Your driveway is one of the first things people notice when they visit your home. It sets the tone for your front yard and can have a huge impact on the curb appeal of your property. However, along with adding value to your property, it should also be wide enough to accommodate your cars. So, if you are currently in the process of renovating your house and are wondering how wide should a driveway be, this article is meant just for you.
Typically, the driveway width depends on multiple factors. If you are thinking about expanding your existing driveway, you should think about how many cars you will park there every day, the average size of each vehicle, the area surrounding the driveway, and if you will be using the space for purposes other than parking the cars.
There should also be enough space on your driveway for someone to walk along with the car without having to step into the grass right next to it. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to step into dirt or get scraped by a potted plant while getting out of your vehicle.
In addition, the tires of your car should not touch the front yard or damage the pavement. You should also have enough room in your driveway to maneuver around the car while taking out groceries, work equipment, golfing gear, fishing rods, and other items.
If you are interested in driveway paving and want to know how wide should a driveway be, here are some standard measurements that may help you out.
How Wide Should a Driveway Be for One Car?
The average parking space for a car should be around 10 feet. Therefore, the standard single-car driveway width for residential property is 12 feet since you will need extra space on either side of the vehicle to prevent parking on its edges or to bump into the garden bushes.
For the uninitiated, parking on the edges of your driveway can crack the top layer of concrete or asphalt, resulting in deterioration. Moreover, you wouldn’t want to accidentally hit the pavement backing up your car or ruin your beautiful garden by crushing the plants or landscape features underneath your tires. Furthermore, if your driveway has a wall or fence on each side, you must measure the area carefully to ensure you can easily open the car doors without hitting either of the objects.
Meanwhile, if you own a large vehicle, such as an RV or a work truck, you will probably need a driveway wider than 12 feet to accommodate your vehicle.
How Wide Should a Driveway Be for Two Cars?
The ideal width of a double-car driveway is between 20 and 24 feet.
While 20 feet is considered enough space to park two cars next to each other, it may not leave you enough room to open their doors while they are standing side by side. Hence, if you own two vehicles and want to park them together, it would be best to put in a driveway that is at least 24 feet wide.
How Wide Should a Driveway Be for Three Cars?
Using the measurements above, we can deduce that a triple-car driveway should have an additional 10 feet of parking space for the third vehicle. If you factor in the extra room required for opening the doors and unloading the car, the total figure comes up to about 36 feet.
It is also important to remember that there should be sufficient space to walk between the cars while they are parked side-by-side.
What Is an Ideal Circular Driveway Width?
If you plan to put in a long driveway in front of your home, you will probably require a circular turnaround area. It will allow you to reverse into the turnaround and drive forward down the driveway instead of backing all the way down to the street.
A circular or horseshoe driveway should be around 10 feet to 12 feet wide. If your vehicle has a bigger cab, you may want to add a few more feet to these measurements.
Most Popular Driveway Options
Some of the most popular materials for driveways include:
- Gravel
- Pavers
- Concrete
- Asphalt
- Basalt
- Shell
How to Make Your Driveway More Functional and Attractive
Let’s look at some top-rated items that can make your driveway, and ultimately your house, safer and more aesthetically appealing.
1/2 Mile Long Range Solar Wireless Driveway Alarm
- eMacros ADVANTAGE-30 years+ solar driveway alarm wireless and solar driveway alert system produced in our own factory with our leading-edge systems technology. Wireless Solar Driveway Alarm Includes 1 AC Powered Receiver and 1 Sensor. SOLAR POWERED NO NEED REPLACE BATTERIES- The sensor is powered by a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery which will be charged by the solar panel, so no need replace the battery, the sensor also can be powered by the DC5V power adapter.
- EASY TO INSTALL- Quick Start Guide has you operational in minutes. Can expandable up to 4 sensors and unlimited receivers for complete coverage of your perimeter. Wireless driveway alarm Detects movement from humans, cars, and large animals. There are 4 fun & unique chimes to choose from. Match different chimes with different sensors around your property to differentiate where driveway alarm wireless motion is being detected.
- SUPER LONG RECEIVING RANGE - 1/2 mile (in ideal situations). Our range is the 1/2 mile competitors claim under ideal conditions. We use newer technology components and excellent manufacturing techniques. Our system has been real-world tested in settings with trees, buildings, walls, and vehicles. It easily achieves a 1500FT wireless range in most conditions. It is been tested through thick forestry, hail storms, gusty winds, heavy rains, scorching heat, and snow.
- EXCELLENT QUALITY - Outdoor driveway alert sensor system is made with industrial-grade PVC housing, rubberized weather/water-resistant seal, and a runs on one solar rechargeable.
- EXTREMELY RELIABLE - Much time went into developing and testing our reliable Infrared outdoor driveway alarm wireless detector that will dependably alert you to activity around your property. False alarms are minimized by adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor “eye” with Switch. (Hi = 30ft,Low = 20ft.) See Owner’s Instruction Manual. Swivel mount to refine the focus and detection angle of the sensor.
