How Much Does a Tar and Chip Driveway Cost? [2025 Data]
The average cost to install a tar and chip driveway is $1,600, but it can range between $360 and $2,900, depending on material prices and driveway size.
Tar and chip driveways cost between $1 and $5 per square foot.
They’re cost-effective alternatives to asphalt, and they’re more durable than gravel.
Factors affecting the price include material availability, site preparation, the size of your driveway, and the number of layers required.
Don’t attempt to install a tar and chip driveway yourself because it’s incredibly complex and involves extreme heat.
The average cost of a tar and chip driveway is $3 per square foot, but it ranges between $1 and $5 per square foot overall. Most homeowners will pay between $200 and $4,300 for their tar and chip driveway, with an average price of $1,600. Your final bill is influenced by the size of the project, the state of the site, local labor rates, and material costs. Tar and chip driveway installation is best left to a pro.
What Is a Tar and Chip—or Chip Seal—Driveway?
A tar and chip driveway—also known as macadam, chip seal driveway, or oil and stone—consists of hot liquid asphalt layered with crushed stone or aggregate, which gets compacted before the asphalt hardens.
Unlike asphalt driveways, which are typically premixed, contractors install macadam driveways in layers. They often begin by adding a bed of loose gravel and then covering it with hot liquid bitumen. A final layer of gravel then goes on top, and a contractor flattens the mixture into a solid form.
Tar-and-chip paving works best on rural, low-traffic, and slow-speed surfaces where loose or excess chips won't be as likely to damage vehicles. This kind of paving usually costs less than concrete driveways but more than gravel ones, which are difficult to keep in place and don't perform as well in the snow.
Here’s how a tar and chip driveway compares to a gravel, asphalt, or concrete driveway:
| Driveway Type | Average Cost Per Square Foot | Longevity | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tar and Chip | $1–$5 | 10 years | Low |
| Gravel | $1.25–$4.00 | 5 years | High |
| Asphalt | $7–$15 | 40 years | Medium |
| Concrete | $8–$20 | 25-30 years | Low |
Tar and Chip Driveway Cost Breakdown
The cost of tar and chip driveways relies heavily on labor and site preparation. Since this is not a DIY job, you'll need a local driveway paving pro who has experience with the unique material and installation process.
Driveway Size
Driveways typically range between 120 and 1,000 square feet. Contractors may offer discounts for large chip seal driveway costs, but overall, you'll pay anywhere from $1 to $5 per square foot, or an average of $3 per square foot.
Here’s how dimensions might influence your chip seal driveway cost:
| Driveway Dimension | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 10' x 12' | $360 |
| 12' x 12' | $430 |
| 12' x 20' | $720 |
| 16' x 20' | $960 |
| 20' x 20' | $1,200 |
| 20' x 40' | $2,400 |
| 24' x 40' | $2,900 |
Driveways with complex shapes or curves will also increase labor and material needs, driving up the price per square foot.
Site Preparation
Before installing a tar and chip driveway, you might need to prepare the site in the following ways.
Driveway Pitching
Pitching, or tipping, the driveway directs water safely away from your property. Grading your lawn runs between $5 and $8 per square foot, in addition to the cost of the driveway itself.
Driveway Repair
If you're layering the macadam driveway on top of an old driveway, you'll need to repair any major cracks or potholes so it acts as a proper foundation. The typical expense for driveway repairs falls between $300 and $4,500.
Clearing Land
On the other hand, if you're starting entirely from scratch, you may need to make way for the driveway. Clearing land costs between $250 and $2,800 per half-acre. Higher prices account for land that contains trees, roots, rocks, and dense shrubs.
Materials
Tar and chip materials fall between the cost of gravel driveways ($1 to $3 per square foot) and asphalt driveways ($7 to $15 per square foot). You can choose various stone colors and textures, and prices will vary based on the availability in your area.
Labor
Labor typically accounts for 50% of the total tar and chip driveway price, though exact cost depends on necessary land preparation, the shape of the driveway, and the cost of living in your area. Your geographic location, as well as the contractor's experience, might also influence labor rates.
