Complete Guide to Concrete Driveways (Planning to Pouring)

A concrete driveway done right lasts 25-30 years with minimal maintenance. Done wrong—with inadequate thickness, poor base preparation, or premature use—it cracks within 5-10 years and costs thousands to replace.

This guide covers everything you need to plan, budget, and execute a concrete driveway project, whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a contractor. The key decisions—thickness, reinforcement, and proper curing—make the difference between a driveway that lasts decades and one that fails prematurely.

Table of Contents

1. Why Choose Concrete
2. Planning Your Driveway
3. Thickness Requirements
4. Base Preparation
5. Reinforcement Options
6. Concrete Specifications
7. Joints and Crack Control
8. Finishing Options
9. Curing and When to Drive
10. Cost Breakdown
11. DIY vs Professional
12. Maintenance and Lifespan

Why Choose Concrete

Concrete costs more upfront than asphalt but often wins on total cost of ownership:

Factor	Concrete	Asphalt	Pavers
Initial cost/sqft	$6-15	$3-7	$10-25
Lifespan	25-30 years	15-20 years	25+ years
Maintenance	Low	Moderate	Low-Moderate
Appearance	Good-Excellent	Basic	Excellent
Heat resistance	Good	Poor (softens)	Good
DIY-friendly	Moderate	Difficult	Moderate

Concrete wins when:

• You want longevity (25+ years)
• You're in a hot climate (asphalt softens)
• You want decorative options
• You prefer lower maintenance

Asphalt wins when:

• Budget is tight
• You're in freeze-thaw climates (more flexible)
• You need repairs soon (easier to patch)

For most homeowners prioritizing long-term value, concrete is the better investment.

Planning Your Driveway

Dimensions

Driveway Type	Width	Typical Length
Single car	10-12 ft	18-20 ft
Double car	20-24 ft	18-20 ft
With turnaround	Varies	Add 10-15 ft

Key considerations:

• Minimum practical width: 10 feet (tight for one car)
• Comfortable single-car: 12 feet
• Two cars side-by-side: 20-24 feet
• Allow for door opening: Add 2-3 feet if parking next to obstacles

Slope and Drainage

Proper slope prevents water from pooling on your driveway or—worse—draining toward your garage or foundation.

Slope recommendations:

• Minimum: 1/8 inch per foot (1%)
• Ideal: 1/4 inch per foot (2%)
• Maximum practical: 1/2 inch per foot (4%) before traction issues

Always slope away from structures. If your lot slopes toward the garage, you may need a drain grate at the garage entrance.

Access and Permits

• Check local setback requirements (distance from property line)
• Verify permitted driveway width for curb cuts
• Many municipalities require permits for new driveways or replacements
• Some HOAs have approval requirements

Don't skip this step. Unpermitted driveways can create problems when selling your home and may need to be removed.

Thickness Requirements

This is the most common mistake with driveways. The minimum building code in many areas is 4 inches, but 4 inches is inadequate for vehicle traffic.

Vehicle Type	Minimum	Recommended
Passenger cars	4"	5"
SUVs, light trucks	5"	5-6"
Heavy trucks	5"	6"
RVs, trailers	6"	6-8"

Why 5-6 inches matters:

A 4-inch driveway may meet code, but it flexes under vehicle weight. This flexing creates stress cracks that worsen with every freeze-thaw cycle and every load. A 4-inch driveway typically shows significant cracking within 5-10 years.

A 5-6 inch driveway resists flexing, handles point loads from tires better, and lasts 25-30 years with proper installation.

The cost difference: Going from 4" to 5" adds roughly $0.75-1.00 per square foot—about $375-500 for a 500 sqft driveway. That's cheap insurance for decades of additional life.

For detailed thickness guidance, see our driveway thickness guide.

Base Preparation

A driveway is only as good as what's underneath it. Poor base preparation is the second most common cause of driveway failure.

The Proper Base

Layer	Material	Thickness	Purpose
Subgrade	Native soil	N/A	Compacted, stable
Sub-base	Gravel/crushed stone	4-6"	Drainage, stability
Concrete	Concrete	5-6"	Driving surface

Step-by-Step Base Preparation

1. Excavate to proper depth (base thickness + concrete thickness)
2. Remove soft spots and organic material
3. Compact subgrade with plate compactor
4. Add gravel in 2-inch layers, compacting each layer
5. Final grade to match your slope requirements
6. Compact again before forming

Gravel specifications:

• 3/4" crushed stone or road base (not round pea gravel)
• Total depth: 4 inches minimum, 6 inches for poor soil
• Compacted to 95% density

Signs of inadequate base (in existing driveways):

• Settlement at edges
• Cracking following old patterns
• Low spots holding water

Reinforcement Options

Driveways should be reinforced. The question is how.

