How Much Does A Concrete Driveway Cost In 2024?

It costs anywhere from $2,100 to $7,800 to build a standard concrete driveway for residential purposes. The range may even be higher in some cases, such as when building extremely large or ornate driveways. By the same token, the cost shrinks a bit if you opt for a simple concrete apron as opposed to an entire driveway.

Many elements go into determining the overall cost of laying down a new concrete driveway, just like when calculating the price to put in any type of driveway. Here are the primary cost factors to consider when budgeting for a concrete driveway.

Type of Concrete

Just like all projects involving concrete, you can choose between poured concrete and prefabricated paved concrete, otherwise called pavers, paving stones or slabs. When it comes to driveways, poured concrete is the more popular choice by a large margin. No two driveways are alike, so pouring concrete makes it fit the frame to a tee. Poured concrete costs $3 to $5 per square foot for materials alone.

There’s also delivery. A truckload of concrete (10 cubic yards) delivered to your doorstep along with affiliated materials costs anywhere from $900 to $1,500. This amount is more than enough concrete for a standard 10-foot by 20-foot driveway.

Pavers allow for a unique aesthetic at the expense of certain customization options, as you are forced to go with whatever slab sizes you and your installer find. If you go with paving stones, make sure the concrete is reinforced, especially if you expect heavy driveway usage. Reinforced concrete slabs cost $8 to $15 per square foot for materials.

Labor

The labor to lay down a concrete driveway comes to around $800 to $3,100, or $1.60 to $6 per square foot. This accounts for 40% of the overall project cost, with materials and associated fees making up the rest. This range is on the higher side compared to some jobs, but working with concrete is extremely difficult and labor-intensive. Laborers prepare the site, build out the forms, add rebar if necessary, lay down the concrete and smooth it out, along with making any required finishing touches.

Driveway Size

Driveways come in a range of standard sizes, which helps some owners choose the most economical size for their property. However, a yard doesn’t always accommodate standard options and unusually shaped driveways cost extra. Budget anywhere from $4 to $16 per square foot, no matter the required size. Here are some common concrete driveway sizes and cost ranges.

Driveway Thickness

When collecting estimates, contractors assume a driveway that is 4 inches thick, as this thickness makes up the vast majority of projects. If you regularly park heavy-duty vehicles or equipment on your property, you may require a thicker driveway. Generally speaking, add 20% for an extra inch of thickness to the above size-related cost chart. Thicker driveways aren’t necessarily more labor intensive, but they require a lot more concrete. Concrete costs $120 to $160 per cubic yard, which is the defining factor here.

Not all concrete is equal, especially when it comes to aesthetics. You have your choice from a few options here, each with unique cost ranges, pros and cons.

Plain Gray Concrete

Plain gray concrete is the de facto option and likely what most people picture when conjuring up a concrete driveway. It lacks unique curb appeal, sure, but plain gray concrete is a tried-and-true choice. It’s also a budget-friendly one, with final project costs coming in at $3 to $6 per square foot.

Stained Concrete

For advanced curb appeal, go with stained concrete. This type really opens up your design options, as you can stain concrete in just about any color of the rainbow. Match your exterior walls or that garden in the front yard. Staining offers depth and texture to the concrete at a cost. You’ll pay handsomely to become the talk of the neighborhood, as a stained concrete driveway is pricier than a plain gray one, at $5 to $12 per square foot.

Stamped Concrete

Finally, the most ornate and expensive option. If you want to achieve a stone or wood look without springing for those expensive materials, many homeowners opt for stained concrete. The installation process involves contractors quite literally stamping designs into the wet concrete. The sky’s the limit here, design-wise, but installing a stamped concrete driveway is labor-intensive and the most expensive option, at $7 to $15 per square foot.

There are some additional costs worth considering when installing a concrete driveway, though some of these are optional.

Borders

If you’ve had it with plain old driveways, consider adding a border around the edges to increase curb appeal. Contractors typically use bricks or paving stones for this task, at a cost of $6 to $15 per linear foot. Discuss border options with your driveway installer before going ahead with the project, as they may have to outsource the job to a local bricklayer or stonemason.

