How much does it cost to resurface an asphalt driveway?
How much does it cost to resurface an asphalt driveway?
$1 – $3 cost per square foot
$400 – $1,800 average cost to resurface a driveway
Cost to resurface an asphalt driveway
Asphalt driveway resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot or $400 to $1,800 on average. Stamping, patterns, or colored asphalt resurfacing costs $3 to $8 per square foot. Resurfacing a 12'x100' private asphalt road costs $1,200 to $3,600.
In comparison, paving a new asphalt driveway costs $3 to $7 per square foot.
| Size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 10'x20' Driveway (1-car) | $200 – $750 |
| 12'x24' Driveway (1-car) | $300 – $1,100 |
| 20'x20' Driveway (2-car) | $400 – $1,500 |
| 24'x24' Driveway (2-car) | $550 – $2,200 |
| 24'x36' Driveway (3-car) | $850 – $3,250 |
| 4'x50' Sidewalk | $200 – $750 |
| 40'x40' Backyard blacktop | $1,600 – $6,000 |
| 12'x100' Road | $1,200 – $4,500 |
| 12’x500’ Road | $6,000 – $18,000 |
| 12’x25’ Parking space | $300 – $1,100 |
| 10-Car parking lot | $3,000 – $11,250 |
| Basketball court (94’x50’) | $4,700 – $17,500 |
| Tennis court (78’x36’) | $2,800 – $10,500 |
*A minimum service fee of $100 to $250 applies for small jobs.
Resurfacing is best for pavement less than 15 to 20 years old with a good foundation and less than 30% surface damage.
Asphalt driveway resurface cost calculator
Enter the length and width of your driveway or area in feet below to estimate the cost of asphalt resurfacing.
Average asphalt resurfacing cost
The following table shows the total resurfacing cost for an average 2-car driveway.
| National Average Cost | $1,100 |
| Minimum Cost | $200 |
| Maximum Cost | $6,000 |
| Average Range | $400 to $1,800 |
*Based on 213 project costs reported by HomeGuide members
Asphalt resurfacing benefits:
Boosts curb appeal and durability.
Cheaper than paving a new driveway.
Extends the driveway's lifespan by 8 to 15 years.
Restores damage by adding a 1.5" to 2.0" thick layer of new asphalt on top.
Driveway resurfacing cost by material
Residential driveway resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot for asphalt or gravel or $2 to $5 per square foot for concrete or tar-and-chip driveways. Replacing rubber or driveway pavers costs $10 to $30 per square foot.
| Material | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Asphalt | $1 – $3 |
| Gravel | $1 – $3 |
| Concrete | $3 – $7 |
| Tar-and-chip | $2 – $5 |
| Rubber | $8 – $15 |
| Pavers | $10 – $30 |
*Includes materials and installation.
Concrete resurfacing cost
Concrete driveway resurfacing costs $2 to $7 per square foot, depending on the driveway's size, thickness, and current condition. Resurfacing with colors, stamping, and decorative overlays costs $5 to $20 per square foot. Resurfacing fills cracks and restores the concrete's appearance.
Resurfacing concrete with concrete is the best option.
Resurfacing concrete with asphalt costs $1 to $3 per square foot but requires a stable concrete base and expansion joints.
Tar-and-chip or gravel resurfacing costs
Resurfacing a 20'x24' tar and chip driveway costs $960 to $2,400 on average or $2 to $5 per square foot. Tar and chip resurfacing involves spreading a layer of gravel on top of hot liquid asphalt, then compacting the stones in place.
A gravel driveway costs $1 to $3 per square foot or $600 to $1,800 for a 24×24 two-car driveway. Installing gravel is easier than other materials and typically includes minor grading and leveling.
Additional blacktop resurfacing costs
Resurfacing a backyard blacktop costs $1 to $3 per square foot or $400 and $3,000 for a playground area, patio, or basic game court.
| Square Feet - Type | Price range |
|---|---|
| 200 SF - Sidewalk or walkway | $200 – $600 |
| 300 SF - Parking space | $300 – $900 |
| 400 SF - Playground or patio | $400 – $1,200 |
| 1,000 SF - Game court | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| 1,000 SF - Colored game court | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| 6,000 SF - Private road (12'x500') | $6,000 – $18,000 |
Cost to resurface a private road
The average cost to resurface a 12' wide (1-lane) asphalt road is $12 to $36 per linear foot or $65,000 to $190,000 per mile. Asphalt road resurfacing costs $24 to $72 per linear foot for a 24' wide (2-lane) private road.
| Length | 1-lane (12' wide) | 2-lane (24' wide) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Feet | $1,200 – $3,600 | $2,400 – $7,200 |
| 500 Feet | $6,000 – $18,000 | $12,000 – $36,000 |
| 1,000 Feet | $12,000 – $36,000 | $24,000 – $72,000 |
| 1 Mile | $65,000 – $190,000 | $125,000 – $380,000 |
Parking lot resurfacing cost
The average cost to resurface a parking lot is $1 to $3 per square foot or $300 to $900 per parking space. A typical parking space needs 300 square feet to include room for the stall, lanes, entrances, and exits. Additional fees for inspections and permits vary by city.
| Size | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 5-car | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| 10-car | $3,000 – $9,000 |
| 15-car | $4,500 – $13,500 |
| 25-car | $7,500 – $22,500 |
Sidewalk or walkway resurfacing cost
Resurfacing a 4'x50' (200 SF) asphalt sidewalk or walkway costs $200 to $600 on average, or $1 to $3 per square foot. Sidewalks are typically city property, so resurfacing requires a sidewalk construction permit that costs $40 to $70.
