6 Different Types of Driveway Materials

Think Beyond Asphalt: Find the Best Driveway Option for Your Home

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 06/12/23
Reviewed by
Kelly Bacon
Kelly Bacon
Reviewed by Kelly Bacon
Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with over 40 years of experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. He is a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Driveway and gate surrounded by trees and shrubs with bright pink flowers

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

Driveway materials cover the surface of your driveway and must bear considerable weight for decades at a time. While the most popular driveway materials include asphalt, concrete, or brick, many other options, from affordable to luxe, can practically impact your landscape and curb appeal. Choosing the right material for your home's driveway also involves weighing costs, durability, appearance, and maintenance requirements.

Here, discover six popular driveway materials to choose the perfect option for your home.

  • 01 of 06

    Asphalt

    Asphalt driveway

     

    DougBennett / Getty Images

    Best for: Long-lasting driveways where appearance is not critical

    Asphalt is less expensive than concrete or pavers, costing an average of $5 to $7 per square foot. Asphalt driveways typically last 15 to 20 years, though regular sealing and patching can extend this life somewhat. It is a higher maintenance paving surface than concrete and is susceptible to softening on hot days and cracking due to tree roots, but unlike concrete, it can be relayered when it needs repair.

    Asphalt surfaces consist of a mixture of sand, aggregate, and a tar-like liquid, sometimes called bitumen. which is heated and then laid over a 4- to 8-inch layer of compactable gravel that provides drainage and a solid base. Its disadvantage is that it is not a DIY-friendly material (at least for the initial installation), and site preparation, such as removing an old driveway surface, adds to its cost.

    Tip

    Installation costs for an asphalt driveway can be reduced if you partner with a nearby neighbor to have both driveways done simultaneously. Using the same contractor, who can purchase their asphalt in a larger quantity, can reduce costs for everyone.

    Pros

    • Less expensive than concrete, pavers

    • Less prone to frost heave than concrete, pavers

    • Snow removal is easy

    • Can be refreshed with new layer

    Cons

    • Not very attractive

    • High maintenance

    • Needs regular resealing

    • Can soften on hot days

  • 02 of 06

    Concrete

    Concrete driveway leading up to white midcentury modern home

    The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

    Best for: Long-term durability

    Although concrete is more expensive than asphalt, it is one of the most durable of all paving surfaces. It can also be a cost-effective choice over the long run since the surface lasts a very long time—the lifespan of a concrete driveway can be 25 to 50 years. While DIY installation is possible, it is quite difficult, and most people opt to have professionals pour and finish a concrete driveway. Professional installation will cost $4 to $10 per square foot, though removal of an old driveway and site preparation can add to that cost.

    Concrete (sometimes mistakenly called "cement") is a paving surface created by blending water, powdered Portland cement, sand, and gravel aggregate, pouring it between forms when wet, and allowing it to harden. Installation is quite labor-intensive, requiring the creation of a packed sub-base layer, constructing wooden forms to hold the liquid concrete, reinforcing the concrete with rebar or wire mesh, and carefully tooling and smoothing the surface after it's poured.

    Tip

    Concrete driveways look great when they're new. But stains such as those from oil, grease, rust, mildew, and tire marks rob concrete driveways of much of their luster. These stains can often be removed with a combination of pressure washing and the use of a product such as Castrol SuperClean.

    Pros

    • Very durable surface

    • Can be stamped or colored to improve appearance

    • Best surface for snow removal

    Cons

    • Subject to cracking, water damage unless periodically sealed

    • Not DIY friendly; professional installation recommended

    • Can be damaged by deicing salt

  • 03 of 06

    Gravel

    gravel driveway
    Photo courtesy David Reber's Hammer Photography @ flickr/Creative Commons

    Best for: Inexpensive surface for rustic home and landscape styles

    Gravel is a DIY-friendly material and the least expensive, usually used for long, rural driveways when other surfacing options might be cost-prohibitive. It can be applied simply by dumping it on a flattened area and raking it into a smooth layer. The process is time-consuming but not difficult. Gravel driveways can quickly develop potholes, but repairs are quite easy. Maintenance is an ongoing issue with gravel driveways, but they can last 100 years or more with periodic gravel replenishment.

    The gravel used for driveways is usually crushed rock or sorted aggregate with pieces 1 to 2 inches in diameter. It is simple gravel spread out over a prepared, flattened base. Different gravel colors may be available, but choices are often limited to the type of rock indigenous to your area. In areas with limestone bedrock, for example, gravel driveways will usually consist of crushed limestone, while in other regions, crushed granite might be the most common choice. Another popular option is sorted river gravel, composed of smooth pebbles.

