How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost in 2025?
Typical Range:
$1,800 - $6,000
Typical Range:
$1,800 - $6,000
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated December 3, 2024
Written by HomeAdvisor.Highlights:
Homeowners pay an average of $3,000 to install a concrete driveway, with prices ranging from $1,800 to $6,000.
Most contractors charge by size, ranging from $4 to $15 per square foot.
The driveway size, location, design, and concrete type significantly impact the price.
Labor accounts for around 40% of the total price, costing $2 to $3 per square foot.
Several add-ons can enhance concrete driveways, including heating, borders, rebar, apron, and sealing.
Installing a concrete driveway costs $1,800 to $6,000 or $4 to $15 per square foot, with most homeowners paying an average of $3,000. Several factors influence the overall cost, such as accessibility, location, type of concrete, size, removing the existing surface, decorative elements, and more. You’ll spend around 60% on materials and equipment, with the remaining 40% on labor.
Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
---|---|---|
$3,000 | $6,000 | $1,800 |
Many cost factors impact estimates when installing concrete driveways. Design, materials, labor prices, and the area and climate where the installation occurs all play a vital role.
Driveway size is an important cost factor. Most homeowners pay $4 to $7 per square foot, with complex installations increasing to $15 per square foot. For a 10-by-20-foot, single-car driveway, you'll pay $800 to $1,600.
For a larger, 24-by-24-square-foot driveway, you’ll pay an average of $2,300 to $4,600. Massive driveways necessitate more equipment, materials, and labor to complete the job.
The price is impacted by the concrete driveway’s surface area and overall thickness. Most concrete driveways are four inches thick, and the base thickness accounts for most of the cost information.
However, a six- or eight-inch thickness is desirable for those with heavy vehicles. You’ll pay an increase of around 25% for an added two inches of depth and an increase of 50% for an added four inches of depth.
Not all concrete driveways are rectangles or squares. Depending on your exterior, a half-circle, L-shape, or other design may be best. Generally, costs rise when adding more curves, instituting unique designs, or if the driveway sits on a slope.
Any shape beyond standard squares and rectangles requires contractors to build the forms specially, increasing the price. However, the actual increase mostly depends on your installer and how long it takes to pour and set your preferred design. Make sure to mention design preferences as you gather estimates.
The primary material used for concrete driveways is liquid concrete, which costs $3 to $4 per square foot. Though concrete driveways last longer than other types of driveways, they are more expensive. For instance, the cost of gravel driveways maxes out at around $4,500 per project, whereas concrete driveways cost as much as $6,000 per project. The average priceof concrete delivery ranges from $2,098 to $8,772.
Installation prices fluctuate depending on the type of concrete you choose for your driveway project. The average cost of a concrete slab is $5,400, but prices can reach over $7,000 depending on the type and size. There are three major concrete designs for modern homeowners:
Concrete Type | Average Cost per Sq. Ft. |
---|---|
Standard gray (most common) | $4–$6 |
Stained concrete | $6–$12 |
Stamped concrete | $8–$15 |
Installing stamped concrete costs the most because it requires additional materials and labor to add patterns and texture to your driveway.
Most concrete driveways receive a plain finish at the point of installation, with a project cost of $6 to $8 per square foot. Other basic finishes, such as a broom finish, a textured finish, or an exposed aggregate finish, cost $8 to $12 per square foot. Most professionals don’t recommend finished concrete driveways, as they become more slippery when wet.
When budgeting for your concrete driveway, consider the price impact of labor, driveway removal, site prep, and ongoing maintenance.
Labor costs account for around 40% of the overall price of installing a concrete driveway, totaling $2 to $3 per square foot. This is a time-consuming process, as laborers prepare the site, build the specific concrete forms, install rebar and other add-ons, lay the concrete, smooth it out, cure it, and remove the forms.
Unless you are building a new home, contractors must remove the old driveway before pouring the new one. For pre-existing driveway removal, you’ll pay $1 to $4 per square foot. The cost includes splitting the concrete, removing it, and hauling it to a disposal facility. This process differs from standard site prep, so discuss driveway removal specifically if you need removal before installing your new driveway.
If you are laying a driveway for the first time, extra effort is required to prepare the site for pouring. Pros remove trees and rocks, level out the uneven ground, and dig up and haul away soil to achieve a proper grade. This type of land excavation and grading costs $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot, though it’s likely unnecessary for homeowners who are replacing an old driveway with a new one.