This easy-to-install driveway alarm system will warn you against trespassers or burglars. It is also weatherproof and comes with a solar sensor and adjustable sensitivity control feature.
Solar Powered Outdoor Deck Lights
- 💡【Solar Powered】Eco-Friendly Rechargeable solar panels,automatically recharges during the day and glows when night falls.Each light has 6 leds which gives out Intensityt and steady light.we could have called these Deck Dots, Stair Dots, Pier Dots or Boardwalk Dots.
- 💡【Long Lighting Time】Built-in 600mAH large storage battery, 6-8 hours solar charging time when in good sunshine condition, enough to supply the leds up to 5 days.
- 💡【Waterproof & Resistance to Pressure】IP67 Rating allows for downpours and submersion. High quality heavy metal frame, Bear 50% weight than other lights, which means that it will not be damaged even the car or truck run over it.
- 💡【Installs in Minutes】This light can be quickly installed in any ground where it can absorb the sun light directly. No wiring, you can fix it with screws or glue, 12pcs screws included in the package,(Just like the JP2023A Screw) ,The screws are more in line with the usage habits.
- 💡【Highest Industry Standards】The whole Volisuns solar dock lights are certified by FCC of a high standard. Different from other brands of manufacturing materials. Our single LED lights have a net weight of 0.65LB, high quality assurance. For any product questions,please contact Volisun Customer Servi
These small solar-powered LED docks can light up your driveway and help you park the car without any trouble. They are also sturdy enough to bear the weight of a passing car.
Polar Aurora Barcelona Decorative Post Mailbox
- Large capacity mailbox: The Barcelona Decorative Post mailbox is large enough to place daily correspondence and magazines, for mail/post/package receiving and decoration
- Classic Design : All metal , rust free construction in a classic design that beautifully compatible with any décor, this aluminum mailbox will bring compliments from your neighbors
- Easy to Assemble: The postbox dimension : 18.3 x 8.3 x 9 inch, The post is 62.2 inch tall. It takes about fifteen minutes to install, includes post, bracket that holds the mailbox, 1 red Flag, and Hardware
- Sturdy Construction: The Cast Aluminum Mailbox is rust free and sturdy, giving a traditional elegant look to your entryway while withstanding the test of time
- Perfect Surface Treatment: Different from the ordinary baking treatment, the mailbox is also proceed with electrostatic Powder Coating after pre-treatment, and the workpiece is baked and cured by a furnace temperature of 200 degrees for 15 minutes, the main component of the powder coating is polyester resin, this material has impact resistance and strong adhesion. The whole surface is coated with two layers, It has good weather resistance and is not easy to be powde
Spruce up your driveway with this elegant, heavy-duty aluminum mailbox. Available in a sophisticated white color, this item will soon become the talk of the neighborhood.
Rubber Cable Protector Ramps
- 4 Packs 1 Channel: Amount: 4 PCs; Product size: 40 L x 6 W x 1.2 H/ 102 x 15.5 x 3 cm; Single channel size:1.1 W x 0.8 H/ 2.8 x 2 cm; Cables protector ramp keeps various wires from getting damaged by foot traffic and vehicles. Whats more, the speed bump is ideal for slowing down the speed of cars or trucks to create a secure driving environment for roads, parking lots, and more.
- Max. 18000 lbs Capacity: Traditional black+yellow color provides greater visibility at night and in low light environments. The cable protector ramp incorporates a unique design in its appearance to capture the attention of passer-by and drivers to slow off. 18,000Lbs load capacity ensures that you can drive your car over the ramp without affecting the cables running inside.
- Premium Slip-proof Rubber: Our cable protector cover is constructed with industrial-level rubber and a PVC cover, water-proof, wear-proof, and non-deformed for long-lasting usage. Flip-open design allowing you to place or remove cables quickly and easily. Texture strips on the surface for vehicles to pass without sliding; Bottom shock absorption has strong stability to control traffic speed while not damaging cars or roads.
- Modular Interlocking Connection: Modular design allows multiple speed bumps to be connected to cover the longer cords. With the design, you can effortlessly assemble it on the floor of your house or even outdoors. In addition, this feature offers you a do-it-yourself vibe as you can either have a specialist connect the product for you or achieve a sense of self-pride and go at it yourself.
- Versatile Application: The cable ramp is perfect for indoor and outdoor, commercial and domestic, such as parking lots, warehouses, concerts, hotels, stages, shopping malls, sports events, schools, communities, and construction plac
These anti-slide and heavy-duty cable ramps can help protect any cables on your driveway.
Our Final Thoughts
To sum it up, the width of a standard single-car driveway should be approximately 12 feet. If you own more cars and plan to park them side by side outside your home, you can multiply their number by 12 to find out the total area required to put in a driveway.
Hopefully, this guide on how wide should a driveway be has answered all your pressing questions about the topic. Whether you are planning to hire a contractor or take the DIY route, it is recommended to measure the area more than once to eliminate any errors in the calculations. Moreover, if you notice any cracks appearing on the surface of your driveway, make sure to fix them before they deepen or widen any further.
