Best Asphalt Driveway Sealers (Review & Buying Guide)

When you’re dealing with anything house-related, you want it to last. Things shouldn’t break down in a week or two. And Gardner’s driveway sealer is designed to do just that: last. According to the company, this driveway sealer will last up to 10 years, if properly maintained, and will keep your driveway looking great. Not only that, but the reason why Gardner’s takes our top spot is that it’s also fast-drying, can work as a sealer or crack filler, and isn’t all that expensive when you consider other options in the space. It’s really a Swiss Army knife and it’s the best option available. However, there are things you should know. It does require a quick mix before you get to work, as most options do. But this one might need a little more muscle to get it started. And second, the coverage area, though stated on the packaging, might vary depending on when your driveway was last sealed, as well as what medium your driveway is. A few folks have reported getting more than the advertised 350 square feet, while others have reported less. That said, no one has had much of an issue with the product itself and its sealing properties.

Latex-ite’s Airport Grade sealer takes the second spot on this list primarily because it’s cheap as hell, and if you buy in bulk—5 buckets or more—it gets even cheaper. At the time of writing, this driveway sealer will set you back just $21 at Home Depot, however, if you buy more than five buckets, that drops to just $19. A screaming deal. Latex-ite’s sealer, however, doesn’t skimp on the formula. The sealer covers a staggering 400 square feet per bucket, can be used as a crack filler, and comes with a 4-year warranty to boot. Not as great as Gardner’s, but a worry-free four years is a worry-free four years. I’ll take a longer-than-average warranty over none any day. There are a few drawbacks to this value pick, though. The directions aren’t quite clear on how the initial application should go, and the company could do a better job of detailing instructions. And lastly, though it’s advertised as only requiring a single coat to get the job done, a few folks have reported that a second is advisable, especially for those who haven’t sealed their driveways in a long time.

Folks, if your driveway is looking tired and there’s a party about to happen within the next few hours, what the hell are you doing here? Go get ready! You’ve got guests coming and you know Aunt Irma is going to show up 2 hours early. But, if you don’t have an Aunt Irma, and your party is in a few more hours and you need your driveway resealed, then Black Jack’s Drive-Maxx 1000 is the product you’re looking for. This driveway sealer cures for foot traffic in just 1 hour, which is incredibly quick. Moreover, this formula is incredibly versatile, as it can be applied to the surface between 45 and 99 degrees ambient temperature, which really covers most of the time you’ll be working outside. Anything colder and it’s incredibly unpleasant. Anything hotter, and you’re burning up. There are some downsides you should be aware of, including that while it cures for foot traffic in just an hour, it requires 24 hours for vehicle traffic. Though it could be sooner, depending on temperature, wind, etc. And secondly, it may require a second coat. Like others on this list, the state of the driveway has a lot to do with how many coats you do to properly seal it.

A year or two can seem like forever. But when you’re doing something you absolutely don’t want to do, i.e. seal your driveway, a few years in between coats can appear incredibly close together. 10 years, however, is a long, long time and it’s how long you’ll have in between coats if you get Jetcoat’s 10-year sealant. This long-last sealant is designed to last, with a patented formula that’ll cover your driveway for 10 years. What’s also great about Jetcoat’s sealant is that it’s ready to use, no mixing required and it’s extremely easy to use. Just throw it onto your asphalt, break out a squeegee, and get to painting it onto the blacktop. All that’s left to do is wait for it to cure and then start a very long countdown clock until your next application. The trade-off to this formula, however, is that it’s expensive. At the time of writing, it’s nearly $100. It also takes a full 24-48 hours to cure before you can start driving across it. That said, buy once, cry once, and then sit back and have a pinacolda or something while the driveway cures. It’s a win-win, folks.