Rebar

If you plan on parking heavy-duty vehicles on a new concrete driveway, there’s another option to increase durability beyond making it thicker. Have your contractor lay down some rebar in the foundation before pouring out concrete. Rebar is a reinforced mesh that seriously strengthens any surface, including concrete driveways. Laying rebar adds to the overall project cost to the tune of $1 to $3 per square foot to account for the additional labor and materials.

Concrete Apron

Most cities and municipalities require an apron that connects the driveway to the road. You likely already have an apron, unless you are building a home from scratch. However, if you want to change the apron to match the look of the incoming driveway, it costs anywhere from $3 to $10 per square foot to build one to spec. These aprons are typically the same width of the driveway, but are considered a public access space so talk to your contractor to ensure it’s built to code.

Finish and Sealant

Concrete is durable and resists a fair amount of stains, but for added longevity go with a sealant or a finish. Sealing or adding a protective finish to your driveway not only increases durability but also prevents cracks from appearing, protects it from chemicals and helps shrug off oil and grease stains. It costs $0.50 to $6 per square foot to seal or finish your driveway. If you go with a specialty stain of some kind, as detailed above, you should also seal the driveway to protect the color or design.

Heated Driveways

Heated driveways have gone from a fad to a must-have item for those living in colder climates. Installing a radiant heating system underneath the driveway not only helps keep things warm during the winter months but also actually prevents ice buildup and decreases the chances of slipping during an evening walk. It costs $11 to $24 per square foot to add one of these heating systems. These heaters actually extend the life of your driveway.

Building Permits and Inspections

Nobody likes acquiring building permits or arranging post-work inspections, but some jobs require this necessary evil. Acquiring a building permit with an associated inspection costs $50 to $200. You don’t always need a building permit to install a driveway, as it largely depends on local regulations. If a concrete apron already exists, for instance, it’s likely you won’t have to pony up for a permit. Talk to your contractor for specific information.

Concrete driveways don’t have to break the bank. Here are some cost-saving tips to consider before settling on a contractor quote.

Prepare Ahead of Time

Site prep is a big deal when it comes to concrete, and contractors charge by the hour. Save money by cleaning the area ahead of time and removing any debris which will help eliminate any accessibility concerns.

Go for Plain Gray Concrete

To really save money, put stamped and stained concrete out of your mind and go for a plain gray driveway. It’s called plain, but pragmatic is the word you should use. This material may not win any curb appeal contests, but it gets the job done.

Do Some Work Yourself

Unless you have ready access to poured concrete, a giant truck, mixing machines and related high-end appliances, installing a concrete driveway is not DIY-friendly work. However, you can ease some of the financial strain by doing certain parts of the job yourself. For instance, if you are removing a pre-existing driveway before laying down the new one, break up the concrete yourself. That way, you only pay hauling fees.

Repair Instead of Replacing

Concrete driveways last 30 to 40 years, so the best choice for you could be to simply repair any obvious potholes, cracks or related issues instead of replacing the entire thing. Repairing concrete costs $1 to $5 per square foot.

Get Multiple Quotes

Don’t pick the first estimate you come across. Gather multiple quotes and choose the most reliable contractor with the lowest project cost. You may also be up for seasonal discounts if you schedule the work in the off-season.

There’s no other way to say it: This is not a DIY-friendly job, as it requires a team of professionals, commercial-grade equipment and, of course, truckloads of concrete. If you go with prefabricated slabs and you have plenty of help, you may be able to complete a DIY build. Everyone else? Hire a qualified contracting company. Pouring concrete on-site is both labor-intensive and time-sensitive. You want your driveway to last 30 to 40 years, as advertised, and a professional installation will help accomplish that.

On paper, you save 30% to 40% by doing this project yourself, but that assumes you already have a concrete supplier, an industrial mixer, various trucks and all kinds of tools and materials.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, we surveyed 13 financing resources as well as local and national cost databases. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.