Sunken Driveway Repair: Lift, Mudjack, or Replace?
A sunken driveway slab can usually be lifted back to level instead of replaced. Mudjacking a 10×20 ft section costs about $800–1,800 and foam lifting about $1,600–5,000, against roughly $1,500–3,400 to tear it out and pour new at US median prices. Lift it if the slab is in one piece and dropped less than about 4 inches; replace it if it is broken up, badly sunk, or poured too thin in the first place.
A sunken driveway slab usually costs $800–1,800 to mudjack or $1,600–5,000 to foam-lift for a typical 10×20 ft section, against about $1,500–3,400 to tear it out and replace it at US median prices. Lifting wins when the slab is still in one piece, dropped less than about 4 inches, and the water that caused it has been dealt with. Replacement wins when the slab is broken up, badly sunk, or too thin. Enter your own section and metro in the concrete lifting cost calculator to see both.
Sunken Driveway Repair Cost
| Area lifted | Mudjacking ($4–9/sq ft) | Foam lifting ($8–25/sq ft) | Replace, US median (incl. removal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One 10×10 ft slab (100 sq ft) | $400–900 | $800–2,500 | $760–1,710 |
| Driveway section (200 sq ft) | $800–1,800 | $1,600–5,000 | $1,510–3,410 |
| Apron at the garage (240 sq ft) | $960–2,160 | $1,920–6,000 | $1,810–4,090 |
| Full driveway (450 sq ft) | $1,800–4,100 | $3,600–11,300 | $3,400–7,680 |
Lifting prices are HomeGuide 2026 averages. Replacement uses the US median new-driveway price in the SlabCalc Concrete Cost Index ($5.56–11.06 per sq ft, 21 metros priced from state DOT bid records) plus $2–6 per sq ft for removal. Most lifting contractors charge a $300–700 minimum, so a single sunken slab rarely costs less than that.
Where Lifting Saves the Most
What a new driveway costs varies more than three-fold between metros, so the lift-or-replace answer depends on where you live. For a full 450 sq ft driveway:
| Metro | Replace (incl. removal) | Mudjack ($1,800–4,100) as share of replacing |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $5,760–13,500 | 31% |
| Charlotte, NC | $4,118–8,739 | 46% |
| Denver, CO | $4,136–8,271 | 48% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $3,938–7,677 | 51% |
| Miami, FL | $3,452–6,786 | 58% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,740–7,204 | 59% |
| Chicago, IL | $3,402–6,430 | 60% |
| Houston, TX | $3,020–6,304 | 63% |
The share compares range midpoints. Where it passes about 60%, a new driveway with a properly compacted base is worth pricing; the concrete driveway cost calculator does that for your size.
Why Driveways Sink
- Uncompacted fill near the house or garage. Soil backfilled against a new foundation settles for years, which is why the slab at the garage door so often drops first.
- Water. A downspout emptying onto the driveway edge, a slab sloped the wrong way, or a leaking pipe washes soil out. See driveway drainage.
- Expansive clay. Clay shrinks in drought and swells when wet. It is a primary design issue in much of Texas; Dallas scores 76 out of 100 in the SlabCalc Soil Risk Index.
- Thin concrete. A driveway under 4 inches thick cracks and drops under vehicle loads; see driveway thickness.
Lift or Replace: The Checklist
- Is the slab in one piece? Hairline cracks are fine. Loose, broken, or crumbling pieces mean replace.
- How far did it drop? Under about 4 inches can be lifted. More usually means a large void.
- Is the water problem fixed? Redirect downspouts and correct grading first, or the lift will not last.
- How thick is it? Check at an edge. Under 4 inches for cars, or under 5–6 inches for trucks, argues for replacement.
- What do the numbers say? If lifting passes about 60% of replacing, get both quotes.
Mudjacking or Foam for a Driveway?
Mudjacking is the usual choice for a driveway on firm soil: it is about half the price and fills large voids well. Choose foam lifting when the soil is wet, soft, or clay, when you need to park on it the same day, or when the driveway is stamped or colored and large patched holes would show. The full comparison is in mudjacking vs polyjacking.
Key Takeaways
- A 200 sq ft sunken driveway section costs $800–1,800 to mudjack or $1,600–5,000 to foam-lift
- Replacing it costs about $1,500–3,400 at US median prices, and far more in high-cost metros
- Lift when the slab is intact and dropped less than about 4 inches
- Fix downspouts and grading first, or it will sink again
- In low-cost markets, compare a lift quote with a replacement quote