Asphalt Driveway Cost Calculator › Cost by city › San Francisco, CA
Asphalt Cost in San Francisco, CA
Asphalt for a 20×40 ft (800 sq ft) asphalt driveway in San Francisco, CA costs about $5,376 ($4,570–$6,182). Local 2026 price is around $7 per sq ft installed. Free calculator inside.
What goes into asphalt cost in San Francisco
The line items below are 2026 national averages adjusted by the CA construction-cost factor (×1.28). A written San Francisco quote is usually built from these pieces — use them to sanity-check any bid line by line before you sign.
| Cost item | Typical San Francisco price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-mix asphalt, material only | $128 – $205 | per ton |
| Installed: 2–3 in overlay on sound base | $3.84 – $6.4 | per sq ft |
| Installed: full new build incl. gravel base | $6.4 – $8.96 | per sq ft |
| Tear-out of old driveway | $1.28 – $3.84 | per sq ft |
| Sealcoating (every 2–4 years) | $0.26 – $0.7 | per sq ft |
Permit fees are set by the city rather than the market — confirm current fees with the local building department.
What’s different about building in San Francisco
San Francisco's wet season is the design driver for asphalt: build in a 2% crown or cross-slope so water sheds instead of soaking the base. Cool fog slows curing (a good thing); seismic and hillside rules dominate any structural work.
Permits: for larger flatwork, driveways, or anything structural, check requirements with SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI) before work starts.
Estimate your own San Francisco project
Prices in San Francisco, CA run about +28% versus the national average. Enter your dimensions — the calculator starts from the local $7 per sq ft installed rate; change it to your supplier's quote for an exact figure.
Material shopping list
- Order about 14.5 tons of asphalt.
- Budget about $5,376 before delivery, taxes, and labor.
- Add 5–10% waste for uneven subgrade, cuts, settling, or spillage.
Formula & assumptions
Area = length x width. Asphalt tons = area x depth / 12 x 145 lb/cu ft / 2,000. Cost = area x local installed price per sq ft.
- Residential asphalt density: 145 lb per cubic foot
- Default depth: 3 inches
- Default installed price: $7 per sq ft installed
These assumptions make the estimate easy for search engines and AI answer tools to verify. Replace the default price with your supplier quote for a local estimate.
Asphalt cost in San Francisco by project size
Material quantities use the local San Francisco unit price; the last column adds delivery, base prep, and labor at CA-adjusted rates. Click any size for its full breakdown and calculator.
| Project size | You need | Material cost | Installed estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×20 ft · 3 in | 3.62 tons | $1,344 | $768 – $1,792 |
| 12×24 ft · 3 in | 5.22 tons | $1,935 | $1,106 – $2,580 |
| 16×40 ft · 3 in | 11.6 tons | $4,301 | $2,458 – $5,734 |
| 20×40 ft · 3 in | 14.5 tons | $5,376 | $3,072 – $7,168 |
| 20×50 ft · 3 in | 18.12 tons | $6,720 | $3,840 – $8,960 |
| 24×60 ft · 3 in | 26.1 tons | $9,677 | $5,530 – $12,902 |
Installed ranges assume straightforward access and a buildable subgrade; steep, tight, or poor-soil sites price above the top of the range.
Asphalt questions San Francisco homeowners ask
- How much does an asphalt driveway cost in San Francisco?
- At the local average of about $6.72 per square foot installed, a 20×40 ft (800 sq ft) asphalt driveway runs $5,376. Quotes typically land between $3,072 and $7,168 depending on base condition and whether old pavement must come out.
- What does asphalt cost per square foot in San Francisco?
- Resurfacing over a sound existing base runs about $3.84–$6.4 per square foot in the San Francisco market; a full new build with excavation and a compacted gravel base runs $6.4–$8.96. Tear-out of an old driveway adds $1.28–$3.84.
- Is asphalt or concrete cheaper in San Francisco?
- Asphalt installs for $3.84–$8.96 per square foot versus $7.68–$12.8 for concrete, so it wins upfront. The trade-off is upkeep: asphalt wants sealcoating every 2–4 years and lasts 15–25 years, while concrete commonly runs 30-plus.
- Do I need a permit to pave a driveway in San Francisco?
- Usually yes when the driveway meets a public street or sidewalk — the apron is in the right-of-way. Check with SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI); many contractors pull the permit as part of the job.
- How long does an asphalt driveway last in San Francisco?
- 15–25 years with a proper base and regular sealcoating. Drainage decides which end of that range you get: water standing on or under the mat is what kills asphalt, so keep a 2% slope and seal cracks yearly.
- Should I resurface or fully replace?
- If the base is sound and less than about a third of the surface is cracked, a 1.5–2 inch overlay at $2.56–$4.48 per square foot buys another decade. Widespread alligator cracking or soft spots mean the base has failed — overlaying it just resurfaces the problem.
Asphalt cost in nearby cities
← Full Asphalt Driveway Cost Calculator
Regional estimate = national average adjusted by a CA cost factor. Not a quote. Actual prices vary by site conditions, access, and supplier.