Is It Cheaper to Asphalt or Concrete a Driveway

Asphalt is the cheaper driveway, typically 40 to 50 percent less to install than concrete, and it handles NJ and PA freeze-thaw better. Here are the real ranges by size and which one wins where.

Key facts

Asphalt is cheaper to install than concrete, typically 40 to 50 percent less for the same driveway
A 20x40 asphalt driveway runs roughly $5,500 to $10,000; the same driveway in concrete runs roughly $8,000 to $16,000
Asphalt costs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed; concrete runs about $8 to $18 per square foot
Asphalt handles NJ and PA freeze-thaw better than concrete, which is prone to cracking and heaving in cold climates
Asphalt is far cheaper and easier to repair, resurface, and sealcoat than concrete
All County installs asphalt, tar and chip, and sealcoat, not concrete

The short answer: asphalt is cheaper

If cost is the deciding factor, asphalt wins, and it is not close. A new asphalt driveway in northwest NJ and the Lehigh Valley PA typically runs about $6 to $12 per square foot installed. Concrete runs about $8 to $18 per square foot, and decorative or stamped concrete goes higher. For the same driveway, asphalt usually comes in 40 to 50 percent cheaper than concrete up front. On top of that, asphalt is far less expensive to maintain and repair over its life, which widens the gap the longer you own the driveway.

Cost by size: a 20x40 driveway both ways

Take a common 20x40 driveway, 800 square feet. In asphalt, that job generally runs about $5,500 to $10,000 installed with proper base prep. In plain concrete, the same 800 square feet runs about $8,000 to $16,000, and stamped or colored concrete can push well past that. A smaller 20x20 driveway (400 square feet) runs about $3,000 to $5,500 in asphalt versus roughly $4,500 to $8,500 in concrete. These are honest planning ranges. The real number depends on base condition, drainage, grade, and access, which is why we quote in writing after walking the property rather than off the dimensions.

Which lasts longer, and why it's not the whole story

Concrete can last longer than asphalt in a mild, dry climate, 30 years or more versus 20 to 25 for asphalt. But northwest NJ and the Lehigh Valley are neither mild nor dry. Our freeze-thaw cycles are exactly what concrete handles worst: water works into the surface, freezes, expands, and drives the cracking and heaving you see on so many older concrete driveways here. Concrete also does not tolerate road salt well, and salt is a fact of life on a NJ winter driveway. Asphalt flexes with freeze-thaw instead of fighting it, and when it does wear, you can resurface or sealcoat it cheaply. A cracked concrete slab usually has to be broken out and replaced.

Repairs and maintenance: the hidden cost gap

This is where asphalt pulls further ahead in a cold climate. Asphalt is maintained with sealcoat every few years and crack fill as needed, both inexpensive. When it eventually wears, a resurface lays a fresh top course over the sound base for a fraction of a full replacement. Concrete has almost no cheap middle option. You cannot sealcoat your way out of a cracked slab, and once concrete cracks or heaves, the repair is a visible patch or a full tear-out. Over 20 years in NJ or PA, the total cost of owning an asphalt driveway is usually well below concrete.

So which should you choose in NJ and PA

For most homeowners in our area, asphalt is the better value: cheaper to install, cheaper to maintain, and better suited to freeze-thaw and salt. Concrete makes sense if you specifically want the light-gray look or a decorative stamped finish and you are willing to pay a premium for it, going in knowing it is more prone to cracking here. We are straight about this because we install asphalt, tar and chip, and sealcoat, not concrete. If concrete is genuinely the right call for your project, we will tell you. If asphalt is, which it usually is in this climate, we will pour you a driveway that lasts. Call (908) 674-6015 for a free written estimate. Licensed NJ HIC #13VH14153800 and PA HIC #171373.

Is It Cheaper to Asphalt or Concrete a Driveway FAQs

Is it cheaper to asphalt or concrete a driveway?

Asphalt is cheaper, typically 40 to 50 percent less to install than concrete for the same driveway. Asphalt runs about $6 to $12 per square foot in NJ and PA versus about $8 to $18 for concrete, and asphalt is also cheaper to maintain and repair over its life.

How much does a 20x40 concrete driveway cost?

A 20x40 (800 square foot) plain concrete driveway in NJ and PA typically runs about $8,000 to $16,000 installed, with stamped or decorative finishes costing more. The same 20x40 driveway in asphalt runs about $5,500 to $10,000.

Does asphalt or concrete last longer?

In a mild, dry climate concrete can last longer, 30 years or more versus 20 to 25 for asphalt. But in NJ and PA freeze-thaw and road salt punish concrete, driving cracking and heaving, while asphalt flexes with the cold and is cheap to resurface. In this climate asphalt is usually the better lifetime value.

Is asphalt or concrete better for NJ and PA winters?

Asphalt. It flexes with freeze-thaw instead of cracking, tolerates road salt better than concrete, and is far cheaper to repair when it does wear. Concrete is more prone to cracking and heaving in cold, wet climates like northwest NJ and the Lehigh Valley.

Does All County Paving install concrete driveways?

No. We specialize in asphalt paving, tar and chip, and sealcoating. In the NJ and PA freeze-thaw climate we believe asphalt is the better value for most driveways, and we will give you an honest recommendation for your specific project.