How to Fix Driveway Cracks—From Thin to Thick

Repair your driveway the right way

A father cleaning the car with his daughter in the driveway
Photo: Inti St Clair / Tetra images / Getty Images
A father cleaning the car with his daughter in the driveway
Photo: Inti St Clair / Tetra images / Getty Images
Ginny Bartolone
Written by Ginny Bartolone
Contributing Writer
Updated July 11, 2023
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.

Noticing cracks in your driveway is not uncommon. After all, the average driveway lasts about 25 years before natural wear and tear warrants repairs or replacement. But even minor cracks are worth fixing, seeing as they could become vulnerable spots that grow with time, or even pose a tripping hazard if your family spends time on the driveway. Read on to learn how to fix driveway cracks.

Identifying the Severity of the Cracks

You can learn a lot about the severity of a driveway crack by its width, depth, and whether the crack affects the stability of the slab. Cracks thinner than an eighth of an inch are considered hairline cracks. Some of the best driveway sealers with fill-and-seal capacities are all that's needed to make it look fresh and new.

However, cracks over an eighth of an inch could be a sign of underlying issues. The wider the cracks grow, the larger chance that frost upheaval, drainage issues, or significant damage from heavy vehicles could be the culprit. In these cases, you'll need to call a local driveway repair team to diagnose the best way to repair your driveway.

It's also important to keep an eye out for cracks deeper than an inch and cracks that cause the pavement around it to shake and wiggle—known as a "working" crack. Both cases may require additional fortification, such as a layer of compacted sand or backer rods to ensure the entire crack fills and does not break away from the slab. 

The same goes for potholes and larger areas of spalling. Cold asphalt patches or resurfacing may be necessary. In severe cases—when driveway repairs are no longer worth the costs—multiple large cracks may call for total replacement.

Prepping to Fix Driveway Cracks

Ideally, you'll repair cracks in your driveway when you expect a string of warm, dry days in your area. While it can be helpful to lightly dampen asphalt and concrete before applying filler, it's important to ensure there is no rain on the forecast so it cures in a 24-hour period. 

Cleaning the Driveway

Washing away dirt, grime, mold, and even loose asphalt is the first step and will help the repairs you make last as long as possible.

To clean your driveway, do the following:

  1. Use a screwdriver or small garden tool to remove any weeds from the cracks. For larger weeds, a weed killer may be necessary.

  2. Use a broom or leaf blower to remove debris and loose weeds.

  3. Remove stains using a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to 16 cups of water.

  4. Power wash your driveway to rinse it clean, careful to concentrate on the cracks.

If you clean it with bleach and water, let your driveway dry for 24 hours. Park in the street for the night and keep the driveway clear of foot traffic if possible. 

No matter the size or type of cracks you're dealing with, driveway cleaning is key to the process. Sealants and fillers will not adhere as well to driveways with loose grit, grease, or weeds.

Scheduling the Work

As we mentioned above, it's important to repair driveway cracks when there are at least two to three days in a row of warm, dry weather. While professionals may charge more during the high season for driveway repair—typically just after and then just before the winter months—this is a great time to get ahead of the season when ice can exacerbate issues.

Find a water-based acrylic sealant for asphalt driveways at a local home improvement store. A small tube might cost as little as $10. A gallon jug for large repairs might cost as much as $50. Fixing cracks in a concrete driveway costs about the same.

How to Repair Driveway Cracks, From Smallest to Largest

Workers filling driveway crack with sealant
Photo: photovs / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

When repairing the cracks on your driveway, remember that they don't all need the same treatment. Their width, depth, and where they travel call for different materials and methods.

Small Cracks (Smaller Than 1/8 Inch)

Hairline cracks can form from natural wear and tear or if your concrete does not cure properly. If you only have a few small cracks, purchase either an asphalt crack sealant or quick-concrete sealant noted specifically for hairline cracks. These sealants are highly flexible and liquidy enough to puncture the tiniest cracks.

