Mountain View, CA

How much does it cost to resurface an asphalt driveway?

$1 – $3 Per square foot
$400 – $1,800 Average driveway

Asphalt driveway resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot, while installing a new driveway costs $3 to $7 per square foot. The average cost to resurface a 2-car driveway is $400 to $1,800, depending on the size. Resurfacing a 12'x100' private asphalt road costs $1,200 to $3,600.

Get free estimates from asphalt companies near you or view our cost estimates below.

Reviewed and approved on December 17, 2020, by Tom Grupa and 4 Expert asphalt companies on HomeGuide.

Cost to resurface an asphalt driveway

Asphalt driveway resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot. Stamping, patterns, or colored asphalt resurfacing costs $3 to $8 per square foot. The average cost to resurface an asphalt driveway is $400 to $1,800, depending on the blacktop size and condition.

Cost to resurface asphalt driveway - chart
Cost to resurface asphalt driveway - chart

Cost to resurface asphalt driveway
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.

Residential 2-car asphalt driveway resurfacing - before and after
Residential 2-car asphalt driveway resurfacing - before and after

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.

Asphalt driveway resurface cost calculator
Length of the area in feet
Width of the area in feet
Depth in inches
(4" standard driveway; 5" for heavy trucks)

Average asphalt resurfacing cost

The following table shows the total installation cost for an average size 2-car driveway.

Average asphalt resurfacing cost - chart
Average asphalt resurfacing cost - chart

Asphalt resurfacing cost
National Average Cost $1,100
Minimum Cost $200
Maximum Cost $6,000
Average Range $400 to $1,800

Asphalt resurfacing benefits:

  • Boosts curb appeal and durability.
  • Cheaper option compared to the cost to pave 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.

*Based on 213 project costs reported by HomeGuide members

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Driveway resurfacing cost by material

Residential driveway resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot for asphalt or gravel. Concrete and tar-and-chip driveways cost $2 to $5 per square foot to resurface on average. Replacing rubber or driveway pavers costs $10 to $30 per square foot.

Driveway resurfacing cost per square foot by material - chart
Driveway resurfacing cost per square foot by material - chart

Driveway resurfacing cost
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 size, thickness, and current condition. Concrete 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 for homeowners.
  • 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 (2-car) driveway. Installing gravel is easier and typically includes minor grading and leveling.

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Additional blacktop resurfacing costs

Resurfacing a backyard blacktop costs $1 to $3 per square foot or between $400 and $3,000 for a playground area, patio, or basic game court.

Blacktop resurfacing costs by project - chart
Blacktop resurfacing costs by project - chart

Blacktop resurfacing costs
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
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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. Asphalt road resurfacing costs $24 to $72 per linear foot for a 24' wide (2-lane) private road. Tarmac road resurfacing costs $65,000 to $190,000 per mile for one lane 12' wide.

Cost to resurface a private road - chart
Cost to resurface a private road - chart

Cost to resurface an asphalt 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

Rural asphalt road resurfacing - before and after
Rural asphalt road resurfacing - before and after

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. The average 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.

Parking lot resurfacing cost
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.

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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.

Cost to repave asphalt driveway
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.

Driveway resurfacing and asphalt overlay in New England - before and after
Driveway resurfacing and asphalt overlay in New England - before and after

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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.

Additional repair costs to resurface driveway
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, and 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. Buying recycled asphalt millings costs $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 $150 to $300 on average or $0.20 to $0.70 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.

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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.

Asphalt resurfacing vs. replacement cost - chart
Asphalt resurfacing vs. replacement cost - chart

Resurface or replace asphalt driveway
Resurface Replace
  • $1 – $3 per square foot
  • Less than 15 – 20 years old
  • If less than 30% needs repairs
  • Stable and level driveway base
  • No driveway drainage issues
  • Minor, small cracks
  • $4 – $10 per square foot
  • Cracks of any size cover 60% or more of the pavement
  • Large cracks 1 – 2+ inches deep
  • Multiple large potholes
  • Driveway older than 20 – 30 years
  • Failed foundation
  • Problems with driveway slope or drainage

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What is driveway resurfacing?

Driveway resurfacing is 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.

Before and after of long asphalt driveway resurfacing
Before and after of long asphalt driveway resurfacing

When to resurface a driveway?

Resurface asphalt driveways 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.
  • 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 on average. However, a newly reconstructed asphalt pavement lasts between 20 and 30 years with proper maintenance. Resurfacing is only a long-lasting solution when the original pavement foundation is strong.

The resurfacing lifespan depends on traffic, climate, subgrade condition, level of maintenance, and thickness.

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. Installing a new asphalt driveway costs $4 to $10 per square foot for materials and labor, while resurfacing costs $1 to $3 per square foot.

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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 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.

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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, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
  • Request copies of the contract, detailed estimate, and warranty before construction.
  • Don't pay in full upfront. 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?
  • 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?

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