New Driveway Price Guide

Written by Daniel Woodley. Fact Checked by Paul Farley. Published to Prices. Updated: 9th March 2023.

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My name is Daniel Woodley and I spent 18 years working in the construction industry, including 8 years as a project manager on mid-size developments.

This is my guide to driveway prices per square metre – you can use the figures to get an idea of how much a driveway will cost you.

A new driveway can significantly improve the appearance of any home, increase its value and provide more space for vehicles.

Here, I’ve displayed driveway prices for the most popular surfaces, including:

• Gravel
• Tarmac
• Resin
• Blocks
• Concrete
• DIY Materials List

I’ll also explain how much driveway drainage will cost you should your existing driveway not have a suitable provision in place.

 Gravel Driveway Cost

Gravel is the ultimate low-cost driveway surface, it’s far more eco-friendly than any other type of driveway and is quick to install too.

Drainage isn’t an issue with most gravel driveways as the base can be porous, allowing water to pass through and soak away naturally.

There are dozens of different types and colours of stones to choose from, with grey slate chips my personal favourite.

Worried about the stones migrating and creating a mess everywhere?

Don’t be.

The professional driveway installers I worked with over the years always constructed a block or concrete threshold at the driveway entrance, preventing the stones from drifting onto the pavement or road.

Also, if the correct size stones are chosen, I’ve found that they won’t get trapped in the car’s tyre tread.

Cons

• I’ve found that dirt, leaves, twigs and seeds etc., aren’t easy to remove from a gravel driveway.
• Weeds are more likely to grow.
• Difficult to clean.
• There will always be some gravel shift.
• I’ve met many customers who prefer a smooth driveway surface for aesthetic reasons.
• Requires edgings to keep the stones from shifting into flowerbeds and neighbouring properties.

Price Per Square Metre for Gravel Driveways

Based on my experience and from my contacts in this industry, I believe a typical gravel driveway will involve the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Construct a threshold at the entrance and edgings, to contain the gravel.
• Installation of weed proof barrier.
• Lay and compact a permeable hardcore base to 200mm.
• Lay the gravel.

This is how much I believe a typical gravel driveway costs per square metre, inc VAT:

Tarmac Driveways Per Sq Metre

Tarmac was the number one choice for decades, its smooth finish was seen as desirable, and for several years, red tarmac was popular as well.

I’ve noticed that fewer consumers choose tarmac now as there’s so much choice, and resin has exploded in popularity.

I think you should choose tarmac if you want a low-maintenance, simple driveway surface that rarely suffers from weeds and dirt build-up and is easy to clean.

Tarmac is, however, one of the least environmentally friendly options as it’s produced from a mixture of oil by-products and gravel.

Cons

• They require a drainage solution, so the new driveway adheres to regulations.
• Not very flexible, so tree roots and other sources of movement may crack the material – this is an issue I’ve seen many times.
• Not environmentally friendly.
• Seen by some as an old-fashioned driveway surface.

Project Details and Price Per Sq Metre

My suggested prices below include the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Installation of weed proof barrier, a compacted hardcore base to 150mm depth, and driveway tarmac laid in two layers totalling 75mm. 
• VAT.

Tarmac overlay projects do not include the cost of a new base and cost much cheaper, usually around £40-50 per square metre, depending on the condition of the existing surface and how much cleaning up or repair work is required.

Resin Driveways – My Recommendation

Resin is a very modern material made from aggregate mixed with a translucent resin – a glue-like substance that bonds the stones together.

There are many benefits of resin, and one of them is aesthetics.

Resin drives look like very flat, neat, gravel driveways, but the material is solid, never shifts, is flexible and hard-wearing.

I’ve found that resin shouldn’t discolour as quickly as tarmac and in my opinion, is more appealing to the eye; there are also many colours to choose from.

I have seen first-hand how popular resin driveways have become in recent years and in my opinion, they are the best option.

Cons

• May require a drainage solution, depending on the sub-base.
• One of the least environmentally friendly options as the glue lasts hundreds of years before breaking down.
• Large, heavy vehicles such as vans may scuff the surface (Something I’ve seen many times).
• Not the cheapest material and requires three layers (sub-base, binder course and top layer) so more skilled labour is required for the project.

