Driveway Paving Cost Calculator
Length × width is the easy part. The depth, the base stone, and the tonnage are what the quote is built from, here's the whole stack.
Asphalt needs a 4–6 in compacted gravel base; concrete 4 in slab on 4 in base; gravel driveways are 6–8 in total stone. The tonnage row converts that to $ at your local pit price.
How the math works
- Area = width × length. Base tonnage = area × depth ÷ 27 (cu ft per ton, compacted), gravel base weighs ~100 lb/cu ft.
- Surface: asphalt 2.5–3.5 in, priced $2.50–5.50/sq ft installed; concrete 4 in, $6–11/sq ft; gravel $1.50–3.50/sq ft; pavers $8–16/sq ft installed.
- Base stone: tons × $35 delivered (regional pit prices run $28–55); add removal ($1.50/sq ft demo) when repaving over old surface.
- Asphalt life: seal-coat every 3 years ≈ $0.35/sq ft, the row that keeps 20-year asphalt honest.
The low–high band is 2026 US contractor pricing with regional freight; rural quotes run lower, metro + 25–40%.
How much does a 12×60 asphalt driveway cost?
720 sq ft with a 4 in base: roughly $1,900–$4,100 installed in 2026 (base stone ~13 tons included). Same driveway in concrete: about $4,600–$8,300; gravel: $1,100–$2,600.
How many tons of gravel for a driveway base?
Area × depth ÷ 27. A 720 sq ft driveway at 4 in = 107 cu ft ≈ 13 tons. Clay-prone ground wants 6 in, ~16 tons, and it's the one line you should never thin to save money.
Asphalt vs concrete, which is cheaper over 20 years?
Asphalt: cheaper to install, reseal every 3 years, repave at ~20. Concrete: 2× install cost, near-zero maintenance, 35–40 year life. In freeze-thaw climates, asphalt's repair cadence is the honest cost; the tool prices both.