A heated driveway typically costs around $10–$28 per square foot to install, with many projects for an average 2‑car driveway landing in the $7,000–$16,000 range in the U.S. Operating costs are often on the order of roughly $120–$600 per winter for about 1,000 square feet, depending on system type, climate, and energy prices.
Typical price ranges
- Many sources report installed costs of about $12–$28 per square foot for new heated concrete or asphalt driveways.
- For a typical 2‑car driveway (roughly 550–600 square feet), that translates to roughly $6,900–$16,000, though some national averages fall around $8,500–$14,600 depending on assumptions and driveway size.
By driveway type
- Concrete or asphalt: Common estimates cluster around $12–$28 per square foot installed when the heating system is included in a new pour or new asphalt.
- Pavers: Heated paver driveways tend to be higher, often quoted roughly in the $19–$50 per‑square‑foot range when including both the radiant system and the paver installation.
Retrofit vs. new
- Retrofitting an existing driveway with an electric snow‑melt system (cutting grooves, adding cables, resurfacing) is often quoted around $7–$17 per square foot, not including major structural repairs.
- Completely replacing the driveway and adding a hydronic or electric system underneath usually pushes the project into the higher ranges but is more efficient and longer‑lasting.
Running costs
- Annual operating costs frequently fall around $120–$600 per winter for about 1,000 square feet, with hydronic systems usually on the lower end and electric on the higher end for the same area.
- Some guides estimate that an electric system uses roughly 30–35 watts per square foot, which can equate to a few dollars per hour to run an 800–1,000‑square‑foot driveway at typical residential electricity rates.
Key cost drivers
- Size and layout of the driveway (square footage, curves, slopes).
- System type (electric vs. hydronic), local labor rates, whether you are demolishing an old driveway, and whether you heat the entire surface or just tire tracks or walkways.