Permits
Permits typically cost between $500 and $2,000, with an average price of $1,100. A municipality may require them if the tar-and-chip driveway connects to a residential street. Note that the permit cost can vary significantly depending on the city or state.
Location
If you're located near a tar and chip contractor, you will naturally pay less for the cost of travel and overhead. And since experienced contractors in this unique installation are not as common as concrete or asphalt professionals, you could pay more to find the right one.
Local climate can also play a role. The best time to install tar and chip paving is when the weather is hot and arid. The asphalt should be poured onto a warm and dry surface, as stone chips don't take to cool or hard asphalt. Those living in an area with frequent cold spells or high humidity may need to wait for the right moment to pour.
Price of Oil
Keep in mind that the current price of oil will affect the overall tar and chip driveway cost more so than other top driveway materials. That’s because the bitumen liquid poured on the stone derives from oil.
Stone Type
While the aggregate form of asphalt is a common and affordable option for tar and chip driveways, you can also use other gravel varieties. The price of gravel varies based on its availability and durability. For example, crushed granite, limestone, and pea gravel cost between $0.45 and $2 per square foot, whereas lava rock and quartz can push up to $11 per square foot.
Number of Layers (Single vs. Double Seal)
In addition to the basic single layer of rock and seal, you can also upgrade to a more durable double installation. The extra layer better holds the weight of vehicles and offers increased durability.
Check out this table for average costs of single and double seal driveways, keeping in mind that prices can vary:
| Number of Layers | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Single Seal | $2–$3 per square foot |
| Double Seal | $3–$5 per square foot |
DIY Driveway Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
Laying a tar and chip driveway is a job for a professional. The process includes working with hot layers of bitumen and operating heavy machinery, which is dangerous without experience and training. If you need a permit for your driveway installation, many towns will require you to hire an experienced local asphalt driveway company.
Since tar and chip driveways are not the most common choice, it's important to hire a professional with specific experience. Request to read testimonials, see their qualifications, and—when the information is provided—check in with past clients. Here are some additional tips:
Speak with your contractor about options for your tar and chip driveway design.
Clarify the timeline for driveway installation.
Ask the contractor how long their past installations have lasted without major repairs.
Check that the contractor has insurance and can pull the necessary permits.
Be wary of prices that are abnormally low compared to other professionals in your area.
Ways You Can Save Money on Tar and Chip Driveways
Looking for ways to save on the cost of chip seal driveways? Take a look at the following tips.
Speak with at least three contractors to find the best price.
Consider installing a straightforward, rectangular driveway instead of an elaborate design.
Opt for a single layer of chip seal, which will be less expensive than a double layer.
Avoid installing the driveway during the contractor’s busiest season.
If possible, install your driveway on relatively level ground so you don’t need to pay for significant grading.
Maintain your tar and chip driveway to save on repair costs down the road.
If you're handy and have access to the right equipment, you might install a DIY gravel base—though this requires research and execution to ensure a stable foundation.
Choose a readily available local stone instead of specialized options.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
A tar and chip driveway lasts 10 years on average. Other than minimal driveway cleaning, there are minimal steps to caring for macadam driveways, as even small cracks typically heal on their own. However, you will need to add another layer of seal after the 10-year mark to ensure it can bear the weight of your vehicle.
Chip seal layers gravel and a liquid bitumen one at a time on-site, while asphalt directly pours a pre-combined mixture. Asphalt must be sealed, but it will last up to four times as long as chip seal driveways. Aesthetically, chip seal has a natural, rustic look compared to the traditional asphalt slab.
Many asphalt companies have experience with tar and chip paving, but not all. The process is unique enough—and not incredibly common enough—that you may have to look around for a tar and chip specialist. However, speaking with a driveway company is a great place to start, especially if they have experience with multiple materials.
Unfortunately, you cannot directly sealcoat a gravel driveway. However, tar and chip is an effective alternative for homeowners who do not want an asphalt driveway. Also, there are methods to stabilize a gravel driveway including binding agents, liquid asphalt emulsion, and creating a grid system for stabilization.
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