New Driveway Price List

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

Our price list below displays per square metre prices so you can easily and quickly calculate how much a new driveway will cost you.

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

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

We also explain how much drainage (a legal requirement since 2005) 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 one of the most popular.

Professional driveway installers usually construct a narrow threshold at the entrance as this will prevent the stones from drifting onto the road.

Cons

• 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.
• The vast majority of consumers 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

The prices below include the following:

• Excavation and disposal of the existing driveway/surface.
• Installation of weed proof barrier, a compacted permeable hardcore base to 200mm, and driveway gravel.
• VAT.

Tarmac Driveway Cost

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.

Fewer consumers choose tarmac now as there’s so much choice and resin is seen by many as a preferable alternative.

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

• Requires 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.
• Not environmentally friendly.
• Often seen as an old fashioned driveway surface.
• Requires edgings to secure the edge in place. This can add to the cost of a new-build or extended driveway that doesn’t have existing edgings.

Price Per Square Metre for Tarmac Driveways

The 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.

Resin Driveway Cost

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.

Resin shouldn’t discolour as quickly as tarmac and is more appealing to the eye; there are also many colours to choose from.

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.
• Not the cheapest material and requires three layers (sub-base, binder course and top layer) so more skilled labour is required for the project.
• Requires edgings to secure the edges in place and prevent crumbling. This can add to the cost of a new-build or extended driveway that doesn’t have existing edgings.

Price Per Square Metre for 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.

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 is less likely to crack from tree root growth.

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

You can even 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.
• Budget range 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.
• Requires edgings to secure the edge bricks in place. This can add to the cost of a new-build or extended driveway that doesn’t have existing edgings.

Price Per Square Metre for Block Paved 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.
• 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 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.

These concrete driveways can be stamped so they look like patios, bricks or even circles.

Concrete lasts for decades, and these driveways are ultra low-maintenance and easy to clean.

Cons

• The colour can fade and show signs of wear after a short time.
• Slippery when wet.
• Impossible to patch repair without leaving an obvious gap.
• No flex whatsoever and more likely to crack than most other surface types.
• 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. 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:

Notes

The installation prices on this page exclude the cost of edgings as we 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 we contacted in 2021.
• Published price lists from installers.
• Published price lists from suppliers.
• Our experience.

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 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.

Artificial Grass

Gone are the days when artificial grass looked fake and unrealistic, modern products are a viable alternative to turf and seeded lawns. Explore our artificial lawn price guide. Start Here