Our 2023 Concrete Driveway Price Guide
Written by Daniel Woodley. Fact Checked by Paul Farley. Published to Prices. Updated: 9th March 2023.
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Concrete driveways have changed a lot over the last few decades, and those ugly slabs of bland, colourless cement are long gone.
In their place is modern concrete mixes with colourful dyes and unique patterns imprinted onto the surface.
Pattern imprinted concrete (PIC) is a popular alternative to slabs and driveway blocks, it lasts for decades, is tough, weed-proof and can be recoloured at any time.
It’s also cheaper than many other types of driveway material.
Questions Answered in This Guide
These are the questions I’ll answer:
- How much does a concrete driveway cost?
- What is the cost for a small 2-car driveway? And for a bigger drive holding up to 4/5 cars?
- What is the typical cost of a concrete drive on a per square metre basis?
+ many more in our FAQs section
Concrete Driveway Price 1: 60 Sq Mtrs
The prices shown below are an average of the figures provided to me by the 34 driveway installers I contacted in 2023.
These prices are for a standard concrete driveway installation as described above.
You may wish or need additional work done, such as drainage channels, soakaways, brick walls, front doorsteps, extra levelling of the ground etc., and this will add to the cost as I haven’t included them in this price guide.
For a driveway of this size, I expect the work to take between 2-4 days, but it really depends on how many people are working on the project.
| Location: | Price inc VAT: |
|---|---|
| London and South | £7200 - £7800 (£120-£130 psm) |
| Midlands and North | £6600 - £7200 (£110-£120 psm) |
Concrete Driveway Price 2: 100 Sq Mtrs
The next set of prices we requested was for a 100 square metre driveway which is large enough to hold 4-5 cars, depending on the shape.
As with our first project, this is a standard installation with a sub-base and patterned concrete top layer.
It doesn’t include drainage channels, soakaways, brick edgings or walls etc that would add to the cost.
| Location: | Price inc VAT: |
|---|---|
| London and South | £11000 - £12000 (£110-£120 psm) |
| Midlands and North | £10000 - £11000 (£100-£110 psm) |
Concrete Driveway Cost Per Square Metre
It’s very difficult to price a driveway without first inspecting the property, as there are so many ifs and buts.
Small driveways can cost much more per square metre basis than huge ones measuring hundreds of metres.
Below is a very rough guide to the cost on a per square metre basis, the figures are an average of the prices given to me.
| Location: | Price inc VAT: |
|---|---|
| All Regions | £100 - £130 per sq mtr |
Other Costs to Consider
The prices I’ve published on this page are for a standard concrete drive installation and do not include:
Kerb dropping/lowering – the pavement and road belong to the council, so if you need to lower a kerb to gain access to your driveway, you’ll need to gain permission from them first. I researched the costs of lowering a kerb in 2021, and the results were a shocker, with many councils charging over £2000, although some were cheaper. Also, there’s no guarantee that the council will grant your request; I’ve seen applications rejected due to health and safety concerns and neighbour objections.
Driveway Drainage – this could be an issue with concrete driveways as the material isn’t permeable. Since 2008 and as a result of repeated flash floods in the UK, all new driveways, including refurbishments, must not permit rainwater to discharge onto the public footpath or highway. Your options are to ensure rainwater drains into a flowerbed or lawn, install a drainage channel and soakaway or get planning permission to drain the water onto the public pavement or road. I have worked on a few projects where we got permission, but I’ve also seen plenty of rejections.
Edgings – edgings act as a raised separator between the driveway and flowerbeds and lawns. On a concrete driveway, they’re optional but I’ve seen them installed for aesthetic reasons.
Any extra work required such as raising flowerbeds, tree removal, brick walls, large doorsteps or relocating underground pipes, drain covers or cables etc., can add to the cost of the concrete driveway.
What Concrete Driveways Look Like
Concrete finishes have come a long way in recent years and you have a choice of styles and colours:
How Does Concrete Compare to Other Driveway Materials?
Driveway Blocks – more costly than gravel and concrete but cheaper than resin, block paving drives can be found all over the UK and I’ve seen customers get creative with patterns and my mixing different blocks. I prefer cobbles over bland blocks which are the most common and I’ve always found block drives easy to repair, extend and maintain. You have several options for rainwater management; allow rainwater to run off to lawns/flowerbeds, install drains and soakaways or choose the more expensive permeable blocks that allow rainwater to soak through the blocks into the ground.
Tarmac – traditional and popular but based on my experience, it can look bland and a little tired once dulled by UV light. Repairs and extensions are possible but often look patchy. Based on my experience and knowledge of this industry I know that the cost of a tarmac driveway is slightly less than a block driveway and much cheaper than resin. Rainwater management will be required for non-permeable tarmac, which costs more.
