A 1-car driveway is the single-wide strip you see on older homes and narrow lots: one lane from the street to the garage or parking spot. A common layout is 12 feet wide by 24 feet long, which is the 288 square feet loaded into the calculator above. Plenty of real ones run longer, so measure the actual run before you trust any number.
The math at the example rates
| Finish | Example rate | 288 sq ft comes to |
|---|---|---|
| Standard broom | $9 / sq ft | $2,592 |
| Colored | $12 / sq ft | $3,456 |
| Stamped | $16 / sq ft | $4,608 |
These are the example rates from the calculator, not market prices. A contractor’s real rate depends on local concrete cost, crew, and how far the truck has to travel.
The apron and the approach
The 12x24 rectangle is rarely the whole pour. Where the driveway meets the street there is usually an apron, and that section can sit in the public right-of-way, which in many towns means a permit and the city’s own spec for thickness. The approach also tends to flare wider than 12 feet so a car can swing in without dropping a wheel off the edge. Flares add square footage the tape measure misses if you only measure the straight run.
One more single-wide quirk: these driveways often hug the property line. That can leave the concrete truck with access from one side only, which slows the pour and the finish work.
What moves the number off the table
- Tear-out. Replacing an old strip means demo, hauling, and dump fees. At the example add-on of $4 per square foot, that is another $1,152 on 288 square feet.
- Reinforcement. Rebar or mesh at the $1.50 example adds $432.
- Site prep. Grading and base work at the $2 example adds $576.
- Thickness. Driveways carry vehicles, so they pour at 5 to 6 inches. More depth means more concrete per square foot.
If your driveway is a different size, the concrete driveway cost calculator takes any length and width. Quoting a double instead? See the 2-car driveway breakdown. Contractors who want the full pricing method can read how to price a concrete driveway job.
If you pour driveways for a living, this same calculator runs with your own rates in PriceDesk. The 14-day trial is free and takes minutes to set up.