How Much Does A Concrete Driveway Cost?

Concrete driveway installation cost

A well-done driveway will have a sub-base that's solid, good drainage, and a long-lasting surface. It can be installed using concrete, asphalt, gravel, or tarmac. Concrete is the most popular material. It's less expensive and you can add patterns for a unique look. However, keep in mind: 

• If the paver is inexperienced or uses a cheap mix, the end result will show. 
• The driveway will require some upkeep over the years, including keeping it clean and sealed.

How much it costs for a concrete driveway will be determined by the quality of the finished product. Let's break down some of the factors that will influence the cost of pouring a driveway. 

Concrete driveway materials

To make a concrete driveway, you need mixed cement, gravel, reinforcements, forms, expansion joints, and other basic materials. When you're calculating the total cost, don't forget to tally in other needed materials and make sure they're in the contractors' quotes. You don't want any surprises.

Here are some of the items your paving contractor will use:

Gravel base

A concrete driveway needs a sturdy gravel base so it doesn’t crack or crumble. Gravel costs about $15 to $20 per ton.

Concrete

A basic estimate on a concrete driveway mixture would be anywhere from $100 to $150 per cubic yard. Remember that some additional factors may increase cost, such as: 

• Color 
• Additives
• Strength of the cement per square inch (psi).

Reinforcements

To prevent new concrete from cracking under the weight of a vehicle, you’ll need reinforcements placed within the wet concrete. Though reinforcements can be made of steel or rebar, fiber or reinforced mesh is thinner and easier to work with. Reinforcement mesh costs between $0.20 and $0.30 per square foot, and up to $0.80 cents with installation. 

If your concrete is thicker than the regular 4", your contractor may use rebar. Rebar costs between $2 and $3 a square foot. It may also be priced by ton.

Forms and stakes

You or the contractor will need to build forms to keep the concrete in place while it cures, or turning from liquid to solid. To do this, you'll need lumber and stakes to use as forms. The amount needed will depend on the size of your new driveway, but the lumber may cost up to $100.

Expansion Joints

To prevent cracking from expansion and contraction over time and in response to weather changes, you'll need expansion joints for large concrete pours. You can use pressure-treated boards between the slabs.

Sealant

You may want to seal the expansion joint so it doesn't collect weeds, dirt and debris. Sealant adds between $2 and $3 per linear foot. You also will want to seal your entire driveway after the concrete has cured.

Concrete driveway labor cost

When you hire a professional contractor who uses a high-quality concrete mix, estimate a concrete driveway price to be between $8 and $15 per square foot, or more depending on the specifics of your project. Get several quotes and compare them carefully, and consider the quality of the mix they’re using. An experienced crew will prep and pour about 15 to 20 square feet per hour at a labor rate of $40 to $50 per hour. 

The preparation work itself is a large portion of your installation cost. Preparing the sub-base (the ground underneath the gravel base) costs somewhere between $0.60 and $1.25 per square foot. This is what must happen before any concrete pouring begins:

• Grading and compacting the ground.
• Laying the wood forms (2"x4" wood boards or 2"x6" boards for thicker driveways).
• Putting down the reinforcing wire mesh. 

A high-quality concrete mix will be rated at 4,000 psi or more. A typical lower-cost driveway might be 2,000 psi. The higher-psi concrete mix will cost more, but it’ll withstand the weight of vehicles and the stresses of weather much better and will last longer. You don't want to replace your concrete driveway for years, so investing some more money in the cost of your concrete driveway now will pay off in the long run.

Concrete driveway cost per square feet

The average cost to install a concrete driveway is $11.50 per square foot, with a range between $8 and $15 per square foot. The following table shows the average cost to install a concrete driveway per square foot:

A typical, single-car driveway is nine to 12 feet wide, and a two-car driveway is close to 20 feet wide. To figure out the square footage of your driveway, measure the length and the width of your driveway in feet using a tape measure. Then, multiply these two numbers. This will give you the square feet. For example: your driveway is 25 feet long and 10 feet wide. 25' x 10' = 250 square feet.

To help you tackle the challenge of determining the total estimate of repaving your concrete driveway, you may find our Porch driveway cost calculator to be valuable and time-saving. Simply input the square footage and our calculator does the rest. 

Cost to replace concrete driveway vs repair

When replacing an old driveway with a new one, you'll need to budget for the existing driveway removal. Here is everything you need to know: 

• Your contractor will charge to demolish and remove your driveway in chunks.
• They’ll use heavy equipment, like a bobcat and jackhammers. 
• You may need to pay dumpster and haul-away fees. 
• Driveway removal costs between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot. 

Alternatively, it may be possible to pave over the old driveway. Repairing your driveway instead of replacing the entire surface costs between $850 and $2,600 and will depend on the type and extent of work required. Repairing flaking, cracks, and heaving takes less time and it's much less expensive overall.

Installing driveway cost factors

In addition to size, labor, and concrete cost, there are some significant factors that influence how much you pay for your driveway installation. Those include:

Prep work

The contractor may need to excavate for an even surface, which takes time and equipment use. Prep work should be factored in beforehand. Also, you’ll need to consider whether the driveway is: 

• Level or has a slope. 
• Straight or curved.
• Flat or uneven. 
• Smooth or rocky.

Thickness

If you have heavier vehicles or trucks, you may want to have a thicker than 4" driveway. This will require more prep, excavation and more materials like reinforcements and stronger cement mix. Your paving professional may choose rebar instead of mesh for thicker pavement.

Stamping and coloring

You don't have to settle for a smooth, gray concrete driveway. You may try designing a driveway that's colored or features a decorative stamped pattern (the installer can "imprint" your cement so it looks like block paving). 

Coloring added to a basic concrete mix costs about $0.75 to $1.25 per square foot, and it may require some research to find someone skilled in specialized concrete work. Though coloring and stamping will add to the cost of pouring a driveway, the end product will be a pleasure to look at for years.

Borders and other decorative touches

You may not want just a traditional, straight concrete edge. Adding decorative concrete or other material edges, borders and other touches will bring a unique touch to your driveway. This may require additional cement mix pours and stamping, which will increase your total price. However, it will leave a lasting impression. The cost of borders and other edges will vary with your project specifications.

DIY vs. hire a pro

For those with a flair for DIY, you may be wondering if you should tackle this project yourself. The labor to install a driveway can be as much as half of the total cost, so if you’re knowledgeable and skilled at this work, you can save a lot by doing it yourself.

Though it may sound feasible in theory, the reality is that excavating, building forms, laying mesh, and pouring and smoothing concrete isn't easy work. It’s physically taxing, and if not done properly, you'll be staring at a bad driveway job until you rip it up and hire a concrete driveway contractor. Search for local contractors, read reviews, and compare quotes.