Asphalt Cost by State 2026: All 50-State HMA & Driveway Pricing Benchmarks
2026 delivered hot mix asphalt ranges from $75/ton in Texas to $220/ton in Hawaii. Driveways install for $4/sq ft in Tennessee versus $12/sq ft in California. The sortable table below has all 50 states, 4 regional summaries, and the cost drivers behind each.
Regional summary: 4 U.S. asphalt markets
Northeast
States: NY, NJ, PA, MA, CT, RI, NH, VT, ME, DE, MD
Driver: High labor cost, strict DOT specs, limited refinery capacity. Driveways: $7–$12/sq ft.
Midwest
States: OH, MI, IL, IN, WI, MN, IA, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD
Driver: Strong RAP supply (cheap millings), competitive contractor base. Driveways: $5–$8/sq ft.
South
States: TX, FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, WV, KY, TN, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK
Driver: Gulf Coast refineries, lowest labor cost, year-round paving. Driveways: $4–$7/sq ft.
West
States: CA, OR, WA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, NM, ID, MT, WY, AK, HI
Driver: Long haul distances, environmental compliance (CARB in CA). Driveways: $6–$11/sq ft.
All 50 states: HMA $/ton, driveway $/sq ft, labor $/hr
| State | Region | HMA $/ton | Driveway $/sf | Lot $/sf | Labor $/hr | Millings $/ton |
|---|
Data sources: 2026 supplier surveys, RSMeans Construction Cost Data, FHWA highway construction price index, NAPA member pricing reports, regional contractor quote averages. Prices are mid-range delivered (50-mile radius from plant). Verify with local contractors before budgeting. Updated April 2026.
3 cost drivers behind state-level variation
- Distance from refinery: Asphalt cement (the binder, ~5% of HMA by weight) ships from petroleum refineries — heavily concentrated on the Gulf Coast (TX, LA, MS) and Mid-Atlantic (NJ, PA, DE). States >500 miles from a refinery pay 15-30% premium. Hawaii and Alaska have no in-state refinery — everything ships, doubling the binder cost line.
- Local labor cost: Paving crew labor is 30-40% of installed driveway price. Northeast and West Coast labor runs $75-$95/hr (CA, MA, NY) versus $35-$45/hr in the South (AL, TX, MS). The same 600 sq ft driveway gets installed for $2,400 in rural Tennessee or $7,200 in coastal California.
- State DOT specification stringency: California's CARB rules and New York's Type 6F2 mix specs require lower-VOC binders and tighter density tolerances — adding $8-$15/ton premium. Texas, Florida, and Georgia accept broader Superpave grades with lower compliance overhead.
10 cheapest states for asphalt in 2026
Based on the table above, sorted by HMA $/ton:
- Texas — $78/ton (Gulf refineries, large competitive market)
- Arkansas — $82/ton
- Mississippi — $82/ton
- Oklahoma — $82/ton
- Louisiana — $85/ton
- Tennessee — $85/ton
- Alabama — $88/ton
- Kansas — $88/ton
- Kentucky — $88/ton
- South Carolina — $88/ton
Notice all 10 are South or southern Midwest. Distance from Gulf Coast refineries is the dominant factor.
10 most expensive states for asphalt in 2026
- Hawaii — $210/ton (overseas shipping, no in-state refinery)
- Alaska — $180/ton (long haul, short paving season)
- New York — $155/ton
- California — $155/ton (CARB rules, high labor)
- New Jersey — $150/ton
- Massachusetts — $145/ton
- Connecticut — $135/ton
- Rhode Island — $135/ton
- Washington — $135/ton
- New Hampshire — $128/ton
How to use this data when budgeting
- Get 3 contractor quotes, then check whether your average matches your state's table row. ±15% is normal market variation; >25% above suggests prep complexity or off-season scheduling.
- Multiply HMA $/ton × your tonnage from the tonnage calculator for the material line. Add labor: tonnage × ~3 hours/ton × labor $/hr.
- Driveway $/sq ft includes material, labor, hauling, and basic prep. Add 20-30% if base reconstruction or significant grading is needed.
- Off-season discounts: Most states see 10-15% lower pricing in late October-November (post-peak season) and 8-12% lower in early April. Avoid scheduling during peak July-August when demand inflates pricing.
The FAQ below answers the most common questions about regional asphalt pricing variation.
Asphalt cost by state FAQ
Why is asphalt cheaper in Texas than in California?
Three reasons: (1) Texas has 30+ asphalt refineries within state lines vs California's 5; (2) Texas labor averages $40/hr vs California's $88/hr for paving crews; (3) California's CARB environmental rules add $10-15/ton compliance cost. Net: Texas HMA = $78/ton, California = $155/ton — almost 2× the price for the same material.
Which state has the cheapest asphalt in 2026?
Texas at $78/ton, followed by Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma at $82/ton. All are within 200 miles of Gulf Coast asphalt refineries and have competitive paving markets with low labor costs.
Which state has the most expensive asphalt?
Hawaii at $210/ton because asphalt cement ships from West Coast refineries — there's no local production. Alaska is second at $180/ton. Within the contiguous 48, New York and California top the list at $155/ton.
How much does a driveway cost per sq ft by region?
Northeast: $7-$12/sq ft installed. Midwest: $5-$8/sq ft. South: $4-$7/sq ft. West: $6-$11/sq ft. National average for a 3-inch residential driveway with 4-inch base: $5-$8 per sq ft. Use the table above for your specific state.
Are these prices for 2026 or older data?
2026 benchmarks updated April 2026, sourced from RSMeans Construction Cost Data, NAPA member surveys, FHWA highway price indices, and aggregated contractor quote data. Asphalt cement prices fluctuate quarterly with crude oil — expect ±10% drift through any given year.
Do these prices include labor and installation?
The HMA $/ton column is delivered material only — what your supplier charges per ton on the truck. The driveway $/sq ft and lot $/sq ft columns are full installed prices including material, labor, hauling, compaction, and basic prep. They do not include base reconstruction or major excavation.
Can I save money buying millings instead of HMA?
Yes — millings run 20-50% of HMA price. The Millings $/ton column shows your state's typical millings pricing. They suit low-traffic driveways and parking pads but not commercial lots or heavy-truck areas. See our millings calculator for project sizing.