If you have an abundance of hairline cracks across your driveway, you may be able to repair them all at once by fully resealing your driveway. Resealing an asphalt driveway costs an average of $470, whereas sealing a concrete driveway costs between $1,250 and $1,750. Tackling the project all at once keeps your driveway looking uniform without multiple patches.

Medium Cracks (Smaller Than 1/4 Inch)

Some of the most standard driveway cracks fall between 1/8 and 1/4 inch and respond well to putties, fillers, and some types of sealant. Be sure to choose a flexible, typically water-based product so it can move with slight shifts as the material expands. This is particularly crucial for what's known as working cracks, or cracks that cause the surrounding pavement to shift.

Use a caulk gun or tube to fill the crack and flatten it with a putty knife. You may need to let the filler sit for up to 24 hours before driveway use.

Large Cracks (Larger Than 1/2 Inch)

Once large cracks develop due to repeated changes in weather and water damage, they can reach over 1/2 inch and cause real trouble. In these cases, insert foam backer rods in the interior of the crack as a base for the putty or filler. It's important to tamp down the mixture to fill all areas of air and solidify the crack to avoid structural issues. 

However, multiple large cracks are almost always a sign of underlying structural problems, so be sure to call in a professional for a closer look.

Potholes

A driveway with large potholes
Photo: Bilanol / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Potholes in either concrete or asphalt require a stronger fortifying material to support the surrounding structure. The best DIY route for filling in asphalt is an asphalt cold patch, or loose asphalt material that does not need to be heated up to fill the space.

Concrete requires either a quick concrete mixture or to combine concrete patch or an epoxy resin compound. For larger potholes, you can also use a chisel to widen the bottom of the hole so it is more narrow at the top and traps in the filler with more stability.

Severe Driveway Damage

Severe damage on a driveway
Photo: Zen Rial / Moment / Getty Images

It's not always worth going down the road of constant repairs when the costs start to add up. The cost to repave a driveway or resurface a driveway may be more cost-effective in the long run. Additionally, constant repairs and asphalt patches will decrease your curb appeal. Always speak with a professional if it's time for a larger overhaul.

Maintaining Your Driveway After Repairing Cracks

Maintaining your driveway is a bit like leaving the dentist and saying you'll keep brushing and flossing from now on. There are several ongoing driveway maintenance tips to avoid cracks in the future:

  • Learn how to reseal your driveway and add a new coat every 3–5 years.

  • Ensure your yard's drainage keeps water, snow, and ice from damaging your driveway.

  • Fix cracks and potholes the moment they start to form.

  • Edge the landscape around your driveway to keep invasive weeds from breaking up your driveway.

  • For gravel driveways, top up the stone once a year when it becomes too compacted.

  • Be wary of hard rock salt chemicals, as they can break down concrete over time.

  • Power wash your driveway once a year to remove grease, salt, and any other potentially damaging buildup.

Fixing Cracks in Your Driveway: DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Fixing cracks in your driveway is a pretty simple job that requires a small time commitment and light manual labor. For most homeowners, it's totally doable as a DIY project if the cracks are small.

But if there are deep ravines or splits that pose a threat to your safety (i.e., your driveway is on the side of a hill and the edges are cracked), hiring a driveway paving contractor might be well worth the investment. Driveway pothole and crack repair costs between $5 and $15 per square foot.

Ben Kissam contributed to this piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the most common causes of driveway cracks include poor installation, uneven pressure from vehicles, or unlying issues like tree roots and frost upheaval. Small cracks can also simply appear over time as driveways break down. While it's tricky to fix them altogether, you can learn how to repair driveway cracks ASAP before they cause larger damage.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
Learn more about our contributor
Ginny Bartolone
Written by Ginny Bartolone
Contributing Writer
For the past ten years, Ginny Bartolone has encouraged readers to enhance their DIY skills in a wide range of home and lifestyle topics.
For the past ten years, Ginny Bartolone has encouraged readers to enhance their DIY skills in a wide range of home and lifestyle topics.
The homeowners guide to Concrete Pouring and Repair
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.