Cost factors to redo an asphalt driveway
The base cost to repave an asphalt driveway is $1 to $3 per square foot for a new overlay only, depending on the size and condition. Additional tarmac resurfacing costs may include repairs, milling, patterns, colors, resealing, new curbs, and permits.
| Factor | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Repairing cracks and potholes | $2 – $5 |
| Replacing sections | $3 – $12 |
| Asphalt milling | $0.25 – $0.75 |
| Colored or stamped asphalt | $2 – $5 |
| Resurface asphalt curb | $7 – $10 |
| Resurface driveway or sidewalk | $1 – $3 |
| Sealcoating | $0.20 – $0.70 |
| Radiant heating system | $9 – $20 |
*Most contractors charge minimum call-out-fees of $100 to $250. Permits add $20 to $60.
Asphalt condition
Repairing cracks, patching holes, or replacing sections is required by asphalt repair companies before resurfacing. Asphalt repairs cost $2 to $5 per square foot, while saw-cut replacements of asphalt sections cost $4 to $12 per square foot.
| Repair | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Filling or sealing cracks | $1 – $3 per linear foot |
| Repairing potholes | $2 – $5 per square foot |
| Replacing sections | $3 – $12 per square foot |
Patching holes and cracks without resurfacing is a temporary fix because water seeps between the old and new material and opens up the holes and cracks again. Driveway repair costs $300 to $2,500 on average, depending on the extent of the damage.
Driveways older than 20 years with multiple deep potholes, large cracks a quarter-inch wide, or foundation damage require replacement.
Asphalt mill and overlay
Removing or milling the top layer of asphalt costs $0.25 to $0.75 per square foot. Milling before resurfacing creates a uniform pavement depth in severely damaged asphalt. Milling also levels new paving with the surrounding apron, sidewalk, and garage transitions.
Contractors haul the millings to an asphalt plant for recycling. Recycled asphalt millings cost $12 to $32 per yard on average.
Colored or stamped asphalt
Colored or stamped asphalt overlays cost $3 to $8 per square foot total. Stamped asphalt mimics the look of stone or brick pavers. After resurfacing, contractors compact a wire template onto the hot asphalt. Coloring is either a surface coating or colored-rock paving additive.
Resealing an asphalt driveway
Resealing an asphalt driveway costs $400 to $800 on average or $1 to $2 per square foot. Total costs depend on the prep work, driveway size, sealer type, and number of coats. Sealcoating protects the existing asphalt and makes it last longer.
Driveway resurfacing permit
A permit for resurfacing a driveway costs $20 to $60 on average, depending on the location. In some cities, extra fees apply for property inspections and permission to work near sidewalks or streets.
Asphalt resurfacing vs. replacement
Asphalt resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot, while asphalt replacement costs $4 to $10 per square foot installed. Resurfacing is best for pavement less than 20 years old with a good foundation and less than 30% surface damage. Replacing is best for older driveways with extensive damage.
| Resurface | Replace |
|---|---|
|
|
What is asphalt driveway resurfacing?
Driveway resurfacing involves pouring a new asphalt overlay 1.5" to 2.0" thick over the old layer. Contractors patch cracks and holes or grind off the top layer to remove all damage. Then they spread and compact new asphalt with a machine roller. Resurfacing is cheaper than repaving.
When to resurface a driveway
Resurface an asphalt driveway when:
Less than 25% to 30% of the surface needs repairs.
The existing driveway is less than 15 to 20 years old.
Cracks are less than 0.25" to 0.75" wide and 2" deep on the driveway surface.
The pavement requires frequent patching repairs.
The foundation is still in good condition.
The surface color is light gray, signaling weak oxidized asphalt that cracks easily.
How long does asphalt resurfacing last?
Asphalt resurfacing lasts 8 to 15 years, depending on the traffic, climate, subgrade condition, level of maintenance, and thickness. Resurfacing is only a long-lasting solution when the original pavement foundation is strong.
In comparison, newly reconstructed asphalt pavement lasts between 20 and 30 years with proper maintenance.
How much does asphalt material cost?
New asphalt material costs $40 to $80 per ton, while recycled asphalt costs $10 to $20 per ton. Resurfacing a 2-car driveway requires 3.5 to 7.5 tons of asphalt.
DIY asphalt driveway resurfacing
Resurfacing an asphalt driveway is not a DIY project. Hire a paving professional with heavy machinery to spread a new layer of hot asphalt.
For minor touch-ups, an asphalt-emulsion resurfacer costs $25 to $60 per 5-gallon bucket to renew a 2-car driveway. The number of gallons of asphalt-sealant mix needed to reseal a driveway depends on the mix density and manufacturer's guidelines.
Sealants don't repair cracks in asphalt. Filling holes and cracks requires special patching compounds or new hot-mix asphalt.
Sealcoating won't repair the driveway if the asphalt surface is no longer level and needs foundation work.
Hiring a driveway resurfacing contractor
Follow these tips to find the most qualified asphalt paving contractors near you:
Compare at least three in-person estimates to compare.
Select certified companies affiliated with the state's Department of Transportation asphalt training programs, the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), or similar road-construction education programs.
Select contractors who have at least a few years of experience.
Review their feedback on HomeGuide and Google.
Request copies of the contract, detailed estimate, and warranty before construction.
Don't pay in full up front. Instead, negotiate a payment schedule upon reaching project milestones.
Questions to ask
How many driveways have you resurfaced?
Are all the materials and labor fees included in the estimate? Are there additional fees?
Is any prep work necessary to allow space for paving equipment and large trucks?
Does the current driveway drainage or foundation need improvements before resurfacing?
How long will the resurfacing process take?
Can I see photos of your past work?
How do you handle unexpected project delays?
How will you protect the landscaping around my driveway during the project?
Can I see your company's business license, insurance, and bond guarantees?
What permits do I need, and will you obtain them?
What does your warranty include?