Maintenance calculator
Sealcoating Calculator
Work out gallons, 5-gallon pails and cost for sealcoating any asphalt surface.
Your project
Two coats is standard. One coat is a touch-up, not a seal.
Dry, weathered asphalt drinks far more sealer than a recently sealed surface.
Sealer required
12.8
gallons
- Area
- 480 sq ft
- 5-gallon pails to buy
- 3
- Coverage per coat
- 75 sq ft per gallon
- DIY material cost
- $102
- Professional cost range
- $72 – $168
Coverage assumes an unthinned commercial-grade sealer at 75 sq ft per gallon per coat. Check your product label — big-box driveway sealers often claim more and deliver less.
The shareable link reopens this calculator with your exact inputs.
How much sealer do I need?
A gallon of asphalt sealer covers roughly 75 square feet per coat on normal pavement. A 600 sq ft driveway therefore needs about 8 gallons per coat, or 16 gallons for the standard two-coat job — three or four 5-gallon pails.
Surface condition changes that number more than anything else. Grey, oxidised asphalt with exposed aggregate has vastly more surface area than a smooth, recently sealed driveway and can absorb 40% more product on the first coat.
When to sealcoat — and when not to
Seal new asphalt no sooner than 6 to 12 months after paving. Fresh pavement needs that time to cure and release its lighter oils; sealing too early traps them and leaves a soft, scuffing surface.
After that, every 3 to 5 years is right for most driveways. Annual sealcoating is a waste of money and eventually causes the coating to build up and flake off in sheets.
Apply above 50°F with no rain forecast for 24 hours, and keep traffic off for at least 24 to 48 hours. Sealer that gets rained on within a few hours of application washes into the storm drain and takes your money with it.
Frequently asked questions
+How many gallons of sealer for a 1,000 sq ft driveway?
About 13 gallons for one coat and 27 gallons for two coats on normal pavement — roughly six 5-gallon pails.
+How much does sealcoating cost per square foot?
Professional sealcoating runs about $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot for two coats. DIY material alone is closer to $0.10 to $0.18.
+How often should a driveway be sealcoated?
Every 3-5 years. More often than that adds no protection and builds up a brittle coating that peels.
+Does sealcoating fix cracks?
No. Sealer is a surface coating a few millimetres thick. Fill cracks wider than about 1/8 inch with crack filler first, then seal over the top.