24 Driveway Sealing Statistics: Costs, Timing and the Coal Tar Ban (2026)

Sealing a driveway costs $545 to $600 on average in the US in 2026, according to Bob Vila, Angi and HomeGuide, and Ontario contractors charge a middle price of about $0.375 per square foot in CAD. Driveway sealing, or sealcoating, is a thin protective coat brushed or sprayed over asphalt to block water, UV and salt. Driveway jobs are among the most common requests on our quote form. The 24 statistics below cover US and Canadian prices, sealer lifespans, timing and Canada's coal tar ban. To get local quotes, start with our driveway paving services.

US figures are in USD. Ontario and Ottawa figures from BuildersCount, King of Asphalt and GLV Paving are in CAD. All sources were checked on October 7, 2026.

How much does driveway sealing cost in the US?

US homeowners pay $545 to $600 on average to seal a driveway, across the three largest cost guides. Size sets most of the price, because crews charge by the square foot. Prep work such as crack filling and power washing adds to the base price.

1. The average driveway sealing job costs $545

Bob Vila puts driveway sealing at $275 to $820, with a national average of $545. Most of that is labour: Bob Vila puts labour at about $1.15 of the $1.25 to $1.50 per square foot installed price (Bob Vila, April 23, 2024).

2. Angi's average is $574, in a $150 to $2,010 range

Angi reports that sealing an asphalt driveway costs $574 on average, with most homeowners paying between $150 and $2,010 (Angi, updated May 30, 2026).

3. Sealing costs $1.25 to $1.50 per square foot installed

Angi and Bob Vila both put sealing at $1.25 to $1.50 per square foot with materials and labour. Labour alone averages $1.15 per square foot, so most of the bill is the crew's time (Angi; Bob Vila).

4. A two-car driveway costs $400 to $800 to seal

HomeGuide puts the national average at $600, with a $110 minimum and a $1,900 maximum. A 400 square foot two-car driveway costs $400 to $800 at $1 to $2 per square foot (HomeGuide, October 6, 2023).

5. Prep adds $0.27 to $1.75 per square foot

Angi says power washing before sealing costs $0.27 to $0.39 per square foot, and fill-and-seal labour for cracked asphalt runs $0.60 to $1.75 per square foot. Some companies also charge $100 to $200 service fees (Angi). For washing prices, see our pressure washing cost guide.

6. Angi's state averages run from $330 in New York to $2,450 in Texas

Angi's state data shows a wide spread across the states it lists. New York averages $330 and Ohio $370, while California averages $1,990 and Texas $2,450. Longer driveways and hotter climates both push the price up (Angi).

7. Concrete sealing costs $0.85 to $2.13 per square foot

Bob Vila puts concrete driveway sealing at $0.85 to $2.13 per square foot, against $0.15 to $0.23 per square foot for asphalt sealcoating. Asphalt repair before sealing costs $2 to $5 per square foot (Bob Vila).

How much does driveway sealing cost in Ontario?

Ontario contractors charge about $0.20 to $0.75 per square foot in CAD, which puts most GTA and Ottawa driveways at $120 to $500. These Canadian per-foot quotes sit well below the US installed rate of $1.25 to $1.50, so compare what each quote includes line by line. For the full paving picture, see our asphalt driveway cost guide.

8. Ontario contractors charge a middle price of $0.375 per sq ft

BuildersCount surveyed five Ontario contractors and found a middle price of $0.375 per square foot, in a range of $0.25 to $0.75, in CAD before tax (BuildersCount, checked October 4, 2026).

9. A 600 sq ft driveway costs about $100 DIY or $225 with a pro

For a 600 square foot driveway, BuildersCount estimates about $100 in sealer for DIY, using two pails at $49.99, against about $225 for an Ontario contractor (BuildersCount).

10. Two-car driveways cost $150 to $300 in Durham Region

King of Asphalt prices residential sealcoating in Durham Region at $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot in 2026. A single-car driveway of 300 to 400 square feet costs $120 to $180, and a long driveway of 800 to 1,200 square feet costs $250 to $500 (King of Asphalt).

11. A 600 sq ft Ottawa driveway costs $120 to $240

GLV Paving puts professional sealcoating in Ottawa at $0.20 to $0.40 per square foot, or $120 to $240 for a 600 square foot driveway. DIY materials for the same driveway cost $80 to $150 (GLV Paving, April 22, 2026).

12. Ontario store sealer pails cost $29.99 to $69.28

BuildersCount tracked 11 driveway sealer pails at three Ontario retailers, priced from $29.99 to $69.28. Asphalt emulsion sealer covers about 200 to 400 square feet per coat (BuildersCount).

Which driveway sealer lasts the longest?

Acrylic and asphalt emulsion sealers last longest, at 4 to 10 years depending on the product, while fast-dry and DIY coats wear out in 1 to 3 years. Who applies the sealer matters as much as which one you buy, because crews put down thicker, more even coats.