Resin-Bound Driveways

The prices below include the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Installation of weed proof barrier.
• Compacted hardcore base laid to 150mm depth.
• 70mm bonding layer.
• 20mm resin finish.
• VAT.

A resin overlay, which doesn’t include a new base or extending the driveway, based on my experience, cost around £75 per square metre.

Block Paving Driveway Cost

Block paving is the most popular driveway material, and for a good reason; it’s practical, can be repaired easily, there are lots of choices, it flexes, and I’ve seen them withstand movement from tree roots and heavy vehicles.

Blocks also look appealing, can be cleaned with a pressure washer, and even sealed and recoloured in the future.

If you having problems creating a drainage solution, you can select permeable bricks that allow water to pass through them into the ground; these are perfect for homes where traditional soakaway drainage is problematic.

Cons

• It takes the longest amount of time to install as each brick must be laid individually, and at corners and edges, each brick must be cut to fit the space.
• I feel that cheap. budget bricks look bland.
• Drainage must be considered if you choose the cheaper non-permeable bricks.
• The cost; bricks cost the most per square metre to buy and take the longest to install.

Price Per Square Metre for Block Paved Driveways

The prices below are what I feel a new block driveway will cost and includes the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Installation of weed proof barrier.
• Compacted hardcore base laid to 150mm depth.
• Bedding layer of sand.
• Blocks laid.
• Infill sand swept into joints.
• VAT.

Concrete Driveway Cost

Concrete driveways of yesteryear were bland, dull slabs of colourless sand and cement and are a million miles away from the pattern-imprinted concrete of recent times.

PIC driveways are constructed with a deep compacted sub-base of around 150mm and between 125mm and 150mm of concrete on top, which is coloured and stamped with a pattern of the customer’s choice.

I’ve worked on projects where these concrete driveways were stamped, so they looked like patios, bricks and even circles.

Concrete lasts for decades, and these driveways are ultra low-maintenance, and I’ve found them the easiest to clean.

Cons

• The colour can fade and show signs of wear after a short time.
• Slippery when wet – I saw a homeowner fall off a ladder once as the base of the ladder slipped out, something that rarely happens on grippy tarmac or blocks.
• It’s impossible to patch repair without leaving an obvious gap.
• No flex whatsoever in this type of driveway.
• Not permeable, so a drainage solution will be required.
• Not environmentally friendly.

Price Per Square Metre for Patterned Concrete Driveways

The prices below include the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Installation of weed proof barrier.
• Compacted hardcore base laid to 125+mm depth.
• Concrete laid to 150mm, coloured and stamped with desired pattern
• Cut expansion gaps.
• VAT.

DIY Driveway Prices Per Square Metre

Constructing a driveway is no easy feat, especially if the materials cure quickly – I’ve seen countless failed projects, may of them by incompetent installers.

Tarmac, concrete or resin will set within a few hours, often sooner, so skill and experience are generally required, but if you’re considering the DIY route, here’s an overview of how much the various materials cost per square metre to buy:

Notes

The installation prices on this page exclude the cost of edgings as I assume they are already in place. Also excluded is the cost to infill large holes or vast uneven areas, as it’s impossible to calculate how much soil or other materials will be needed.

The prices on this page are based on:

• Prices from driveway installers I contacted in 2023.
• Published price lists from installers.
• Published price lists from suppliers.
• My experience and knowledge.

Obviously, every project is different, and the prices you receive will be customised to your requirements and could be different from the prices displayed here. Your location, the installer you choose and your driveway’s specifics are all factors that will determine the project’s cost.

Resources

You may find these resources insightful:

Resin driveways pros and cons.

Pattern imprinted concrete styles and colours.

Driveway gravel colours and options.

Everything you need to know about driveway blocks and bricks.

This product cleans patios and driveways with zero effort.

This is how much a new rainwater drainage soakaway costs.

Why You Can Trust This Guide

I know there’s a lot of nonsense published online, usually by those that have never worked in the industry.

I spent 18 years in the construction industry, including several years as a project manager who oversaw landscaping projects.

As accuracy is so important, I gathered prices from driveway installers before publishing this price guide.

Please bear in mind that these prices are averages, I received prices that were substantially higher and lower than the figures shown on this page.

I also asked Paul Farley to fact-check the important statements I’ve made in this guide.

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