How much does driveway leveling cost?
The cost of leveling a driveway depends on how many panels need to come up, how far they’ve dropped, how much empty space is under them, and whether the garage apron or cracked sections are involved. Driveways also carry vehicle weight, so the lift has to leave the slab fully supported as well as level. We don’t publish prices because every driveway is different, but the evaluation is free and we’ll walk you through the factors for yours.
The general factors for any slab are on concrete leveling cost. This page covers what’s different about driveways.
What makes driveways their own kind of job
They’re made of several panels
A typical driveway is a set of panels separated by joints. Sometimes only one moved. Sometimes three or four have settled at different rates. Each panel that needs lifting adds to the job, and panels that meet at a corner have to line up on more than one side.
They carry vehicles
A driveway panel doesn’t just need to be level. It needs to be fully supported so it can take the weight of a car or truck rolling over its edges and joints, day after day. That affects how much foam goes in and where the ports are placed, especially along edges and joints where tires load the slab.
The garage apron is usually involved
The slab right outside the garage door sits on foundation backfill and is often the first to drop. Lifting it to meet the garage floor while keeping a slope away from the door takes careful work. Garage apron leveling covers it.
Voids under the edges
Sprinklers along the lawn side and runoff from the street tend to wash soil out from under driveway edges. Those voids need to be filled so the edge doesn’t break off under a tire, and they can be larger than they look.
Driveway cost factors
| Factor | What it means on a driveway |
|---|---|
| Number of panels | One dropped panel or several settled at different rates |
| Garage apron | Lifting to meet the garage floor, keeping slope away from the door |
| How far each panel dropped | Bigger drops usually mean more void under the slab |
| Voids under edges | Washout along the lawn or street side takes more foam |
| Cracked panels | Pieces lifted together, which can mean more ports and a slower lift |
| Where it meets other slabs | The sidewalk, walkway or street may set the height to match |
| Access | Usually easy on a driveway, since equipment can park close |
What you save compared to replacing a driveway
Replacing a driveway panel or section means breaking it out, hauling it away, preparing a new base, forming and pouring new concrete, and then waiting for it to cure before you can park on it. You also end up with new concrete next to old, which usually looks different for years.
A lift skips all of that. The driveway is usually back in use soon after the work, since foam cures quickly. We’ll tell you when yours is ready for vehicles. Concrete leveling cost vs replacement compares what goes into each price.
When lifting a driveway isn’t the best value
- Most of the driveway is broken up. Lifting a few pieces of a driveway that’s failing all over just delays replacing it.
- The surface is scaling badly. A level driveway with a crumbling surface still needs replacing.
- You’re widening it or changing the layout. If new concrete is going in anyway, it may make sense to replace the panels that moved at the same time.
- A tree root pushed it up. Lifting can’t lower a heaved panel.
We’ll tell you if any of these apply. Concrete leveling vs replacement covers the decision in more detail.
Keeping the cost down
- Call when you first notice a lip. A panel that just started dropping has less void and hasn’t cracked.
- Adjust sprinklers so they don’t spray the driveway edge.
- Get downspouts off the driveway, especially near the garage.
- Have the whole driveway looked at once, so any panels starting to go can be handled in the same visit.
What’s included
The ports are patched and the driveway gets power washed when the lift is done. The wash down is free, and on a driveway it’s often the first time in years the concrete has been properly cleaned.
Getting a number for your driveway
The evaluation is free. We’ll look at every panel, show you which ones moved and why, and walk you through the price. If you’d like to start with photos, send a wide shot of the driveway and close-ups of any lips or cracks through the evaluation form. The service itself is covered on driveway leveling, and the most common driveway problem is explained on driveway sinking near the garage.
Driveway cost questions
Is it cheaper to lift one driveway panel than replace it?
Usually, since there's no demolition, hauling or new concrete. It also keeps the panel matching the rest of the driveway.
Why does the garage apron affect the cost?
The apron has to meet the garage floor while still sloping away from the door, and it often has larger voids from foundation backfill settling. That takes careful work.
Can you lift my whole driveway at once?
Yes. If several panels have settled, we lift them in the same visit and match them to each other.
Will I need to park somewhere else?
During the work, yes. Afterward, driveways are usually back in use soon, since foam cures quickly. We'll tell you when yours is ready.