Cost calculator
Driveway Resurfacing Cost Calculator
An overlay is roughly half the cost of a full replacement — if the existing base is still sound. Price it here.
Your project
Overlays are usually 1.5-2". Thinner than 1.25" will not hold together.
Milling keeps the finished grade level with garage slabs and curbs.
Metro areas, hard-to-access lots and short-haul distances from the plant all push prices up.
Estimated resurfacing cost
$1,500 – $3,540
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- Overlay
- $1,440 – $3,360
- Milling
- Not included
- Crack sealing
- $60 – $180
- Hot mix required
- 4.4 tons
- Full replacement instead
- $3,840 – $8,880
Prices are national planning averages. Asphalt is tied to crude oil and freight costs, so your local quote can land well outside this range. Always confirm with a paving contractor before budgeting.
Overlay or replace?
Resurfacing puts a fresh 1.5–2 inch layer of hot mix over your existing pavement. It costs roughly $3 to $7 per square foot against $8 to $18 for a full tear-out and replacement, and it buys 8 to 15 years.
The deciding factor is the base, not the surface. If the cracking is a fine surface web and the driveway does not move underfoot, an overlay is the right call. If you have alligator cracking, potholes that keep returning in the same spot, or areas that flex when a car drives over them, the base has failed and an overlay will crack through within two winters.
The grade problem nobody mentions
Adding 2 inches on top raises the finished surface by 2 inches. Where the driveway meets a garage slab, a curb or a sidewalk, that step has to go somewhere. Milling the first few feet of each transition costs $0.40–$0.90 per square foot and is the difference between a clean job and water running into your garage.
Frequently asked questions
+How much does it cost to resurface a driveway?
Asphalt resurfacing typically runs $3 to $7 per square foot, so a 600 sq ft driveway costs about $1,800 to $4,200 including basic crack sealing.
+How long does a driveway overlay last?
8 to 15 years over a sound base. Over a failing base, expect reflective cracking within 1-3 years.
+Can you resurface over cracked asphalt?
Fine surface cracks yes, once they are cleaned and sealed. Alligator cracking or potholes mean the base has failed and needs full-depth repair or replacement first.