If you own or manage a commercial property in New Jersey, maintaining your parking lot is essential for safety, curb appeal, and long-term durability. One of the most common questions property owners ask is: How much does it cost to pave a parking lot in NJ?
To pave a commercial parking lot in New Jersey usually costs $2.00 - $7.00 per square foot. In this guide, we’ll break down the average costs for parking lot paving in New Jersey and key considerations that impact pricing.
Many factors influence price, such as:
We’ll dive into these points (and others) below.
And just so you’re aware, FixAsphalt.com has been in commercial paving and parking lot maintenance since 2001. We quote asphalt, concrete, pavement repair and pavement asphalt seal coating projects daily, so all of this info is from real projects quoted in 2024-2025.
NOTE: This article has been read, edited, and approved for publishing by Steven Brahney, who has 30+ years of asphalt experience maintaining and reconstructing asphalt parking lots for commercial properties in every state on the East Coast.
Let’s get started!
In New Jersey, the cost to pave a commercial parking lot typically ranges from $2.00 to $7.00 per square foot, depending on the project's complexity. Here’s a general pricing breakdown:
| Lot Size | Approximate Square Footage | Estimated Cost (NJ) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-15 cars) | 4,000 – 7,000 sq. ft. | $10,000 – $50,000 |
| Medium (30-50 cars) | 10,000 – 20,000 sq. ft. | $20,000 – $140,000 |
| Large (100+ cars) | 35,000+ sq. ft. | $70,000 – $400,000+ |
If your parking lot only requires resurfacing (a new layer of asphalt over existing pavement), the cost will be on the lower end. However, if full-depth reconstruction is necessary, expect to pay more.
Several factors affect the cost of paving a parking lot in New Jersey, including:
Although paving a larger parking lot incurs a higher total cost, the cost per square foot is reduced due to economies of scale. For example, a paving crew capable of covering 50,000 square feet in a day will face a higher per-square-foot cost if tasked with a 10,000 square foot lot. This is because the crew's capacity is underutilized, leading to increased costs to cover overhead, labor, equipment, and profit for the day. While a contractor might attempt to schedule two smaller lots in one day, logistical challenges and the need to transport equipment can make this difficult. If you have multiple commercial properties you own/manage of varying sizes, it's not common for a New Jersey asphalt paving contractor to give you the same square foot price for a 15,000 square foot office building in Freehold, New Jersey as they would on a 125,000 square foot warehouse in Piscataway, New Jersey.
If a paving contractor has a 50,000 square foot parking lot that can be paved in an 8-hour day but the property is a small strip mall in Edison, New Jersey and is very busy, the project will have to be paved over the course of 2-days so each section can be paved, striped, concrete bumper blocks re-installed etc. before the second section can be started. In this instance, the project will incur a second mobilization cost of typically $7,000-$20,000.00 to re-mobilize the milling and paving equipment.
On the flip side, if the parking lot is 200,000 square feet and the paving crew has a production capacity of 50,000 square feet per day, the project itis automatically split into 4 mobilizations and should not incur any additional costs as the contractor has their daily production costs covered in their paving quote.
Every paving proposal should clearly outline the number of mobilizations or site visits included in the asphalt paving costs. If this information is missing, ensure the contractor provides it in writing to avoid misunderstandings once the project begins. It's common for a paving contractor to have one scheduling expectation while the property owner or manager has another. Discussing these details before signing the proposal (rather than the day before paving, or worse, on the day itself) helps prevent scheduling delays.
The days a parking lot can be worked on can affect the pricing. Apshalt plant's normal working hours are from 6:00 AM - 3:30 PM Monday - Friday. The plants also can operate overnight and on weekends, However, there is a cost to open the asphalt plant outside of "normal working hours." This cost can range from $1,500.00 - $5,000.00 depending on the plant, the days and, if the plant personnel are union or open shop. This additional fee is referred to as a "plant opening charge."
Can the parking lot be paved Monday - Friday from 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM? Or does it have to be paved overnight or on a Saturday or Sunday?
In addition to the plan opening charge, paving outside normal working hours of the asphalt plant can also incur additional crew costs for overtime in addition to the asphalt plant opening charge. These can range from $2,500.00 - $10,000.00
What is the scope of work?
Asphalt Paving while, a generic term, has several different scopes of work. It's important to understand each one to make sure the scope of work being proposed is the correct one for your New Jersey parking lot.
Below is a list of services that may be required to be performed prior to asphalt paving:
Beyond paving, there are other expenses to consider after paving:
To ensure you get the best value when paving your parking lot, follow these steps:
Most parking lots can be paved within 1-3 days, depending on size and complexity. However, additional time is needed for curing and striping.
Yes, if the existing asphalt is in decent condition, an overlay (resurfacing) can be done, which is more cost-effective than full replacement.
With proper maintenance, an asphalt parking lot in NJ can last 15-25 years. Regular sealcoating and crack filling will extend its lifespan.
Asphalt is more cost-effective and performs well in NJ’s freeze-thaw climate. Concrete is more durable but costs significantly more.
Most municipalities in New Jersey do not require permits for asphalt paving. The exception is Bergen County, New Jersey that requires a permit in some municipalities for projects as small as pothole repairs to repaving. Always check local regulations before starting a project.
At FixAsphalt.com, we specialize in commercial parking lot paving, asphalt resurfacing, and maintenance throughout New Jersey. Whether you need a new parking lot or simple repairs, we provide expert solutions tailored to your budget.
📞 Call 1-877-349-2774 or visit www.fixasphalt.com to schedule a consultation today!