Type	Best For	Typical Spec	Cost Impact
Wire mesh	Light use	6×6 W1.4/W1.4	Low
Rebar	Standard driveways	#3 @ 18" or #4 @ 24"	Moderate
Fiber	Crack control	Added to mix	Low

Recommended Approach

For most residential driveways: #4 rebar on 24-inch centers, placed at mid-depth (2.5-3 inches from bottom in a 5-6" slab).

Why rebar over mesh for driveways:

• Driveways flex under vehicle weight
• Rebar provides tensile strength that holds cracks together
• Wire mesh can pull apart under stress

Fiber reinforcement controls surface cracking but doesn't replace steel reinforcement. Consider it a supplement, not a substitute.

For detailed guidance, see when to use rebar in concrete.

Concrete Specifications

Strength (PSI)

PSI	Appropriate For
3,000	Not recommended for driveways
3,500	Light-use residential (minimum)
4,000	Standard residential (recommended)
4,500+	Heavy use, commercial

Recommendation: 4,000 PSI minimum for driveways. The cost difference from 3,500 to 4,000 PSI is negligible.

Air Entrainment

In freeze-thaw climates, specify air-entrained concrete (4-7% air content). The microscopic air bubbles give water room to expand when it freezes, preventing surface scaling and spalling.

If you're in the northern half of the US, air entrainment is essential.

Slump

Slump measures concrete workability (how fluid it is). For driveways:

• Order: 4-5 inch slump
• Maximum at site: 5 inches
• Don't let the truck add water to increase slump—it weakens the concrete

Joints and Crack Control

Concrete will crack. Your job is controlling where.

Control Joints (Contraction Joints)

Purpose: Create weakened planes where concrete cracks predictably instead of randomly.

Spacing rules:

• Maximum spacing: 10-12 feet in each direction
• Rule of thumb: Slab thickness × 2.5 = maximum spacing (in feet)
• For 5" slab: 5 × 2.5 = 12.5 feet maximum

Depth: 1/4 of slab thickness (minimum 1 inch)

Pattern: Divide driveway into roughly square panels. A 12×40 driveway might have joints at 10 feet, 20 feet, and 30 feet.

Expansion Joints (Isolation Joints)

Purpose: Separate the driveway from fixed structures (garage floor, sidewalks, house foundation).

Material: 1/2 inch thick compressible fiber board or foam

Location:

• Where driveway meets garage floor
• Where driveway meets sidewalks
• Against house foundation if driveway abuts it

Finishing Options

Standard Broom Finish

• Textured surface provides traction
• Most common, most affordable
• Pull broom perpendicular to traffic direction
• Cost: Included in basic install

Exposed Aggregate

• Top layer of cement paste washed away to reveal stones
• Attractive, textured, excellent traction
• Hides minor imperfections and stains
• Cost: +$2-4 per square foot

Stamped Concrete

• Pressed with patterns mimicking brick, stone, slate
• Can be colored to complement house
• Requires sealing every 2-3 years
• Cost: +$5-12 per square foot

Colored Concrete

• Integral color (mixed throughout) or surface stain
• Wide range of earth tones available
• Integral color more durable but limited palette
• Cost: +$2-5 per square foot

Curing and When to Drive

Proper curing is critical. Many driveways are damaged by driving on them too soon.

Curing Timeline

Milestone	Time	Strength
Initial set	24-48 hours	~20%
Remove forms	24-48 hours	Safe
Walk on	24-48 hours	~25%
Light foot traffic	3-4 days	~50%
Drive on (passenger cars)	7 days minimum	~70%
Full use (all vehicles)	28 days	100%

Curing Best Practices

For the first 7 days:

• Keep concrete moist (spray 2-3 times daily or cover with plastic)
• Apply curing compound immediately after finishing
• Protect from extreme temperatures

The 28-day rule for driveways: Yes, you can technically drive a passenger car at 7 days. But waiting 28 days is strongly recommended because:

• Surface is still vulnerable to tire marks
• Turning wheels (when parking) create maximum stress
• Edge loading is especially damaging early on

For detailed curing information, see how long concrete takes to cure.