13. Latex acrylic sealer lasts 5 to 10 years

Bob Vila says latex acrylic sealers last 5 to 10 years, eco-friendly sealers about 5 years and fast-dry sealers 2 to 3 years (Bob Vila).

14. Asphalt emulsion lasts 4 years or more

Angi lists asphalt emulsion at $0.08 to $0.10 per square foot, lasting 4 years or more. Eco-friendly sealers cost $0.25 to $0.38 per square foot and last up to 5 years, and coal tar cost $0.06 to $0.10 and lasted 2 to 4 years (Angi).

15. Professional sealcoat lasts twice as long as DIY

GLV Paving says a DIY sealer coat lasts 1 to 2 years in Ottawa, while professional sealcoating lasts 3 to 4 years (GLV Paving).

16. A 500 sq ft driveway takes about 5 gallons of sealer

Bob Vila says a 500 square foot driveway needs about 5 gallons of sealer, which costs $30 to $100. HomeGuide says a 5-gallon pail covers 250 to 500 square feet (Bob Vila; HomeGuide).

When and how often should you seal a driveway?

Seal asphalt every 2 to 4 years in Canada, on a dry day at 10°C or warmer, and wait 6 to 12 months on a new driveway. Sealing too often is a real problem, because built-up layers crack and peel. For paving lifespan data, see our driveway paving statistics. For Ontario interlocking prices, see our interlock and paver statistics.

17. Canadian contractors reseal every 2 to 4 years

BuildersCount says most Canadian contractors reseal every 2 to 4 years. GLV Paving recommends every 3 to 4 years in Ottawa and says not to seal more often than every 2 years (BuildersCount; GLV Paving).

18. Climates with hot summers or cold winters need sealing more often

Bob Vila says driveways in temperate climates need resealing about every 3 years, while those in extreme heat or cold may need it every other year. HomeGuide's overall range is every 2 to 10 years, depending on the sealer and traffic (Bob Vila; HomeGuide).

19. Wait 6 to 12 months before sealing new asphalt

BuildersCount and GLV Paving both say to wait 6 to 12 months before the first coat on new asphalt, so the oils can cure. Bob Vila says to wait at least 6 months (BuildersCount; GLV Paving).

20. The Ontario sealing window runs mid-May to early October

GLV Paving says the ideal window is mid-May to early October, at 10°C to 30°C. BuildersCount says to seal at 10°C or warmer, and King of Asphalt says the job needs 24 or more hours of dry weather above 10°C (GLV Paving; BuildersCount; King of Asphalt).

Why is coal tar driveway sealer banned in Canada?

Canada banned coal tar pavement sealants because they carry very high levels of PAHs. The USGS says coal tar and coal tar pitch are known human carcinogens, and runoff from coal tar sealed pavement is acutely toxic to aquatic life. Sale ended on December 31, 2025. If a crew offers coal tar sealer in 2026, find another crew.

21. Coal tar sealants cannot be sold in Canada after December 31, 2025

Under the federal Coal Tar-based Sealants and Other Products Regulations, SOR/2025-36, coal tar pavement sealants could not be made or imported after October 1, 2025, or sold after December 31, 2025. The same dates apply to sealants with more than 1,000 mg/kg of PAHs (Justice Laws, SOR/2025-36).

22. Coal tar sealcoat holds about 1,000 times more PAHs than asphalt sealcoat

The USGS says coal tar sealcoat is 20% to 35% coal tar or coal tar pitch and contains 35,000 to 200,000 mg/kg of PAHs. That is about 100 times more than used motor oil and about 1,000 times more than asphalt-based sealcoat (USGS).

23. House dust was 25 times higher next to coal tar sealed lots

In a USGS study of 23 ground-floor apartments, PAH levels in house dust were 25 times higher next to parking lots with coal tar sealcoat. Lots sealed 3 to 8 years earlier still released about 60 times more PAHs into the air than unsealed pavement (USGS).

24. PAHs in an Austin lake fell 58% after a ban

Austin, Texas, banned coal tar sealcoat in 2006. The USGS reports that PAH levels in Lady Bird Lake sediment fell 58% afterward, and that coal tar sealcoat was the source of 70% to 80% of PAHs in the studied sediments (USGS).

What this means for homeowners

• Budget about $0.25 to $0.40 per square foot in CAD for professional sealcoating in Ontario, or $150 to $300 for a two-car driveway.
• Wait 6 to 12 months on new asphalt, then reseal every 2 to 4 years. Sealing every year builds up layers that peel.
• Book between mid-May and early October, on a dry day above 10°C.
• Ask for asphalt emulsion or acrylic sealer in writing. Coal tar sealer can no longer be sold in Canada.
• Fill cracks and wash the surface first, or the sealer will not bond.
• Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros and gives free fixed-price estimates. Compare driveway paving quotes in Toronto, driveway sealing in Mississauga, driveway paving in Ottawa, or request an estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions