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Fix a driveway that has potholes

We'll confirm the surface type (asphalt, concrete, or gravel), assess the damage, then fill small potholes with cold patch, concrete repair mix, or gravel—or tell you when to call a paving pro.

Troubleshooting · Home maintenance
30–90 min
What you'll need
  • Cold patch (asphalt) or concrete repair mix (concrete) or gravel (gravel driveway)
  • Broom, wire brush, or putty knife (for cleaning)
  • Hand tamper or 4x4 (for compacting)
  • Chisel and hammer (for concrete—chipping loose material)
  • Trowel (for concrete repair)
Step 1 of 8

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Steps

Goal: Confirm the surface type, assess the damage, then fill small potholes or call a pro.

  • Confirm the surface type—asphalt (black), concrete (gray), or gravel (loose stone). The fix differs by type.
  • Assess pothole size and extent. Small potholes (under about 2 feet across) are DIY. Large, numerous, or base-failure damage needs a paving professional.
  • Check for water drainage issues. Water pooling speeds pothole formation. Fix drainage before or after patching.
  • Good: You know the surface type and extent. Proceed to Asphalt path, Concrete path, or Gravel path.
  • Bad: Damage is widespread or the base is crumbling—call a paving professional.

Asphalt path

Goal: Fill small asphalt potholes with cold patch.

  • Remove loose debris, dirt, and broken asphalt from the pothole. Use a broom, wire brush, or putty knife. The patch needs a clean, dry surface. If the hole has water, let it dry first.
  • Pour cold patch into the hole. Overfill slightly—about 1/2 inch above the surrounding surface. Tamp with a hand tamper, piece of 4x4, or drive over it repeatedly. For deep holes, add in 2-inch layers and compact each.
  • Good: Patch is level with or slightly above the driveway and compacts with traffic.
  • Bad: Patch sinks or crumbles—may need more compaction or the base is failing; call a paving professional.

Concrete path

Goal: Fill small concrete potholes with repair mix.

  • Chip out loose or crumbling concrete with a chisel and hammer. Clean the hole and dampen it (do not leave standing water).
  • Mix concrete repair product per instructions. Trowel into the hole, overfill slightly, then strike off flush with the surrounding surface. Cure per product instructions—usually keep damp for 24–48 hours.
  • Good: Patch is flush and cured.
  • Bad: Patch cracks or fails—base may be failing; call a paving professional.

Gravel path

Goal: Fill depressions in a gravel driveway.

  • Add new gravel (same size as existing if possible) to fill the depression. Spread evenly. Compact with a hand tamper or by driving over it. Add more gravel as it compacts. Repeat until the surface is level.
  • Good: Depression filled and surface even.
  • Bad: Depression returns quickly—drainage or base issue; may need regrading or a paving professional.

When to get help

Call a paving professional when:

  • Potholes are large (over a few square feet).
  • There are many potholes across the driveway.
  • The base is crumbling or the surface is severely cracked and failing.
  • Resurfacing or full replacement may be needed.

Verification

  • The pothole is filled and level with or slightly above the surrounding surface.
  • Compacted material (asphalt or gravel) does not sink or crumble after traffic.
  • Concrete patch is cured and flush.
  • No new cracks or crumbling around the patch.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm surface type Identify asphalt, concrete, or gravel—fix differs by type.
  2. Assess extent Small, isolated potholes are DIY; large or widespread damage needs a pro.
  3. Asphalt — cold patch Clean, fill with cold patch, compact.
  4. Concrete — repair mix Chip loose material, fill with concrete repair mix, finish flush.
  5. Gravel — fill and compact Add gravel, compact with tamper or by driving over it.
  6. Call a pro Large area, many potholes, base failing—call a paving professional.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Surface type (asphalt, concrete, or gravel)
  • Pothole size and number
  • Whether water pools in the area
  • Steps already tried

Is the driveway asphalt?

Asphalt is black and tar-like. Concrete is gray and hard. Gravel is loose stone.

Check the surface. Asphalt: black, flexible when warm. Concrete: gray, rigid. Gravel: loose stone. The fix differs by type. Verify you should see the material clearly.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Is it concrete or gravel?

Concrete is gray and rigid. Gravel is loose stone.

Concrete: gray, hard surface. Gravel: loose stone, no paved surface. Proceed to the matching path.

Concrete Gravel

You can change your answer later.

Are the potholes small (under ~2 feet across)?

Small asphalt potholes can be filled with cold patch. Large or numerous potholes need a pro.

Assess size and number. Small, few: DIY with cold patch. Large or many: call a paving professional. If the base is crumbling, call a pro. Verify you should see whether damage is localized.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fill asphalt pothole with cold patch

Clean the hole, pour cold patch, overfill slightly, compact with a hand tamper or by driving over it.

Clean the pothole—remove loose debris and dirt. Pour cold patch into the hole. Overfill about 1/2 inch. Compact with a hand tamper or drive over it. For deep holes, add in 2-inch layers. Good: patch level and compacted. Bad: patch sinks or crumbles—may need more compaction or the base is failing; call a pro.

Done

Are the potholes small (under ~2 feet across)?

Small concrete potholes can be patched. Large or widespread damage needs a pro.

Assess size and number. Small, few: DIY with concrete repair mix. Large or many: call a paving professional. If the base is crumbling, call a pro. Verify you should see whether damage is localized.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fill concrete pothole with repair mix

Chip loose material, clean, dampen, fill with concrete repair mix, finish flush.

Chip out loose concrete. Clean and dampen the hole. Mix concrete repair product per instructions. Trowel into the hole, overfill slightly, strike off flush. Cure per instructions (often 24–48 hours, keep damp). Good: patch flush and cured. Bad: patch cracks or fails—base may be failing; call a pro.

Done

Fill gravel depression

Add new gravel and compact. Gravel driveways develop depressions from traffic.

Add new gravel (same size as existing if possible) to fill the depression. Spread evenly. Compact with a hand tamper or by driving over it. Add more as it compacts. Good: surface level. Bad: depression returns quickly—drainage or base issue; may need regrading or a pro.

Done

Call a paving professional

Call a paving professional when potholes are large (over a few square feet), numerous across the driveway, the base is crumbling, or the surface is severely cracked and failing. Resurfacing or replacement may be needed.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why do driveway potholes form?
Freeze-thaw cycles, water pooling, heavy traffic, and age break down the surface. Water gets into cracks, freezes and expands, then thaws—repeating this weakens the base and surface until holes form.
Can I fix driveway potholes myself?
Yes, for small potholes. Asphalt: use cold patch. Concrete: use concrete repair mix. Gravel: add and compact new gravel. For large areas, many potholes, or when the base is crumbling, call a paving professional.
When should I call a paving professional?
Call a paving pro when potholes are larger than a few square feet, there are many potholes across the driveway, the base is crumbling, or the surface is severely cracked and failing. Resurfacing or full replacement may be needed.

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