Gravel – the cheapest material you can use as a driveway surface but gravel shift/migration can be an issue on some drives. If constructed to a high standard, gravel drives can be both stunning and practical, although I’ve found that cleaning can be troublesome, especially if you have trees that shed lots of leaves and pine needles can be tough to remove from a gravel drive. Rainwater drainage shouldn’t be an issue on a properly constructed gravel drive, i.e. one with a permeable sub-base.
Resin – my favourite type of driveway, but it’s also the most expensive. A glue-like resin is mixed with gravel to create a stunning smooth surface that is tough and durable but also permeable. Resin drives last for years, can be extended with ease and are becoming very popular. If you like the look of gravel but the maintenance puts you off, consider resin driveways.
Get Your Custom Driveway Quote Today
Driveway estimates like mine can be helpful for budgeting and are certainly insightful, but every property is different, and requirements vary from customer to customer.
Get a custom price that reflects your expectations by selecting a business from our preferred network of traders.
- Get an accurate price based on the specifics of your property.
- A prompt service, get a driveway price quickly, often in hours, not days.
- Read fully verified reviews and feedback from past customers.
- You can compare prices online from up to three different yet local driveway specialists.
Concrete Driveway FAQs
What's Great and Not-So-Great About Concrete Driveways?
Repairs, alterations and extensions can be complicated once the concrete has hardened. The surface can also be slippery when wet, especially if the driveway is steep. I saw a homeowner fall off a ladder that was placed on a sloped concrete driveway that had a shiny surface, and I’m confident this wouldn’t have happened on a rough surface such as tarmac. Concrete also needs a protective coating, which should be reapplied periodically every 5-7 years. I have seen cracks appear in concrete that can’t always be mitigated with movement cuts. Also, concrete isn’t permeable, so some drives will require a drainage channel and soakaway, which adds to the cost.
The cost of a concrete driveway is often cheaper than resin and blocks and is comparable to tarmac. If laid to a high standard, it should last longer than any other type of driveway. The patterns can make the drive look like cobbles, paving slabs or blocks, and there are many designs to choose from, so you can get creative.
How Recent Are These Driveway Prices?
I published these driveway prices in early 2023.
Where Did These Prices Come From?
I contacted 34 concrete driveway specialists and general driveway installers from various locations around the UK. The figures displayed are an average of the prices supplied to me.
Do I Need to Get Planning Permission For a Concrete Driveway?
Planning rules are complex and always subject to change, so start with the government’s planning portal.
As a general rule of thumb; if you aren’t increasing the size of the driveway, lowering kerbs or discharging rainwater onto public land, then you shouldn’t need planning permission unless there are planning restrictions on your property.
Most concrete driveways in the UK won’t need planning permission.
Can't The Installer Just Lay Concrete Over the Existing Driveway?
This might be feasible in some situations, but most concrete driveway installers will want to ensure the sub-base is suitable. Also, the height of the driveway will be raised considerably if the original driveway material isn’t removed first and I’ve seen first-hand that this can cause all sorts of problems.
Are There Any Driveway Associations Where I Can Find Reputable Installers?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any concrete driveway vetting associations in the UK. You can use our network of tradespeople to find a good quality installer and of course, there’s also Checkatrade, Trustmark, Which? and other general trader associations you can use.
Where is the Best Place to Ask a Technical Question About The Installation of a Driveway?
Tony McCormack’s The Paving Expert is by far the best place for technical information related to paving and driveways in the UK. The site has also been updated recently.
There’s plenty of videos on YouTube that show how a concrete driveway is laid and imprinted, many are very insightful.
How Long Until I Can Use The Driveway?
Concrete dries quickly but takes a few days before it can hold any significant weight. You can walk on the driveway after 24 hours and drive on it after about a week.
Can The Concrete Be Re-Coloured?
Yes, the concrete surface can be recoloured at any time, and I’ve worked with customers who have altered the colour of their driveways years after the initial installation.
About This Price Guide
This guide to driveway costs was created by Daniel Woodley who has nearly two decades of experience in the construction and home improvement industries, including over 8 years as a project manager.
The advice on this page is based on his experience and knowledge. The price suggestions are based on feedback from driveway installers we asked for a quotation – the displayed figures are an average.
We know that accuracy is important, so we also asked Paul Farley to fact-check the important statements we’ve made in this guide.
Author: Daniel Woodley
In his spare time, Daniel enjoys gardening, hiking and scrambling. He frequently posts videos to his popular YouTube Channel and is well known in the hiking community.
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Resin Driveways
Resin is our favourite material for paths and driveways. It looks like stones, and comes in a choice of colours, but is solid and last for years. See how much resin driveways cost here.
Gravel Driveways
Gravel is the cheapest driveway material and there are ways to stop the gravel from shifting and migrating off the drive. See how much a gravel drive costs here.
This guide to concrete driveway costs was created by the team here at DIY Gardening
