Crack Filling vs Crack Sealing: What's the Difference?

Crack filling and crack sealing are often used interchangeably, but they are different processes with different materials, different lifespans, and different costs. Crack filling uses cold-pour liquid filler that fills the void but does not bond aggressively. Crack sealing uses hot rubberized sealant that bonds to the crack walls and stays flexible for years. For commercial properties, crack sealing is almost always the right choice.

What crack filling is

Crack filling uses a cold-pour asphalt emulsion or liquid filler that is poured into a crack at ambient temperature. The material flows into the crack and hardens as it dries. It is commonly available at hardware stores and is the product most homeowners use on their driveways.

• Material: Cold-pour liquid asphalt emulsion or latex-based filler
• Application: Poured directly from a container, no heating
• Bonding: Minimal. The material fills the void but does not form a strong chemical bond with the crack walls.
• Flexibility: Low. Once cured, cold-pour filler becomes rigid and tends to pull away from the crack walls as the pavement expands and contracts.
• Lifespan: Weeks to months. Cold-pour filler typically cracks, shrinks, or pulls out within one season.
• Cost: $0.75 to $1.25 per linear foot
• Best for: Hairline surface checks, temporary homeowner repairs, very small residential cracks

What crack sealing is

Crack sealing uses hot rubberized sealant (typically meeting ASTM D6690 specifications) that is heated to 350 to 400 degrees and poured into a cleaned, prepared crack. The sealant bonds to the asphalt walls and remains flexible after cooling, moving with the pavement through temperature changes and freeze-thaw cycles.

• Material: Hot-pour rubberized asphalt sealant
• Application: Heated in a specialized kettle and applied with a pour pot or applicator wand
• Bonding: Strong. The hot sealant bonds chemically to the asphalt walls when properly cleaned and heated.
• Flexibility: High. The rubberized material stays flexible through temperature extremes and accommodates pavement movement.
• Lifespan: Two to four years when properly applied
• Cost: $1.50 to $2.00 per linear foot
• Best for: Commercial properties, any crack wider than a quarter inch, cracks that will be sealcoated over, and any maintenance program

For the full process, see our crack sealing guide.

Side-by-side comparison

When to use each method

The choice depends on the property type, the crack size, and the expected lifespan of the repair:

• Use crack filling when: You are a homeowner addressing a few small hairline cracks on a residential driveway, you need a quick temporary fix before a professional can come out, or the cracks are too narrow (under an eighth of an inch) to accept hot-pour sealant effectively.
• Use crack sealing when: You manage a commercial property, the cracks are a quarter inch or wider, you are preparing for sealcoating, you want a repair that lasts more than one season, or the cracks will be subjected to vehicular traffic.

Why the distinction matters

The difference between filling and sealing is the difference between a repair that lasts months and one that lasts years. When water reaches the base through a crack that was only filled (not sealed), the base continues to degrade, and the crack continues to widen. The money saved by choosing cold-pour filler is lost many times over when the crack becomes a pothole that requires full-depth repair.

For pricing on hot-pour crack sealing, see our crack sealing cost guide. For the full process and what to look for in a contractor, see our complete guide to crack sealing.