Location impacts driveway installation costs when compared to the national average, as do labor, inflation, and climate. For instance, homeowners in Milwaukee are forced into a quicker turnaround time when pouring concrete than homeowners in Phoenix.
Some regions have climates that prevent year-round concrete driveway installations, causing demand and expenses to increase during the regular season. Generally, urban areas boast higher labor rates than rural areas, impacting the overall cost of concrete driveway installation.
Though durable and long-lasting, concrete driveways require common maintenance tasks. They should be cleaned yearly, de-iced with sand during winter, and pressure-washed when needed. Pressure washing your driveway costs $80 to $220.
Small cracks also form over time, but removing them is a DIY-friendly process that costs just $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot. As for more serious repairs, you’ll need a pro. Driveway repairs cost $800 to $2,600, depending on the severity of the issue. Repair issues include fixing large cracks and replacing entire sections of the surface.
Concrete driveways are more than just poured concrete. Many designs offer many helpful add-ons for modern homeowners, though each addition impacts the overall cost.
Installing a heated driveway costs $1,300 to $7,500, or about $12 to $25 per square foot, including installation and a new surface. It’s a great investment in cold climates and extends the driveway’s longevity. Installing a radiant heating system under the driveway also helps keep it safe during ice storms, snowstorms, and significant buildups of snow and ice.
Many homeowners add aesthetic flourishes to standard concrete driveways, such as brick or stone borders around the edges. Installing brick or stone borders to a concrete driveway costs $6 to $15 per linear foot, so you’ll pay more for larger projects. Most driveway contractors have experience with this type of project, but some outsource the procedure to a bricklayer.
Rebar and related features, such as wire mesh, add strength to the driveway, allowing for heavy loads and increased vehicle traffic. You’ll pay $1 to $3 per square foot to install rebar in a concrete driveway’s foundation. When poured, rebar or wire mesh is applied as a grid inside the concrete, creating a reinforced surface that increases durability above and beyond traditional concrete designs.
Driveway aprons connect your property to the public roadway, which many local municipalities often require. The cost to install a driveway apron ranges from $3 to $10 per square foot, with a typical length of eight to 15 feet and a width matching the driveway. These aprons are public access spaces, so check with local authorities and your pro to ensure they build your apron in line with local code. Homeowners must also maintain their apron despite being classified as a public access space.
Sealing your driveway prevents cracks and increases the durability of the materials. Many contractors include sealing in the overall project quote, so talk to your contractor before accepting a bid.
Otherwise, sealing a driveway costs $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot. The sealant keeps moisture out of the cracks, protects the surface against extreme weather, and helps reduce the impacts of de-icing agents and other chemicals. Seal your driveway once a year for maximum durability.
Installing a concrete driveway can increase your property value by up to 10%, depending on your location and current market conditions. Most homeowners receive a substantial return on their investment because a concrete driveway improves the home's curb appeal, attracting potential buyers. Many buyers consider a driveway an essential feature when shopping for a home, especially in areas with limited street parking space.
The cost of installing a concrete driveway can vary significantly, depending on the price of labor and materials. To keep your project budget-friendly, consider the following tips:
Scheduling installation during the off-season to possibly receive discounts.
While installation should always be done by a professional, you can save on labor costs by doing some prep and cleanup work yourself.
Compare prices from at least three local concrete driveway contractors to find the most cost-effective option.
Opt for a budget-friendly concrete option, like standard gray, to reduce the cost of materials.
Avoid add-ons like heating and borders, which can significantly increase the price.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Several differences exist between concrete and cement because they’re different materials, though many people use the terms interchangeably. Cement is made from limestone and clay, whereas concrete derives from rocks, sand, and water. Cement is a binding agent, and concrete is an actual building material.
The price to install an asphalt driveway is $7 to $13 per square foot, slightly less than concrete. However, asphalt requires more maintenance than concrete and does not last as long. This shortened lifespan and increased need for maintenance make concrete a more economical choice in the long term, but ultimately, the choice is up to each consumer.
The average thickness of a concrete driveway is four inches, though some prefer six- or eight-inch driveways. Thicker driveways are better for multi-car households or those with extremely heavy vehicles.
There are significant differences between concrete and asphalt driveways. Asphalt is slightly cheaper than concrete at $7 to $13 per square foot and offers a similar aesthetic to local roads, with concrete offering more aesthetic options. Concrete typically lasts 10 to 30 years longer than asphalt.
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