We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
Water is your home’s enemy. Whether it’s from a summer deluge, a hurricane in the Carolinas, or winter melt like I experienced this winter in Utah. It gets in, it destroys, and you’re left with a multi-thousand-dollar bill trying to fix what the water destroyed. Ask me how I know…
That destruction can even occur in your own driveway, but there is a solution in ensuring its longevity: driveway sealant. This substance essentially waterproofs your driveway, along with those cracks that might have formed already, and keeps your asphalt looking pristine for years on end. However, the market is flooded—pun intended—with options that can make selecting a driveway sealer a real pain.
But you have The Drive at your disposal, and we took the time to find the best driveway sealers on the market so you don’t have to. Check out our list below.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Jetcoat 10-year
- Best Value: Latex-ite Airport Grade
- Best Fast Drying: Black Jack Drive-Maxx 1000
Our Methodology
I’ve done my fair share of driveway and asphalt repair over the years. I worked construction all throughout high school, helped do handyman jobs during college, and helped my parents and in-laws work on their houses throughout my life. Suffice it to say, I know my way around a project.
What I prioritized for this list was fast-drying, good-quality, and actually sealing up those unsightly cracks with ease. I also paid special attention to how easy the sealant goes on and whether or not folks have had issues down the road with the sealers. If you want to know more about The Drive’s recommendation methodology, you can head over here and read more.
Best Asphalt Driveway Sealer Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Jetcoat 10-year
Pros
- Longevity
- Easy application
- Ready to use
Cons
- Cost
- Takes time to cure
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.
Best Value: Latex-ite Airport Grade
Pros
- Value
- Covers large area
- 4-year warranty
Cons
- Directions aren’t clear about initial application
- May require a second coat, even though advertised as single coat
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.
Best Fast Drying: Black Jack Drive-Maxx 1000
Pros
- Dries in 1 hour for foot traffic
- Inexpensive
- Application can be done between 45 and 99 degrees ambient temperature
Cons
- May require second coat
- Dries for vehicle traffic in 24 hours
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.
Our Verdict on Asphalt Driveway Sealers
Gardner’s name-brand quality, 10-year warranty, and fast-drying application takes our top spot. It also helps that it’s not super expensive when compared to others in the space. However, if you want to save a few bucks or only need to patch a few cracks, then you won’t beat the value of Latex-ite’s large coverage area, 4-year warranty, and price.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Nothing, they mean the same thing.
As someone who’s spent the last 6 months trying desperately to direct water away from his house, you betcha. Sealing ensures you don’t get cracks, which can lead to further damage and problems down the road.
That, honestly, depends on the sealer you get. Check the packaging before you buy it.
Spraying it is easier, but it doesn’t work as well as roll-on/squeegee across sealant.
