How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost?
A plain concrete driveway costs roughly 4 to 8 dollars per square foot installed in 2026, so a typical two-car driveway of about 600 square feet runs somewhere between 2,400 and 4,800 dollars. Stamped or colored finishes cost more. Here is the cost by driveway size, what is included, and how to estimate the concrete itself.
Key takeaways
- Plain broom-finish concrete driveways cost about 4 to 8 dollars per square foot installed in 2026.
- Stamped, colored or exposed-aggregate finishes run 8 to 15 dollars or more per square foot.
- Standard driveways are poured at 4 inches thick; heavy-vehicle driveways need 5 to 6 inches.
- Asphalt installs cheaper at 3 to 6 dollars per square foot, but concrete typically lasts longer with less maintenance.
Cost per square foot
Concrete driveways are quoted per square foot installed, which bundles the concrete, the base, the forming, the pour and the finish. In 2026 a plain broom finish runs about 4 to 8 dollars per square foot. A broom finish is the standard non-slip surface you see on most driveways.
Decorative options cost more: exposed aggregate, coloring and stamped patterns typically run 8 to 15 dollars or more per square foot. The concrete is only part of the price; base prep, labor and finish make up the rest.
Cost by driveway size
Multiply the area by the per-foot price for a ballpark. These are plain-finish estimates at 2026 prices and will vary by region and site.
| Driveway | Area | Plain finish (4 to 8 $/ft²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 car (10 × 20 ft) | 200 ft² | 800 to 1,600 |
| 2 car (20 × 20 ft) | 400 ft² | 1,600 to 3,200 |
| 2 car long (16 × 40 ft) | 640 ft² | 2,560 to 5,120 |
| 3 car (30 × 30 ft) | 900 ft² | 3,600 to 7,200 |
How thick should a driveway be
Thickness drives both strength and cost. A standard car driveway is poured at 4 inches, while one that carries heavier vehicles like an RV or trucks goes to 5 or 6 inches. Going from 4 to 6 inches adds 50% to the concrete volume, which is a real cost step, but too thin a slab cracks under load.
Most driveways also carry rebar or wire mesh to control cracking, which you can size with the rebar calculator, over a compacted gravel base.
What is included and what is extra
A standard quote covers excavation to grade, a compacted gravel base, forming, the concrete, reinforcement and a broom finish.
Common extras that add cost are removing an old driveway, a sloped or soft site that needs more base or grading, thicker concrete for heavy vehicles, a decorative finish, and control joints or a sealer. Permits may be required in some areas. Each of these is worth pricing separately so you can compare quotes fairly.
Concrete versus asphalt and pavers
Concrete is one of several common driveway materials, and the comparison matters for the budget. Asphalt usually costs less to install, often 3 to 6 dollars per square foot, but it needs resealing every few years and has a shorter life. Concrete frequently costs less over the decades it lasts.
Pavers, the interlocking concrete or brick units laid over a base, run higher to install, often 10 to 20 dollars per square foot, but they are easy to repair piece by piece and offer the most design choice. Gravel is the cheapest up front but needs regular topping up and does not suit every site or slope.
Maintenance is part of the real cost too. A sealed concrete driveway asks for little beyond the occasional clean and a reseal every few years, while asphalt needs more frequent attention to stay sound. Resale value and curb appeal also lean toward concrete and pavers over gravel or plain asphalt.
Estimate the concrete yourself
The concrete portion is easy to estimate, and knowing it helps you check a contractor quote. A 20 by 20 foot driveway at 4 inches is about 5.4 cubic yards with waste; at 6 inches it is about 8.1. Knowing your own number makes it easier to spot a quote that is out of line.
Enter your length, width and thickness in the concrete slab calculator and it returns the cubic yards, bag counts, weight and an optional material cost estimate.
For the wider picture on concrete pricing by volume and delivery, see how much concrete costs.