

Permits: Driveway permits are required in most counties or cities to ensure that the location of the driveway offers all drivers good visibility. The cost of the permit includes an inspection to make sure the preparation and installation is handled properly.

• Permits: $50 to $200 (occasionally more, especially when the municipality installs a culvert and gravel as part of the process)

Tinting, stamping or acid-staining the concrete: These are popular ways to turn drab concrete into something unique. They can be costly, though.

• Tinting: $0.55-$0.75 per square foot
• Acid staining: $0.75-$1.45 per square foot
• Stamping: $3-$5.50 per square foot

Cosmetic borders: Concrete driveways are sometimes bordered with acid-stained concrete (see above), paver stones or other decorative material.

• Installed border: $2.50-$4.50 per linear foot (when up to 18” wide)

Retaining walls: Where a hillside has been excavated to form the driveway or the garage is partially below grade, retaining walls might be required to prevent soils from eroding or caving in. Retaining walls cost $25-$35 per square foot. For example, a wall 30 feet long and 4 feet high, 120 square feet, would cost $3,000 to $4,200.

Calculating your Asphalt Driveway Cost Estimate

Educated consumers end up with better driveways and more competitive prices than others. Knowing what to expect when you get estimates will assist you in discussing the project with contractors too.

This detailed information is the basis for calculating a very solid “ballpark” range for your concrete driveway costs. Here’s the simple, two-step process:

1). Start your estimate at the standard cost for your scenario based on the type of project you’ll be completing.

If you’re removing an existing driveway, it is likely you will not need extensive subgrade or subbase material and work, so your estimate can start on the low end of the range given:

Upgrading a gravel driveway to a concrete driveway:

• 4” concrete: $3.40 to $5.25 per square foot using
• 6” concrete $4.35 to $6.50 per square foot using

New concrete driveway where none existed:

• 4” concrete: $4.60 to $6.95 per square foot
• 6” concrete: $5.55 to $8.20 per square foot

Asphalt driveway removal & replacement with concrete:

• 4” concrete: $5.15 to $9.15 per square foot using 4 inches of concrete
• 6” concrete: $6.10 to $10.25 per square foot

Concrete driveway removal & replacement with concrete:

• 4” concrete: $9.45 to $12.15 per square foot
• 6” concrete: $10.40 to $15.75 per square

2). Revise your estimate upwards according to the cost of extras you anticipate will be part of your project:

• Increased mobilization and/or trucking cost: 3% to 10% increase in estimate per 10 miles beyond the 15-mile “local” zone
• Excavation cost for wooded land: 25% to 500% increase
• Extra fill: $10-$15 per cubic yard with 10-30 cubic yard average
• Drainage: $330-$420 for every foot of driveway affected by frequent standing water
• Permits: $50-$200 (more if a culvert & materials are included)
• Tinting: $0.55-$0.75 per square foot
• Acid staining: $0.75-$1.45 per square foot
• Stamping: $3-$5.50 per square foot
• Borders: $2.50-$4.50 per linear foot
• Retaining walls: $25-$35 per square foot

Sample Concrete Driveway Installation Estimate

Perhaps a breakdown of the costs for a recent concrete driveway installation will be of assistance as you develop your own estimate. This driveway project included many common elements with a few extras.

The home is new construction in Eaton Rapids, MI, a suburb of Lansing. The land slopes slightly up from the street. The soil is composed of 4” of rich topsoil with sandy clay loam beneath.

The driveway is 10’ wide from the street up the slope, a length of 35’, until it broadens to a parking pad in front of the two-car garage that is 25’ wide and 20’ deep.

10’x35’ = 350 square feet

25’x20’ = 500 square feet

The “neck” where the drive broadens = 90 square feet

Total: 940 square feet

Here are the details of the driveway construction:

Driveway excavation: The topsoil was pushed off and piled to the side. Another 5” of soil were removed and hauled away.

Material installation: A gravel pit and concrete plant are near the property, so there were no increases in trucking costs. Gasoline at the time was $2.59/gallon.

• Driveway removal cost: N/A
• Permit: $700 which included staking the driveway and installing a 12’ culvert covered with 5 yards of gravel
• Excavation cost: $640 / $0.68 per square foot
• 3” of sand: $520 / $0.55 per square foot
• 4” of gravel: $705 / $0.75 per square foot
• 4” of reinforced concrete: $1,974 / $2.10 per square foot
• Acid staining and polishing of the parking pad: $1,225 / $1.30 per square foot
• Driveway sealing: $1,692 / $1.80 per square foot

Total Cost: $7,456 / $7.93 per square foot

The analysis of this job shows it would have cost $6.13/sf without staining. That is above the average in the range given above. This is accounted for the use of three layers of material.

Getting Concrete Driveway Estimates

While there are plenty of concrete driveway estimates online, most don’t go into enough detail to be of use to homeowners. That’s why we’ve broken down all of the costs – it should assist you in compiling an estimate that is very close to what you’ll get from contractors.

When you’re ready to get written quotes, it makes sense to contact at least three contractors in your area. Let them know that you want quality materials and installation, and that you are getting estimates from several companies. This approach will produce competitive estimates for a driveway that will be built properly without shortcuts.

Ask for references, and make a few phone calls. Request the addresses of a two or three jobs the company completed 7-10 years ago. Drive by the homes, and look for telltale signs of poor work such as cracks, sunken sections and standing water on the surface. This will give you information about the quality and durability of the company’s work.

Concrete Driveway Maintenance and Repair

The most important maintenance task is to keep the concrete sealed. Frequency of sealing varies by climate, but it is typically every 2-6 years. Ask your installer how often to apply sealer. This can be a DIY task, but calling professionals to do the work will help to ensure that the driveway is effectively cleaned and the sealer is properly applied.

If your concrete cracks in the first few years, contact the contractor, and ask them to replace the section at their cost. Cracks must be addressed immediately, especially in climates where freeze and thaw cycles occur. The crack should be filled with a high-quality concrete crack filler. There are several different materials used, and a professional driveway contractor will advise you on the best product for your situation.

When sealer is applied regularly and small cracks are addressed immediately, a concrete driveway should hold its good looks and performance for 25-35 years.