How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost in Northern Virginia?
2026 consumer pricing puts many new asphalt driveways around $7 to $13 per square foot, and full replacement at roughly $8 to $15. Here's what actually moves the number on your property.
Updated July 2026. These figures are useful for planning, but they are not A-Pak Paving prices. The real number depends on your property and the work needed before paving starts.
What Is a Realistic Starting Budget?
The average cost changes with the type of project. Resurfacing an existing driveway, laying asphalt over a prepared base, and rebuilding a failed driveway are three different jobs at three different prices.
| Project type | Published planning range | 600 sq ft example |
|---|---|---|
| Resurfacing (overlay) | $3–$7 / sq ft | $1,800–$4,200 |
| New installation | $7–$13 / sq ft | $4,200–$7,800 |
| Full replacement | $8–$15 / sq ft | $4,800–$9,000 |
A useful estimate still requires an on-site look at the surface, base, drainage, and access. Not sure whether your driveway needs repair, resurfacing, or replacement? Start with a professional property evaluation. Ours is free.
Driveway Size Starts the Math
Multiply length by width, then add parking pads, widened entrances, turnarounds, and new sections. A 20-by-30-foot driveway is 600 square feet; add a 200-square-foot parking pad and the project becomes 800 square feet of asphalt, stone, trucking, and labor. Also include aprons and garage transitions, side parking, curved areas, and extensions.
Removal and Preparation Add Real Cost
Replacement costs more when the old surface has to be broken up, hauled off, and disposed of. Consumer data puts removal at $1 to $2 per square foot before hauling. Ask whether your quote includes existing asphalt or concrete removal, failed base material, trucking and disposal fees, and cleanup and edge preparation.
Base Condition and Drainage Explain the Difference
The aggregate base spreads vehicle weight, and the subgrade tells the contractor whether the soil underneath is firm, wet, or soft. Grading and drainage matter just as much. A low area near the garage may need its pitch corrected, and a settled section may need to be dug deeper than the rest. A clear proposal should say whether the existing base can stay, how much new stone is included, how soft areas will be priced, and where water moves after paving.
Thickness, Materials, and Quantity
Look for the finished compacted asphalt thickness in every quote. Loose asphalt thins when rolled, so an unexplained depth makes two quotes impossible to compare. Using the Asphalt Institute's example density, 600 square feet works out to roughly 7.4 tons at 2 inches, 11.1 tons at 3 inches, and 14.8 tons at 4 inches. Tonnage isn't the installed price, though. Labor, trucks, base work, and cleanup still get added on top.
Access and Layout Matter
Narrow gates, sharp turns, steep or long private drives, landscaping near the work, and HOA restrictions all add time. Small jobs can carry a higher per-square-foot price because the crew and equipment have to mobilize either way. (Shared projects flip this in your favor. See how neighbors split pipe stem repaving.)
Approvals and Financing
Widening a driveway, changing a road entrance, or working in a public right-of-way can require county or VDOT review, and HOA approval may apply on top of that. Financing is available through Hearth. Before you accept any offer, read the lender's terms, fees, and total repayment amount.
What Should the Written Estimate Include?
A line that only says "pave driveway" leaves too many questions. A complete estimate itemizes removal, base work, compacted thickness, mix specification, drainage plan, and cleanup. That's what ours looks like. Request one free.
Related reading: gravel vs. asphalt over 15 years · private road paving costs · pipe stem cost-sharing