Square footage is the obvious part of a driveway price, but it's rarely why two quotes differ so much. The real differences are in site prep, thickness, reinforcement, and finish, and those are the parts that decide whether the driveway lasts five years or thirty.
Site prep comes first. Removing an old driveway, digging out soft soil, and bringing in and compacting a stone base all take time and material. With soft or waterlogged soil, skipping or thinning the base is the most common reason driveways crack and sink within a few years.
Thickness and reinforcement come next. A driveway that only sees passenger cars needs less than one that carries a work truck, an RV, or a delivery truck turning on it. Rebar or wire mesh adds cost, but it's what holds the slab together when the ground underneath shifts.
Finish is where you have the most choice. A broom finish is the most affordable and gives good traction. Stamped borders, colored sections, or a fully stamped surface add cost but can transform how the front of your home looks.
When you compare quotes, ask each contractor to write down the base depth, slab thickness, reinforcement type, and finish. If one quote is much cheaper, one of those four is usually missing. Our estimates are free and written, so you can compare line by line.