    Pros

    • Most affordable option

    • Easy DIY installation

    • Repairs are simple

    Cons

    • Requires regular replenishment, repair

    • Snow removal is more difficult

    • Can be unattractive, prone to weediness

  • 04 of 06

    Brick and Concrete Pavers

    Brick paver driveway
    dlewis33 / Getty Images

    Best for: Driveways where visual appeal is critical

    The label "pavers" includes a variety of natural stone and manmade clay brick or concrete blocks used for driveway, sidewalk, and patio surfaces. Driveway pavers are varied in size and design, ranging from large hexagonal driveway pavers to small rectangular brick driveway pavers. Bricks are strong, and because of their longevity, they can be upcycled as reclaimed bricks or recycled after use.

    Concrete pavers are an increasingly popular choice, available in various geometric shapes. Concrete paving stones can be set so that joints are filled with mortar, but a more popular modern option is to set them with joints packed with fine sand or aggregate, which allows the surface to drain water more effectively. The disadvantages with brick or concrete pavers are that they are susceptible to frost heave, and both will require resurfacing with sealant periodically to keep them in good shape.

    Pros

    • Extremely stylish surface

    • Many geometric styles available

    • Easy to repair

    • Adds real estate value

    • Recyclable

    Cons

    • Brick is pricier than concrete

    • Snow removal can be difficult

    • DIY Installation is labor-intensive

    • Must be maintained with sealant

    Continue to 5 of 6 below
  • 05 of 06

    Stone

    Detached house exterior with cobblestone driveway

    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    Best for: Most durable option and easier to maintain

    Stone pavers are highly durable. In particular, cobblestone pavers are one of the most long-lasting surface coverings, lasting centuries. When they break or become dislodged, the repair is simple enough. Since they are individual units (unlike concrete or asphalt surfaces), they can be replaced individually so that you're not faced with the prospect of repairing a whole driveway.

    Stone pavers and cobblestones require sourcing from a stone quarry. Buying them and pro installation of cobblestones can run $30 to $50 per square foot (and more if extensive site preparation is needed). But, if installed yourself, it can cost about $3 to $10 per square foot, saving you thousands of dollars if you're up for the challenge. While the work is time-consuming and physically demanding, installing cobblestones is not too complicated. Regular maintenance includes hand weeding between stones to ensure root growth doesn't unset the stones.

    Pros

    • Very attractive

    • Longest lifespan of all options

    • Easy to repair

    • Adds real estate value

    Cons

    • Most expensive option

    • Snow removal can be difficult

    • DIY Installation is labor-intensive

    • Regular maintenance essential; hand-weeding between stones

  • 06 of 06

    Pervious Concrete

    front view of white three car garage door with a long driveway

    dpproductions / Getty Images

    Best for: Environmentally friendly, earth-sustainable option

    Pervious concrete is also called porous concrete, making it permeable for rainwater to pass through and fill the groundwater table. It is a more sustainable paving surface, best used to reduce stormwater runoff. It also absorbs sound, dries quickly, and does not retain heat, cooling down quicker than other surfaces that may raise the ambient temperature.

    Pervious concrete is a cement-based concrete product that uses very little sand in the mix, allowing voids or spaces in the concrete surface, permitting approximately 3 to 8 gallons of water per minute to flow directly into the soil naturally. Permeable paving is not ideal for high-traffic or high-speed areas because it has a lower load-bearing capacity than conventional pavement. It also takes longer to cure and requires professional installation. It requires regular cleaning to maintain its porosity and function properly.

    Pros

    • Environmentally friendly

    • Cools down quickly

    • Dries very fast after rain

    • Absorbs sound

    Cons

    • Not recommended for heavy loads

    • Takes long to cure

    • Requires professional installation

    • Regular maintenance essential

Choosing a Driveway Material

Driveway materials range from inexpensive, easy-to-install gravel to expensive, elegant paver bricks made from natural stone, fired clay, or shaped and colored concrete. The most popular paving materials for driveways are between these extremes: asphalt and poured concrete.

Asphalt and concrete are excellent materials for driveways, though concrete offers more design options and is a longer-lasting material. And your choice may also be governed by whether or not you want to attempt the installation yourself. Be sure to check local building and zoning departments. Gravel and asphalt are not allowed in some areas.

FAQ
  • What is the cheapest material for a driveway?

    Gravel is the least expensive options for a driveway surface.

  • What is the best low-maintenance driveway material?

    Cobblestones are one of the most maintenance-free driveway surfaces. Aside from a power wash here or there and pulling up a few weeds that might crop up in the stone spaces, it's practically set it and forget it for 100-plus years.

  • What is the longest lasting driveway material?

    Cobblestones or stone pavers are resilient by nature. They can hold up to external pressure and vehicle load. They can last centuries without cracking or chipping. They can withstand the weather, especially with spaces between stones to absorb precipitation and give rainwater a place to go.

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