Cost Breakdown

Material Costs (2024-2025)

Item	Cost
Ready-mix concrete	$125-175/yard
80-lb bagged concrete	$6-7/bag (~$290/yard)
Gravel base	$25-50/yard
Rebar (#4)	$0.50-0.75/linear foot
Form lumber	$5-8 per 2×4
Expansion joint material	$1-2/linear foot

Installed Costs (Professional)

Finish Type	Cost per Sqft	500 Sqft Driveway
Basic broom finish	$6-10	$3,000-5,000
Colored	$8-12	$4,000-6,000
Exposed aggregate	$10-15	$5,000-7,500
Stamped	$12-20	$6,000-10,000

Example: 20×24 Two-Car Driveway

Professional installation (broom finish):

• 480 sqft × $8 average = $3,840

DIY materials only:

• Concrete: 6.5 yards × $150 = $975
• Gravel: 3 yards × $40 = $120
• Rebar, forms, misc: ~$200
• Tool rental: ~$150
• Total: ~$1,445

Savings: ~$2,400 (but 16-24 hours of hard labor + risk)

For project-specific estimates, use our driveway cost calculator or see our guide on concrete cost per square foot.

DIY vs Professional

DIY Is Possible If:

• Your driveway is single-car width (under 200 sqft)
• You have 3-4 helpers available for pour day
• You have experience with concrete or construction
• You're comfortable with physical labor (it's hard work)

Hire a Professional If:

• Your driveway is standard double-car or larger
• You want decorative finishes (stamped, exposed aggregate)
• Your site has drainage challenges or difficult access
• Timeline is important (contractors work faster)

The Reality Check

A two-car driveway requires 5-7 cubic yards of concrete. That's:

• 225-315 bags of 80-lb mix (not practical)
• OR a ready-mix truck with 60-90 minutes to complete the entire pour

Handling 5+ yards of concrete requires:

• Multiple wheelbarrows
• 4-6 people minimum
• Experience working quickly before concrete sets
• All finishing done before it hardens

Most homeowners underestimate this. Professional crews do driveways daily—they have the team, tools, and timing down. For driveways, the professional premium is often worth it.

Maintenance and Lifespan

Expected Lifespan

Scenario	Lifespan
Proper installation + maintenance	25-30 years
Proper installation, no maintenance	20-25 years
4" thickness or poor base	10-15 years
Improper curing	5-10 years

Maintenance Schedule

Annually:

• Clean with pressure washer or concrete cleaner
• Inspect for cracks, seal small ones promptly
• Check drainage, clear debris from edges

Every 2-3 years:

• Apply concrete sealer (especially important for decorative finishes)
• Fill any new cracks with concrete caulk

As needed:

• Remove oil stains promptly (they penetrate over time)
• Avoid deicing salts first winter (and minimize afterward)

Frequently Asked Questions

How thick should a concrete driveway be?

5-6 inches minimum for passenger vehicles. 4 inches—while sometimes code-compliant—is inadequate for driveways and will crack prematurely. For heavy trucks or RVs, use 6-8 inches. See our driveway thickness guide.

How much does a concrete driveway cost?

Professional installation typically costs $6-15 per square foot depending on finish, or roughly $3,000-7,500 for a standard two-car driveway. DIY materials run about $3-5 per square foot. See our detailed driveway cost guide.

How long before I can drive on new concrete?

Minimum 7 days for passenger cars, but 28 days is strongly recommended for full use. At 7 days, concrete has only achieved about 70% strength. Driving too early risks surface damage, especially from turning wheels. Be patient—it's a small wait compared to the driveway's 25-30 year lifespan.

Do I need rebar in my driveway?

Yes. Driveways bear vehicle loads and benefit significantly from reinforcement. Use #4 rebar on 24-inch centers, positioned at mid-depth in the slab. Wire mesh is acceptable but rebar performs better under vehicle stress.

How long does a concrete driveway last?

With proper installation (5-6" thickness, good base, reinforcement) and basic maintenance, expect 25-30 years. Poor installation or inadequate thickness can cut this to 10-15 years or less.

Can I pour a concrete driveway myself?

It's possible for small single-car driveways with experienced helpers, but challenging for larger driveways. The main issues: ready-mix requires 60-90 minutes to pour and finish everything, and you'll need 4-6 people. For standard two-car driveways, professional installation is usually worth the cost.

Next Steps

1. Calculate your quantities: Driveway Concrete Calculator
2. Estimate your costs: Driveway Cost Calculator
3. Learn the fundamentals: Concrete Basics Guide
4. Browse all guides: Concrete Guides Hub